Definition / Explanation
Have got is a common way to talk about possession, family, and some personal characteristics. It often means the same as have, especially in everyday British English. We say I've got or He's got for affirmative sentences. Because the structure is a little special, learners need to notice the difference between have got and ordinary have patterns.
Key Rules
- Use have got with I, you, we, they.
- Use has got with he, she, it.
- The short forms are common: I've got, you've got, he's got, they've got.
- Use it for things you own, family members, and features: I've got a car. She's got blue eyes.
- In negative and question forms, got stays in the structure: Have you got...? Has she got...?
Examples
- I've got a brother.
- She's got a new laptop.
- We've got two cats.
- Have you got a pen?
- He hasn't got much time.
Common Mistakes
- ❌ He have got a bike. -> ✅ He has got a bike.
- ❌ I got a sister. -> ✅ I've got a sister.
- ❌ Does she has got a car? -> ✅ Has she got a car?
Tips
- In many situations, I have a car and I've got a car mean the same thing.