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Has vs Have: Understanding the Difference

"Has" and "have" are both forms of the verb "have," but they're used with different subjects. Understanding when to use each is fundamental to English grammar. This comprehensive guide will help you master this essential distinction.

Quick Answer

Understanding "Have" - The Base Verb

"Have" is one of the most important and versatile verbs in English.

Main Uses of "Have":

  1. Possession - to own or possess
  2. Auxiliary verb - forming perfect tenses
  3. Experience - to experience something
  4. Obligation - have to (must)
  5. Causative - have something done
  6. Eating/drinking - have breakfast, have coffee

Has: Definition and Usage

Has is the third person singular form of "have" in the present tense.

When to Use "Has":

Use "has" with:

Subject Pronouns with "Has":

Examples of "Has":

With He:

With She:

With It:

With Singular Nouns:

With Singular Indefinite Pronouns:

Have: Definition and Usage

Have is used with first person, second person, and all plural subjects.

When to Use "Have":

Use "have" with:

Subject Pronouns with "Have":

Examples of "Have":

With I:

With You:

With We:

With They:

With Plural Nouns:

Key Differences

Has Have
He, she, it I, you, we, they
Singular third person First person, second person, plural
"He has a car" "I have a car"
"She has finished" "We have finished"
"It has been raining" "They have been waiting"
"The dog has a toy" "The dogs have toys"
"Everyone has left" "Many have left"

Subject-Verb Agreement Chart

Subject Verb Form Example
I have I have a book
You (singular) have You have a book
He has He has a book
She has She has a book
It has It has a cover
We have We have books
You (plural) have You have books
They have They have books
Singular noun has The cat has a toy
Plural noun have The cats have toys
Everyone/Someone has Everyone has a ticket

Memory Tricks

1. The "S" Rule

2. The Third Person Test

Examples:

3. Count the Subject

4. The "Does" Connection

5. Visual Memory Aid

Common Mistakes and Corrections

Incorrect Usage:

  1. She have a dog. (Wrong!)
  2. I has been there. (Wrong!)
  3. They has finished. (Wrong!)
  4. He have a car. (Wrong!)
  5. It have been raining. (Wrong!)
  6. We has to go. (Wrong!)
  7. The dog have a toy. (Wrong!)
  8. Everyone have arrived. (Wrong!)

Correct Usage:

  1. She has a dog.
  2. I have been there.
  3. They have finished.
  4. He has a car.
  5. It has been raining.
  6. We have to go.
  7. The dog has a toy.
  8. Everyone has arrived.

Different Uses of Have/Has

1. Possession (Main Verb):

Has:

Have:

2. Present Perfect (Auxiliary Verb):

Has + Past Participle:

Have + Past Participle:

3. Obligation (Have To):

Has to:

Have to:

4. Experience (Have/Has + Past Participle):

Has:

Have:

5. Causative (Have Something Done):

Has:

Have:

6. Eating/Drinking:

Has:

Have:

Questions and Negatives

Questions:

With Has (third person singular):

Note: In British English, "Has he a car?" is sometimes used but less common.

With Have (all other subjects):

Negatives:

With Has:

With Have:

Special Cases and Exceptions

"Have Got" and "Has Got":

In informal English, "have got" and "has got" are common for possession:

Has got:

Have got:

Note: This is more common in British English.

Collective Nouns:

Collective nouns can take either singular or plural verbs:

Singular (American preference):

Plural (British preference):

Indefinite Pronouns:

Always singular, use "has":

Detailed Examples in Context

Has (Third Person Singular):

Personal Descriptions:

Experiences (Present Perfect):

Obligations:

States and Conditions:

Have (First, Second Person, and Plurals):

Personal Descriptions:

Experiences (Present Perfect):

Obligations:

States and Conditions:

Advanced Grammar Points

Present Perfect Continuous:

Has been (doing):

Have been (doing):

Modal Perfect:

Should/Could/Would + Have + Past Participle:

Same for all subjects:

Past Perfect:

Had (same for all subjects):

Note: Past perfect uses "had" for ALL subjects.

Common Phrases and Idioms

With "Has":

With "Have":

Practice Exercises

Choose the correct form (has or have) for each sentence:

  1. She _____ three cats.
  2. I _____ finished my homework.
  3. They _____ been waiting for hours.
  4. He _____ to leave early today.
  5. We _____ a meeting tomorrow.
  6. It _____ been raining all day.
  7. You _____ done a great job.
  8. The dog _____ a new toy.
  9. Everyone _____ arrived already.
  10. My friends _____ invited me to dinner.
  11. The company _____ announced layoffs.
  12. I _____ to go to the store.
  13. She _____ never been to Asia.
  14. The students _____ submitted their essays.
  15. Each person _____ their own opinion.

Answers:

  1. has, 2) have, 3) have, 4) has, 5) have, 6) has, 7) have, 8) has, 9) has, 10) have, 11) has, 12) have, 13) has, 14) have, 15) has

Regional Variations

American English:

British English:

Formal vs Informal:

Formal:

Informal:

Summary

HAS (Third Person Singular):

HAVE (Everything Else):

Quick Decision Guide:

  1. Is the subject he, she, it, or a singular noun? → HAS
  2. Is the subject I, you, we, they, or plural nouns? → HAVE
  3. Can you replace the subject with "he/she/it"? → HAS
  4. Can you replace the subject with "they"? → HAVE

The "S" Rule:

Conclusion

The difference between "has" and "have" is all about subject-verb agreement. Has is used exclusively with third person singular subjects (he, she, it, and singular nouns), while have is used with everything else (I, you, we, they, and plural nouns).

A simple memory trick: Has has an "S" for singular third person (he, she, it). If you can replace your subject with "he," "she," or "it," use has. If you can replace it with "I," "you," "we," or "they," use have.

Master this fundamental rule of English grammar, and you'll never confuse "has" and "have" again. This distinction is essential for proper English communication in both speech and writing!