Verb 'have': Present Simple forms

The verb have is a bit special. It is an irregular verb. Most English verbs just add an s for he, she, or it. But have changes its whole look. It becomes has. For everyone else, it stays as have. It is like a chameleon that changes color slightly. It adapts to the person doing the action. In the present simple, we use it for facts. These are things that are true right now. They are not temporary actions. Think of it like a grammar traffic light. Green means have, but the red light for he/she/it means you must switch to has.

1. 1Creating sentences with have follows a clear path. Follow these steps to build your sentences.
2. 2Start with the subject. This is the person or thing.
3. 3Choose the correct form. Use have for I, you, we, and they.
4. 4Use has for he, she, and it.
5. 5Add the noun. This is what the person "has".
6. 6Example: They have a big house.
7. 7For negative sentences, we need a helper.
8. 8Use do not (don't) for I, you, we, and they.
9. 9Use does not (doesn't) for he, she, and it.
10. 10Always use the base form have after the helper.
11. 11Example: He doesn't have a car.
12. 12For questions, the helper comes first.
13. 13Start with Do or Does.
14. 14Add the subject.
15. 15Add the base form have.
16. 16Example: Do you have a pen?
17. 17Yes, even native speakers mess this up sometimes. Just keep the helper in mind!

You can use have in many daily situations. First, use it for possession. I have a laptop. This means you own it. Second, use it for relationships. She has two sisters. You don't "own" sisters, but you "have" them. Third, use it for physical descriptions. He has brown eyes. It describes how someone looks. Fourth, use it for illnesses. I have a headache. It describes a temporary physical state. Fifth, use it for scheduled events. We have a meeting at ten.

Imagine you are at a job interview. You might say, I have great communication skills. Or imagine you are asking for directions. You might ask, Does this hotel have a map? It is everywhere! Even at a cafe, you can say, I have a coffee every morning. It shows a habit. It is the bridge between you and the things in your world.

There are a few traps to avoid. Do not use have for your age. This is a very common mistake. In English, we use the verb to be for age. Say I am twenty, not I have twenty. Also, do not use have to say something exists. If you want to say there is a park nearby, don't say The city has a park. Well, you can say that, but usually, we say There is a park. Don't use have for actions happening right now. If you are eating, say I am eating, not I have a meal. Use it for the fact, not the action. It is like a photo, not a movie.

The most common mistake is using has in negative sentences. You might want to say She doesn't has. Stop right there! The word does already has the s. You don't need it twice. Always say She doesn't have. Think of does as a magnet. it pulls the s away from the verb. Another mistake is forgetting the helper verb in questions. Don't ask Have you a dog? That sounds like an old movie from the 1940s. Modern English uses Do you have a dog? Finally, watch out for the age mistake. It's a classic "false friend" from other languages. Just remember: you ARE your age, you don't OWN it. You aren't carrying those years in a backpack!

You might hear people say I have got a car. This is very common in British English. It means the same thing as I have a car. However, have got is more informal. For your exams and professional writing, have is perfect. Also, compare have with be. I am cold means you feel the temperature. I have a cold means you are sick and sneezing. One little word changes the whole meaning! It's like the difference between being a person and owning a problem. Choose your words carefully or you might end up with a tissue instead of a jacket.