Be, Have, Have Got — Test Questions
Seven questions on be vs have vs have got: origin, description and age with be; possession and physical states with have; have got questions without do. Part of the Present Tenses Test.
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I ___ from Spain — Madrid, originally.
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am
'Be' for nationality/origin — 'I am from Spain'.
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She ___ two children — a boy and a girl.
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has
'Have' for possession — third person singular 'has'.
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They ___ got a beautiful new flat in the centre.
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've
'Have got' = have. Contracted form 'they've got'.
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I ___ a terrible headache — I need to lie down.
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have
'Have' for a physical state — 'I have a headache'.
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He ___ very tall for his age.
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is
'Be' for a description/quality — 'he is tall'.
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___ you got a pen I could borrow?
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Have
Questions with 'have got' use 'have/has' as the auxiliary — 'Have you got ...?'.
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How old ___ you?
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are
Use 'be' for age — 'How old are you?'.
Be, Have and Have Got
English learners frequently confuse 'be' and 'have' because many other languages use a single verb, or a different verb altogether, to cover identity, possession and physical states. 'Be' is used for nationality, origin, age, and descriptions of a person or thing. 'Have' (and, in British English, 'have got') is used for possession and physical or temporary states, such as illness or hunger.
Be: Identity, Origin, Description, Age
He is very tall for his age.
How old are you?
Have / Have Got: Possession and Physical States
They've got a beautiful new flat in the centre.
I have a terrible headache — I need to lie down.
Have Got in Questions: No 'Do'
Unlike plain 'have', 'have got' forms questions and negatives using 'have/has' directly, without 'do/does'.
Common Mistakes
✗ He has very tall for his age. → ✓ He is very tall for his age.
✗ Do you have got a pen? → ✓ Have you got a pen?
✗ How old have you? → ✓ How old are you?
Last updated: · Satori Editorial