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Have Got: What It Means and How It's Different from Have
"Have got" means exactly the same as "have" (to possess), it just changes the structure of questions and negatives.
Written by Bryan López, Profesor de inglés · Updated
"Have got" means "to possess," just like "have." It's more common in British English and in informal speech in general: "I've got a car" means exactly the same as "I have a car."
Have got vs. have
More common in British English
"Have got" is used a lot in British English and in informal speech in general. "Have" (with do/does in questions and negatives) is more common in American English, though both forms are understood anywhere English is spoken.
Contractions are extremely common
In everyday speech, the contracted form is almost always used: "I've got," "She's got," "They've got," instead of saying "have" or "has" in full.
Common mistakes with have got
Mixing the two structures, like saying "Do you have got a car?" Have got uses its own question pattern (Have you got...?), with no do/does; if you use do/does, it has to be with have alone, no "got": "Do you have a car?"
Have got in all its forms
Practice have got with real audio
Interactive exercises, real pronunciation, and the full lesson taught in English.
Short answers with have got
Short answers repeat only the auxiliary, never "got": "Have you got a pen?" "Yes, I have." or "No, I haven't." Saying "Yes, I have got" sounds unnatural in most situations. With he, she, and it, the short answer uses has: "Has she got a sister?" "Yes, she has." This is a small detail, but it is one of the first things that makes a learner sound natural.
Which one should you choose?
If you are not sure, use "have" with do/does. It works in every country, in speech and in writing, and you will not sound strange in any situation. Use "have got" when you want a relaxed, friendly tone or when you are speaking with British people, who use it all the time. The best habit is to pick one structure for each sentence and not switch halfway, because mixing the two is exactly where most mistakes come from.
What people usually talk about with have got
- Possessions: I've got a new phone.
- Family: She's got two sisters and a brother.
- Appearance: He's got brown eyes and short hair.
- Illnesses: I've got a headache.
- Free time: Have you got any plans for the weekend?
When you cannot use have got
Have got only works for possession and similar states. It does not work for actions. You say "I have breakfast at eight" or "We have a great time," never "I've got breakfast at eight" in the sense of eating it. Also, in the past English usually goes back to had: "I had a car when I was young," not "I had got a car." For the past, most speakers simply use had, so have got is mainly a present tense structure.
A very common mix-up
Incorrect
Do you have got a brother?
Correct
Have you got a brother? / Do you have a brother?
Have got in a real conversation
A: "Have you got any brothers or sisters?" B: "Yes, I've got one sister. She's got two kids already." A: "Wow, so you've got two nephews!" B: "Yes, and they've got so much energy. I haven't got a quiet minute when I visit."
Frequently asked questions
What does have got mean?
It means "to possess," exactly the same as have: "I've got a car" = "I have a car."
What's the difference between have and have got?
They mean the same thing, the difference is structure: have got uses its own auxiliary in questions and negatives (Have you got...? / I haven't got...), while have uses do/does (Do you have...? / I don't have...).
How do you ask questions with have got?
By inverting have and the subject: "Have you got a car?" "Has she got a phone?"
Can you say "do you have got"?
No, that's incorrect. You either use have got with its own structure (Have you got...?) or have alone with do/does (Do you have...?), never both mixed together.
Which is more common, I've got or I have?
"I've got" is more common in British English and informal speech in general; "I have" is more common in American English, especially in questions and negatives.
Is have got only used for possession?
Mainly yes, to say what you have: "I've got two brothers." "She's got a new car."
Is have got formal or informal?
It is more informal and conversational. In formal writing, such as emails to a company or academic texts, most people prefer plain "have": "We have several openings available."
How do you make a negative with have got?
Put not after have or has, usually contracted: "I haven't got time." "She hasn't got a car." Do not add do or does.
Can I use have got in the past?
In practice, no. For the past, use had: "She had a cat." The form "had got" exists in some cases, but it is rare and learners do not need it at the beginning.
Practice have got with real audio
Interactive exercises, real pronunciation, and the full lesson taught in English.
Keep learning
- Have vs. Has: Which One to Use and WhenHave goes with I/you/we/they, has goes with he/she/it. It's the irregular version of the third-person -s.
- There Is / There Are: How to Say Something Exists (Present and Past)There is (singular) and there are (plural) are the two ways to say something exists in English, and they do change based on number.
- Present Simple in English: Affirmative, Negative, and Questions (Full Guide)The tense for habits, routines, and general facts, with the rule almost everyone forgets: the -s on he/she/it.