Common mistakes
Have or has: match the verb to the subject
You talk about your own bag, then a friend's bag. Should the verb be have or has?
Start with the subject. Then check whether your sentence has does or doesn't.
Try what you have learned
Listen to a recording, type what you hear, and check your answer.
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doesn't have DUZ-unt-hav
Listen for doesn't followed by have. Both words belong in the negative.
The short answer
Use has for he, she, or it; use have for I, you, we, or they. Single noun subjects also take has in positive statements; after does or doesn't, keep have.
She has a meeting today, but they have lunch together.
Why it works: Use has with she and have with they.
3 more examples
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Talking about a coworker's morning.
He has a busy schedule this morning.
Use has with he in this statement.
Not this:He
havea busy schedule this morning. What changes: The verb does not match he in this statement. -
Planning an evening out with friends.
We have two tickets for the movie.
Use have with the subject we.
Not this:We
hastwo tickets for the movie. What changes: The subject we needs have here. -
Explaining how a friend travels.
She doesn't have a car right now.
Keep have after doesn't.
Not this:She doesn't
hasa car right now. What changes: Doesn't is followed by have, even with she.
Quick check
Which sentence is correct for one friend?
Answer: She has a new laptop.
Show the answer
Answer: She has a new laptop.
Use has with she in this positive statement.
Read the full guide
Try the listening exerciseChoose your verb from the subject, the person or thing your sentence is about.
Match the verb to the subject
The problem: I say she have, or I choose has whenever I mean one person.
Use has with he, she, and it in positive statements. Names such as Nina work the same way. I and you take have, even for one person.
-
I have a green notebook.
Why it works: Use have with I.
-
You have a blue notebook.
Why it works: Use have with you too.
-
Nina has a red notebook.
Why it works: Use has with Nina, as with she.
We and they take have too. With other nouns, choose by the number of people or things. Count the subject, not the items after the verb.
-
The room has two doors.
Why it works: Room is one thing, so use has.
-
The rooms have large windows.
Why it works: Rooms means more than one, so use have.
Your turn
Choose the correct verb for this sentence:
My manager ___ a busy calendar today.
Answer: has
Show the answer
Answer: has
My manager is a single noun subject, so use has.
Keep have after doesn't
The problem: I change have to has after doesn't because I see he or she.
To make these sentences negative, add don't or doesn't. Don't is short for do not. Doesn't is short for does not. Keep have after both forms.
-
I don't have a printer.
Why it works: Use don't have with I.
-
Leo doesn't have a printer.
Why it works: Use doesn't have with Leo.
Choose doesn't with he, she, or it, and with a single name or noun. Choose don't with I or you. We, they, and plural nouns also take don't.
-
Not this:
He doesn't has his wallet.Say: He doesn't have his wallet.
Does carries the subject change. The next verb stays have.
Your turn
Which negative sentence is correct?
Answer: Tom doesn't have time for coffee.
Show the answer
Answer: Tom doesn't have time for coffee.
Use have after doesn't, even when the subject is Tom.
Treat two people as they
The problem: I see two names joined by and and don't know which verb to choose.
When two separate people form the subject, you can replace their names with they. Use have for that pair. The last name does not choose the verb on its own.
Use has with a single name in this statement.
Rosa has a small garden.
Both people form the subject, like they.
Rosa and Ben have a small garden.
The same rule works when one of the people is you. A name joined to I makes a pair. You can think of the whole subject as we.
-
My cousin and I have a garden.
Why it works: You can replace my cousin and I with we.
Your turn
Complete the sentence with have or has:
Answer: David and his sister have a new apartment in town.
Show the answer
Answer: have
David and his sister means two people. Use have, as you would with they.
Ask with do or does
The problem: I ask Does she has instead of keeping have in the question.
Put Do before I, you, we, or they. Put Does before he, she, or it. A single name also takes Does. After the subject, keep have.
-
Do your neighbors have a dog?
Why it works: You can replace your neighbors with they.
-
Does Mira have a dog?
Why it works: You can replace Mira with she.
- Ari
Does Mira have a dog?
- Jo
Yes, she does.
- Ari
Do your neighbors have a dog?
- Jo
No, they don't.
Your turn
Arrange the words to ask a question:
Answer: Does your friend have a car?
Show the answer
Answer: Does your friend have a car?
Does comes before your friend. The next verb stays have.
Before you go
Question 1 of 2
Choose the correct sentence for this situation:
Explaining how a friend travels.
Answer: My friend doesn't have a car.
Show the answer
Answer: My friend doesn't have a car.
Use doesn't with my friend here. Keep have after it.
Question 2 of 2 · One new sentence
At a cafe, your friend needs a menu. Complete the gap with the negative form of have:
Asking for a menu at a café counter.
Answer: My friend doesn't have a menu yet, so could we see one?
Show the answer
Answer: doesn't have
Use doesn't have with my friend. Does not have is the full form.
Remember this
When you change a statement into a question, check both verbs. Pick Do or Does for the subject. Then leave have as it is.
Listen first
Listen and write
Listen, type what you hear, then choose Check my answer. Use a hint when you get stuck.
0 of 4 done
Listening 1 of 4
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
0:00
Read the transcript
I have two older brothers living in London.
Use have with the subject I.
Listening 2 of 4
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
0:00
Read the transcript
She has an important work meeting at ten.
Use has for a single person like she.
Listening 3 of 4
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
0:00
Read the transcript
They don't have the front door keys.
Use don't have for plural groups.
Listening 4 of 4
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
0:00
Read the transcript
Does he have a car for the trip?
Does starts the question. Keep have after he.
Practice complete
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Test yourself
Listen to a new clip and write what you hear. You can replay it, but hints stay off and the transcript opens after you check your answer.
0 of 3 done
Listening 1 of 3
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
Making evening plans with family.
0:00
Read the transcript
My sister and I have tickets for the concert tonight. We don't have much time to eat dinner before the show starts.
Use have with my sister and I, and don't have with we.
Listening 2 of 3
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
Hurrying to the morning train.
0:00
Read the transcript
He doesn't have much time before his morning train leaves town. She has his coat, but he still needs his travel card.
Keep have after doesn't and use has with she.
Listening 3 of 3
Listen, then type the missing words. The rest of the text is already there.
Coordinating an office assignment.
0:00
Read the transcript
Our manager has the project notes on her desk today. We don't have the main file yet, so we need her help. My coworker and I have some clear ideas for the report. Does she have time to meet with us this afternoon? She doesn't have any free time before lunch today. We have a short break at three to talk.
Match have and has across different subjects in the office.
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Save my progressQuestions about "Have or has: match the verb to the subject"
Why do I and you take have when they mean one person?
I and you take have, even for one person. Has goes with he, she, or it and single names or nouns. Use have with you when you speak to a group too.
I have a spare pencil.
You have my address.
Why is does she have correct?
Does shows that the question has a subject such as she. The next verb stays in its base form, have. Use have after doesn't and does not too. Change the first verb for the subject; don't change both verbs.
Does the shop have a lift?
The shop doesn't have a lift.
Do two names joined by and take have or has?
Use have when the two names refer to two separate people who form the subject. You can replace them with they. A name joined to I works like we and also takes have.
Ava and Noor have desks upstairs.
My neighbor and I have a shared fence.
Can I say has got instead of has?
Yes, when you describe something someone has, such as a pet or a bag. The question and negative patterns change. Match a question starting with Does to a reply using does. Match Has she got to a reply using has. Do not add do or does to has got.
Does Ella have a camera? Yes, she does.
Has Ella got a camera? Yes, she has.
Does the number of things after the verb change have or has?
No. Choose the verb from the subject, not from the things after it. A single person or thing can have several items. Several people can share one item. First find who or what your sentence is about.
The jacket has four pockets.
The sisters have one tent.
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