The verb to have is one of the most common verbs in English. It can act as an auxiliary, semantic or modal. Also, with its help, many constructions and stable expressions are formed.
Education and use
In the simple present tense, that is, in Present Simple (or Indefinite), there are two forms of the verb: has, have. The use of has is restricted to the third person singular only. In other cases, the word remains unchanged. In the Past Simple, the verb takes the form had.
For more details, the table will help you understand the education scheme.
| Past | Present | Future | |
| I, you, we, they | had | have | shall/will have |
| he, she, it | has |
To have as a semantic verb
The meaning of this word as a semantic verb is "to have, to possess". It is most often translated into Russian by turns "I have", "he has", etc.
1. Affirmative sentence. Word order in an affirmative sentencestandard: subject, predicate, and then definitions, objects or circumstances.
- He has a highly readable book. - He has an exciting book.
- She has a large library. - She has a large library.
- He had a beautiful picture - still life. - He had a beautiful painting - still life.
- She has a cozy house with fireplace. - She has a cozy house with a fireplace.
2. Interrogative. The question can be formed both with the help of the auxiliary verb to do in the past tense, and without it. In cases where the sentence is constructed without an auxiliary word, the semantic verb is put in front. If there is an auxiliary verb, the question begins with it.
- Has she a yarn for knitting? - Does she have yarn to knit?
- Had she a mauve dress? - Did she wear a mauve dress?
- Did he have an easel and oil colors? - Did he have oil paints and an easel?
The variant with the verb to do is more common.
3. Negation is formed using the particle not, and in the presence of uncountable nouns or the plural, the pronoun any also appears.
- I haven't a scetchbook (any scetchbooks). - I don't have a sketchbook(s) for sketching.
- We hadn't any desire to go there. - We had no desire to go there.
Also, negation can be formed using the auxiliary verb to do in combination with the particle not. That is, do not (for pronouns I,you, we, they) and does not for the third person (he, she, it). In an abbreviated version, the verb with a particle takes the following form: don't and doesn't have in the present tense and didn't in the past.
I don't have any questions. - I have no questions
Another way to form a negative sentence is with no.
- She has no sketchbook. - She doesn't have a sketchbook.
- He has no desire to swim. - He has no desire to swim.
Features of using "have got"
This is a colloquial version, an analogue of the word to have as a semantic verb. That is, the concepts of "have" and "possess" can be conveyed through the construction have got or has got. This is the same as has, have. The use of this turnover has some peculiarities:
- Have got: This form is used only in the present tense.
- This turnover is used only when it comes to a one-time action. For multiple, regular and recurring events, use the main verb without "got".
- The negative and interrogative forms are also different.
- As for the phrase has got, its use is similar to has: in combination with the pronouns he, she, it.
Comparative characteristics are presented in the table.
| affirmative | negative | interrogative | ||||
| I, you, we, they | have got | have | haven't got | don't have | Have I got? | Do I have? |
| he, she, it | has got | has | hasn't got | doesn't have | Has he got? | Does he have? |
She hasn't got any skeetchbooks. - She doesn't have any sketchbooks.
To have as an auxiliary verb
As an auxiliary verb, it acts in all tenses of the Perfect and Perfect Continuous groups.
Perfect tenses indicate the result, not the fact of the action.
- She has opened the window. - She opened the window.
- He has not closed the window. - He didn't close the window.
- Have they opened the window? - Did they open the window?
Perfect Continuous times mean a process that lasted until a certain point or over a specified period of time.
Affirmative sentence in present tense implies have been + doing (smth).
- She has been waiting for them for an hour. - She's been waiting for them for an hour.
- He has been playing the piano since 6 o'clock. - He has been playing the piano since six o'clock.
- How long has she been teaching English? - How long has she been teaching English?
Have to as a modal verb
This modal verb is very common in English. The use of have to has some peculiarities.
The constructions are formed as follows: modal verb +infinitive + particle to.
Unlike the verb must, which conveys an obligation due to an internal motivation to act, the construction with have to expresses a necessity due to some external circumstances. It is usually translated into Russian in the following words: must, had to, forced, etc.
- She has to work a lot. - She has to work hard.
- He had to get up at 5 o'clock. - He was supposed to get up at 5.
- She will have to study four languages. - She will have to learn 4 languages.
This modal verb is also widely used in the passive voice. It translates into Russian as "should be".
- The book has to be sent by post today. - The book should be mailed today.
- The landscape has to be painted tomorrow. - The landscape needs to be painted tomorrow.
Interrogative and negative forms are formed with to do.
- Do you have to do homework? - Do you have to do your homework?
- We don't have to write this book. - We shouldn't be writing this book.
In negation, there is a significant difference between the modal verbs must and have to:
- "Do not have to" implies that it is not desirable to do this, it is not necessary.
- "Mustn't" conveys a categorical prohibition.
- You don't have to read this letter. - You don't have to read this letter.
- You mustn't read this letter. - Youit is forbidden to read this letter.
Constructions with the verb to have
There are many constructions in which the verb can lose its original meaning. Such turnovers are translated by a single concept.
1. The to have construction in combination with a noun and a past participle. This turnover implies that the action is performed not by the person in question, but by someone else for him or instead of him.
- She has her hair done at that hairdresser's. - She gets her hair done at that barbershop.
- He'll has his portrait painted in the near future. - His portrait will be painted soon.
- He had his grand piano attuned the day before yesterday. - The day before yesterday they tuned the piano for him.
The interrogative and negative forms of this phrase are formed using the auxiliary verb to do.
- Do you have your violin attuned? - Has your violin been tuned?
- I don't have my musical instrument attuned. - My musical instrument has not been tuned.
2. The construction of a verb combined with a noun and an infinitive. With this construction, you can convey the intention to do something.
- She has something to do. - She wants to do something.
- He had an interesting story to tell you. - He wanted to tell you an interesting story.
Question and negation are built without the auxiliary verb to do.
- Has she anything to tell us? - Does she want us somethingto tell?
- He has not (hasn't) anything to tell. - He has nothing to say.
Stable expressions with a verb
Stable expressions are phrases that are perceived as one. Such constructions are not translated literally, but convey a single meaning. The following are a few topics in which there are many stable phrases with the verb has, have. The use of these turns is common in English.
Food and drinks
| to have | a bite | snack |
| breakfast | have breakfast | |
| dinner | have lunch | |
| supper | have dinner | |
| lunch | have lunch | |
| coffee | drink coffee | |
| tea | drink tea | |
| a drink | get something to drink | |
| a meal | eat |
Communication and relationships between people
| to have | a talk | talk |
| a chat | to chat | |
| a word (with somebody) | talk to someone | |
| a conversation | talk | |
| a quarrel | quarrel, quarrel | |
| a quiet | don't make noise, keep quiet | |
| a relationship | be in a relationship | |
| sympathy | sympathize |
Daily activities
| to have | a shower | take a shower |
| a bath | take a bath | |
| a wash | wash up | |
| a shave | shave |
Relaxation and fun
| to have | a rest | rest |
| a sleep | sleep | |
| a holiday | be on vacation, on vacation | |
| a good time | have a good time | |
| a bad day | bad day (He had a bad day. - He had a bad day) | |
| a nice evening | have a nice evening | |
| a day off | have a day off, take a day off | |
| a swim | swim | |
| a walk | walk, walk | |
| a ride | ride (depending on the context: riding a horse, cycling, motorcycle) | |
| a dance | dance, dance | |
| a game | play, play a game |
The use of the verb have is very versatile. This is one of the few verbs that can act as full-valued (that is, semantic), auxiliary or modal. In addition, in combination with some nouns, it forms stable expressions. To master this topic well, it is important to practice using the verbs has, have. The use of these words isand understandable, but should be brought to automatism so that when speaking in English you do not have to think.
