Present simple: 'have got'

Present simple: 'have got'

Do you know how to use have and have got? Test what you know with interactive exercises and read the explanation to help you.

Look at these examples to see how we use have/has got.

I've got a big family.
We haven't got a garden.
Have you got any pets?

Try this exercise to test your grammar.

Read the explanation to learn more.

Grammar explanation

We use I/you/we/they + have got or he/she/it + has got to talk about things that we have.

In many situations, have and have got mean the same thing. Have got is a little less formal than have. We often use have got more in speaking and have more in writing.

They have got a big garden. = They have a big garden.
She has got a good job. = She has a good job.

We can use have/has got to talk about appearance, family and friends or possessions. We often contract the verb, especially when we're speaking.

I have got brown hair. = I've got brown hair.
My sister has got long hair. = My sister's got long hair.
He has not got many friends. = He hasn't got many friends.
They have got a new car. = They've got a new car.

We can also use have/has got for timetabled events, illnesses or abstract things.

They've got basketball practice this evening.
He's got a terrible cold. 
I've got a good idea!

Affirmative

I
you
we
they
have got've got
he
she
it
has got's got

Negative

For negatives, use not after have/has. We can contract negatives.

We have not got any pets. = We haven't got any pets.
She has not got a brother. = She hasn't got a brother.

I
you
we
they
have not gothaven't got
he
she
it
has not gothasn't got

Questions

To make questions, use have/has + subject + got.

Have you got a big house?
How many rooms has it got?

Subject pronounyes/no questionQuestion with question word, e.g. what, who, how many, etc.
I
you
we
they
Have (we) got (time)?What have (you) got?
he
she
it
Has (she) got (a car)?What has (he) got?

Short answers

For yes/no questions, we can use short answers.

Have you got a new job? No, I haven't.
Has she got a meeting this morning? Yes, she has.

Yes, I/you/we/they have.No, I/you/we/they haven't.
Yes, he/she/it has.No, he/she/it hasn't.

Have/has got is only used in the present tense. For the past, use had without got.

I had got a red bike when I was young.
I had a red bike when I was young.

Do this exercise to test your grammar again.

Average: 4.1 (136 votes)
Profile picture for user Husseinzakariahassan

Submitted by Husseinzakariahassan on Tue, 14/07/2026 - 05:45

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Hello ,👋 

Today I have got a lot of work to do 

have you got time to join me ?

yes , have bro 

she has got time too 

our great Teacher . Are these sentences true ?

Hello Husseinzakariahassan,

I can't say if the sentences are true but I can tell you if they are correct ;)

Today I have got a lot of work to do. Have you got time to join me ?

Yes, I have bro. She has got time too 


Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Profile picture for user oussama-ESs

Submitted by oussama-ESs on Sun, 07/12/2025 - 22:06

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great lesson, but we can use just Have instide of i haven't t got .. 

Submitted by W-i-l-l-i-a-m2025 on Sat, 06/12/2025 - 22:29

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I have got a stranger virus.

 

 

Profile picture for user Omokhte

Submitted by Omokhte on Wed, 29/10/2025 - 00:06

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I have got a lot of words this term.

I am feeling tired, because i have not got time.

As I have got so many brothers and sisters. Have you got too?

 

Profile picture for user MounirBr44

Submitted by MounirBr44 on Sat, 02/08/2025 - 14:36

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-Have we got a little time for coffee?

-No, we haven't.

-When will we have time?

-Maybe on the next weekend. 

-I'm sorry, but why are you in a hurry?

-No, I'm not. I'm just a little tired. 

Profile picture for user Nelia16

Submitted by Nelia16 on Wed, 30/07/2025 - 15:48

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  1. I have got a lot of words all day.
  2. He has got job in a big company.
  3. They had a good information for me.

Submitted by mustafamohammed on Sat, 21/06/2025 - 19:13

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Hello great teacher,

How can i identify between i have got coffee in present simple and present perfect 

Thanks,