Usage of Have and Has Lesson: Quick Guide

Lesson Overview

• What Are "Have" and "Has"? 
• Examples
• Singular vs. Plural Usage (Types of Subjects)
• How to Use Have vs. Has
• Assessment

Have you ever noticed that we say "I have a book" but "she has a book"? Why do we use have sometimes and has other times? In this lesson, we will learn the difference between have and has. Understanding this will help us speak and write correct sentences. By the end, you'll know when to use have or has confidently in your own sentences.

What Are "Have" and "Has"? 

Have and has are forms of the verb "to have." They basically mean to own or to possess something. For example, if you have a toy, it means you own that toy. These are two of the most common words we use to talk about what someone owns, holds, or possesses​

Using the correct form is important because it makes our grammar sound right. If we mix them up (for example, saying "He have a pencil"), the sentence will sound wrong. So, learning have vs. has helps us follow proper grammar rules and be clearly understood.

Examples

Let's look at some examples of have and has in sentences:

• I have a yellow ball.
• She has a cat named Whiskers.
• You have two older sisters.
• It has four wheels (talking about a car).
• We have a math test tomorrow.
• They have fun at the playground every day.

(In each sentence above, notice how have or has is used correctly with the subject.)

Singular vs. Plural Usage (Types of Subjects)

The form we use depends on whether the subject (the person or thing doing the action) is singular or plural:

• Singular subjects (one person or one thing) use "has."
  • Examples: He has a kite. Maria has a new backpack.
    
• Plural subjects (more than one person or thing) use "have."
  • Examples: They have a pet dog. My parents have a car.
• Pronouns "I" and "you" also use "have" – this is a special case.
  • Examples: I have a cold today. You have a great idea.

In English grammar, the verb must agree with the subject in number. That means if the subject is plural, the verb should be plural ("have")​. If the subject is singular, the verb is singular ("has").​

How to Use Have vs. Has

So, how do we know which one to use? Follow these simple steps:

1. Identify the subject of your sentence – ask yourself, who or what is the sentence about?
2. Decide if the subject is one or more than one. If it's a single person or thing (and not "I" or "you"), you will use has. If it's more than one, or if the subject is I or you, you will use have​.
3. Use the correct form in your sentence.

 For example:

• My brother is one person (singular), so we say "My brother has a bike."
• Ben and Alice are two people (plural), so we say "Ben and Alice have a bike."
• I (myself) use have: "I have a bike." (Remember, I is an exception that uses have even though it's singular.)

4. Check your sentence by reading it out loud. Does it sound right? (Saying "She have..." will sound odd to a native speaker. "She has..." sounds correct.)

Tip: In questions or negative sentences, we pair have with helping verbs like do/does.

For example: "Does she have a pencil?" (not "does she has") or "He does not have a pencil." This is a more advanced point, but remember that after does, we use have (because does already matches with he/she/it).

Take This Quiz :

Have or Has: Grammar Quiz! Test

Assessment

Fill-in-the-Blanks

Complete the following sentences with have or has.

1. Lisa ____ a new doll.
2. I ____ an extra pencil for you.
3. The puppies ____ a warm bed to sleep in.
4. He ____ a big smile on his face.
5. You ____ a very interesting story to tell.

(Fill in each blank with the correct form. Think about the subject in each sentence!)