Has vs. Have: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Has is the third-person singular present form of 'have,' used with he, she, it; have is used with I, you, we, they, and plural nouns.
Key Differences
Has is the conjugation of the verb 'have' used for third-person singular subjects like he, she, or it. Have is used with first and second-person singular and plural subjects, like I, you, we, and they.
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Dec 12, 2023
In the present tense, has indicates possession, relationships, or characteristics for singular subjects. Have serves the same purpose but for plural subjects and the pronouns I and you.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 12, 2023
Has is also used in perfect tenses for third-person singular, as in "He has finished his work." Have is used similarly for other subjects, like "We have seen that movie."
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Dec 12, 2023
In questions and negatives, has is paired with he, she, it, as in "Has she arrived?" Have is used with I, you, we, they, as in "Have you done your homework?"
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Dec 12, 2023
Has can also imply a requirement or necessity in third-person singular, like "She has to go now." Similarly, have is used with other subjects, as in "I have to leave."
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 12, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Subject Agreement
Third-person singular (he, she, it)
I, you, we, they, and plural nouns
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Dec 12, 2023
Tense
Present tense for singular subjects
Present tense for plural and first/second person
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Dec 12, 2023
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Has and Have Definitions
Has
Used in forming perfect tenses for singular subjects.
She has finished her meal.
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Dec 05, 2023
Has
Indicates possession or existence for singular subjects.
The cat has a long tail.
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Dec 05, 2023
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Have
To possess as a characteristic, quality, or function
Has a beard.
Had a great deal of energy.
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Dec 05, 2023
Has
Expresses necessity or obligation for singular subjects.
He has to attend the meeting.
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Dec 05, 2023
Has
Indicates a relationship or characteristic in singular.
It has been a long journey.
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
To come into possession of; acquire
Not one copy of the book was to be had in the entire town.
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
To cause to do something, as by persuasion or compulsion
Had my assistant run the errand.
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
To cause to be in a specified place or state
Had the guests in the dining room.
Had everyone fascinated.
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
To place at a disadvantage
Your opponent in the debate had you on every issue.
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
(Informal) To get the better of, especially by trickery or deception
They realized too late that they'd been had by a swindler.
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
(Informal) To influence by dishonest means; bribe
An incorruptible official who could not be had.
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
Used with a past participle to form the present perfect, past perfect, and future perfect tenses indicating completed action
The troublemaker has gone for good. I regretted that I had lost my temper. They will have finished by the time we arrive.
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
One enjoying especially material wealth
"The gulf widens between the feast of the haves and the famine of the have-nots" (Salman Rushdie).
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
(transitive) To hold, as something at someone's disposal.
Look what I have here—a frog I found on the street!
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
(transitive) To include as a part, ingredient, or feature.
The stove has a handle. The shirt has sleeves.
The words cow and dog have three letters.
A government has three branches: the executive, legislative, and judicial.
The movie has lots of action.
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
(transitive) Used to state the existence or presence of someone in a specified relationship with the subject.
I have two sisters.
She doesn’t have any friends.
I have a really mean boss.
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
(transitive) To consume or use up (a particular substance or resource, especially food or drink).
I have breakfast at six o'clock.
You've already had five drinks!
She's had more than enough time already.
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
(transitive) To undertake or perform (an action or activity).
Can I have a look at that?
He's having a tantrum about it.
I’m going to have a bath now.
Let’s have a game of tiddlywinks.
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
(transitive) To be scheduled to attend, undertake or participate in.
What class do you have right now? I have English.
Fred won’t be able to come to the party; he has a meeting that day.
I have a lot of work to do.
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
To experience, go through, undergo.
We had a hard year last year, with the locust swarms and all that.
He had surgery on his hip yesterday.
I’m having the time of my life!
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
(auxiliary verb, taking a past participle) Used in forming the perfect aspect.
I have already eaten today.
I had already eaten.
I will have left by the time you get here.
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
Used as an interrogative verb before a pronoun to form a tag question, echoing a previous use of 'have' as an auxiliary verb or, in certain cases, main verb. (For further discussion, see the appendix English tag questions.)
They haven’t eaten dinner yet, have they?
Your wife hasn’t been reading that nonsense, has she?
He has some money, hasn’t he?
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
(transitive) To give birth to.
The couple always wanted to have children.
My wife is having the baby right now!
My mother had me when she was 25.
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
(usually passive) To obtain.
The substance you describe can't be had at any price.
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
(transitive) To engage in sexual intercourse with.
He’s always bragging about how many women he’s had.
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
(transitive) To accept as a romantic partner.
Despite my protestations of love, she would not have me.
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
To cause to, by a command, request or invitation.
They had me feed their dog while they were out of town.
Her very boyfriend is the person the criminal has do most of her dirty deeds.
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
To cause to be.
He had him arrested for trespassing.
The lecture’s ending had the entire audience in tears.
Jim has his eyes closed.
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
To be affected by an occurrence. (Used in supplying a topic that is not a verb argument.)
The hospital had several patients contract pneumonia last week.
I’ve had three people today tell me my hair looks nice.
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
To depict as being.
Their stories differed; he said he’d been at work when the incident occurred, but her statement had him at home that entire evening.
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
To inflict punishment or retribution on.
You broke the window! Teacher’ll have you for that!
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
To feel or be (especially painfully) aware of.
Dan certainly has arms today, probably from scraping paint off four columns the day before.
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
To trick, to deceive.
I bought a laptop online but it never arrived. I think I've been had!
You had me alright! I never would have thought that was just a joke.
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
To allow; to tolerate.
The child screamed incessantly for his mother to buy him a toy, but she wasn't having any of it.
I asked my dad if I could go to the concert this Thursday, but he wouldn't have it since it's a school night.
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
To believe, buy, be taken in by.
I made up an excuse as to why I was out so late, but my wife wasn't having any of it.
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
(transitive) To host someone; to take in as a guest.
Thank you for having me!
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
(transitive) To get a reading, measurement, or result from an instrument or calculation.
What do you have for problem two?
I have two contacts on my scope.
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
To consider a court proceeding that has been completed; to begin deliberations on a case.
We’ll schedule closing arguments for Thursday, and the jury will have the case by that afternoon.
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
A fraud or deception; something misleading.
They advertise it as a great deal, but I think it's a bit of a have.
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
To possess, as something which appertains to, is connected with, or affects, one.
The earth hath bubbles, as the water has.
He had a fever late.
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
To accept possession of; to take or accept.
Break thy mind to me in broken English; wilt thou have me?
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
To cause or procure to be; to effect; to exact; to desire; to require.
I had the church accurately described to me.
Wouldst thou have me turn traitor also?
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
To take or hold (one's self); to proceed promptly; - used reflexively, often with ellipsis of the pronoun; as, to have after one; to have at one or at a thing, i. e., to aim at one or at a thing; to attack; to have with a companion.
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
To be under necessity or obligation; to be compelled; followed by an infinitive.
Science has, and will long have, to be a divider and a separatist.
The laws of philology have to be established by external comparison and induction.
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
To put in an awkward position; to have the advantage of; as, that is where he had him.
Myself for such a face had boldly died.
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
Have or possess, either in a concrete or an abstract sense;
She has $1,000 in the bank
He has got two beautiful daughters
She holds a Master's degree from Harvard
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
Have as a feature;
This restaurant features the most famous chefs in France
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
Of mental or physical states or experiences;
Get an idea
Experience vertigo
Get nauseous
Undergo a strange sensation
The chemical undergoes a sudden change
The fluid undergoes shear
Receive injuries
Have a feeling
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
Have ownership or possession of;
He owns three houses in Florida
How many cars does she have?
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
Cause to move; cause to be in a certain position or condition;
He got his squad on the ball
This let me in for a big surprise
He got a girl into trouble
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
Serve oneself to, or consume regularly;
Have another bowl of chicken soup!
I don't take sugar in my coffee
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
Have a personal or business relationship with someone;
Have a postdoc
Have an assistant
Have a lover
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
Organize or be responsible for;
Hold a reception
Have, throw, or make a party
Give a course
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
Have left;
I have two years left
I don't have any money left
They have two more years before they retire
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
Cause to do; cause to act in a specified manner;
The ads induced me to buy a VCR
My children finally got me to buy a computer
My wife made me buy a new sofa
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
Receive willingly something given or offered;
The only girl who would have him was the miller's daughter
I won't have this dog in my house!
Please accept my present
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
Get something; come into possession of;
Receive payment
Receive a gift
Receive letters from the front
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
Undergo (as of injuries and illnesses);
She suffered a fracture in the accident
He had an insulin shock after eating three candy bars
She got a bruise on her leg
He got his arm broken in the scuffle
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
Achieve a point or goal;
Nicklaus had a 70
The Brazilian team got 4 goals
She made 29 points that day
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
Have sex with; archaic use;
He had taken this woman when she was most vulnerable
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
Indicates possession or existence for plural or first/second person.
They have two children.
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
Used in forming perfect tenses for plural or first/second person.
I have seen that movie.
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Dec 05, 2023
Have
Indicates a relationship or characteristic in plural or first/second person.
I have a brother.
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Dec 05, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Is 'have' used in questions?
Yes, with I, you, we, they, like "Have you seen this?"
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 12, 2023
When do we use "has" in a sentence?
We use "has" when referring to something a singular person, animal, or object possesses or does in the present.
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Dec 12, 2023
Are 'has' and 'have' interchangeable?
No, their usage depends on the subject's number and person.
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Dec 12, 2023
When do we use "have" in a sentence?
We use "have" when referring to something that multiple people, animals, or objects possess or do in the present.
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Dec 12, 2023
Is 'have' correct with 'he'?
No, use 'has' with third-person singular like 'he'.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 12, 2023
What is the meaning of "has"?
"Has" is the third-person singular form of the verb "have," used to indicate possession or action in the present tense for he, she, or it.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 12, 2023
Can 'has' be used with 'I'?
No, 'has' is used with third-person singular subjects.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 12, 2023
Can 'has' be used to form perfect tenses?
Yes, for third-person singular subjects.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 12, 2023
Can "have" be used with singular subjects?
No, "have" is used with plural subjects or with the pronouns I and you.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 12, 2023
Can "have" be used with "I" and "you"?
Yes, "have" can be used with both "I" and "you."
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 12, 2023
Can "has" be used with plural subjects?
No, "has" is used only with singular subjects. For plural subjects, we use "have."
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 12, 2023
Is "has" used in the same way for all singular subjects?
Yes, "has" is used for all singular subjects (he, she, it) in the same way.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 12, 2023
How do we form questions with "has" and "have"?
Invert the subject and "has" or "have" to form questions. For example, "Has she arrived?" or "Have they finished?"
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 12, 2023
Is "have" used in the past tense as well?
Yes, "have" can also be used to form the past tense (e.g., "had").
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 12, 2023
What is the past tense of "has" and "have"?
The past tense of "has" is "had," and the past tense of "have" is also "had."
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 12, 2023
Are "has" and "have" interchangeable in a sentence?
No, "has" and "have" are not interchangeable; they have specific uses based on the subject.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 12, 2023
What's the difference between "has" and "have"?
"Has" is used with singular subjects (he, she, it), while "have" is used with plural subjects (I, you, we, they).
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 12, 2023
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Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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