have got

Have got is two words: have or has, and got. It's for things you own, people in your family, and how people or things look. It's very common in British speech. In American English, people usually say have for the same meaning.

Forms

Use has got with he, she and it. In speech, have becomes 've and has becomes 's.

• I've got, you've got, we've got, they've got
• he's got, she's got, it's got

Here he's means he has, not he is. Got after it shows which one: He's got a car (has), He's tall (is).

Negatives and questions

Put not after have or has. In a question, have or has comes first. The short answer has no got.

Have got or have

For owning things and family, both mean the same. The questions and negatives are different: have got uses have, but have alone uses do.

Have got is only for the present. For the past, use had.

For actions like eating or washing, use have alone, never have got: have breakfast, have a shower, have a good time.

Common mistakes

• × She have got a cat. → She has got a cat.
• × Do you have got a pen? → Have you got a pen? or Do you have a pen?
• × Yes, I've got. → Yes, I have.
• × I've got a shower every morning. → I have a shower every morning.
• × I had got a dog when I was ten. → I had a dog when I was ten.