B1 – Intermediate
“Have” and “Have got” mean the same thing, but “have got” is more informal. Both forms are used to express things like possession, relationships, characteristics, and illnesses.
Examples:
Possession
- I have a new phone.
- I’ve got a new phone.
- They have a big house.
- They’ve got a big house.
Relationships
- She has two sisters.
- She’s got two sisters.
- We have many friends here.
- We’ve got many friends here.
Characteristics
- He has blue eyes.
- He’s got blue eyes.
- The car has a powerful engine.
- The car’s got a powerful engine.
Illness / Conditions
- I have a cold.
- I’ve got a cold.
- She has a headache.
- She’s got a headache.
Questions
- Do you have a pen?
- Have you got a pen?
- How many books do you have?
- How many books have you got?
Negative sentences
- He hasn’t got a car.
- I don’t have any money.
- I haven’t got any money.
- He doesn’t have a car.
These pairs show how both forms mean the same thing, with “have got” sounding more casual in everyday speech.