Verb to Have: What Type of Word Is “Have” and What Are Its Forms?

Hello, students! 😊 Today, we are going to learn all about the verb “to have.” This small yet powerful verb is one of the most commonly used words in the English language. Whether you’re just starting to learn English or you’re looking to improve your grammar skills, understanding the word “have” will help you communicate better. So let’s dive into this exciting topic!

Quick Overview of “To Have”

The verb “to have” can be used in two ways:

1. As a main verb to show possession or relationships.

• • • Example: I have a dog.

2. As an auxiliary (helping) verb to form perfect tenses.

• • • Example: I have finished my homework.

This verb is irregular, meaning it doesn’t follow the regular rules for verb forms. Its main forms are:

• • Present: have, has
  • Past and Past Participle: had
  • Present Participle: having

Forms of “To Have”

Here’s how “to have” changes depending on the subject and tense:

Uses of “To Have”

1. “To Have” as a Main Verb

When “to have” is the main verb, it often means:

• • Possession:
    I have a new book.
    She has a bicycle.
  • Experience:
    We had a wonderful holiday.
    They are having fun at the park.
  • Necessity or Obligation (when used with “to”):
    I have to study for my exam.
    He had to leave early.

Other Common Uses:

1. To describe characteristics:

• • • • The house has a beautiful garden.

2. To ask if something is available:

• • • • Do you have time to talk?

3. To express feelings or thoughts:

• • • • I had a bad feeling about this.

2. “To Have” as an Auxiliary Verb

“To have” is also used as an auxiliary verb to form perfect tenses.

• • Present Perfect:
    I have seen that movie.
    She has completed her project.
  • Past Perfect:
    We had finished dinner before the guests arrived.
  • Future Perfect:
    By tomorrow, I will have completed my assignment.

In these examples, “have” or “had” works with the past participle of the main verb to show when something happened.

3. “To Have” in Continuous Tenses

When used as a continuous tense, “to have” takes the form “having.”

• • Present Continuous:
    We are having a great time!
    She is having lunch.
  • Past Continuous:
    They were having a meeting when the alarm went off.

Examples with Both Uses

“To have” can act as both a main verb and an auxiliary verb in the same sentence:

• • I have had many memorable trips.
    Here, “have” is the auxiliary verb and “had” is the main verb.
  • He had had a difficult week before the holiday.
    In this case, “had” serves both roles!

How to Use “To Have” in Questions and Negatives

Questions

To ask a question with “to have,” move the verb before the subject.

• • Do you have a pencil?
  • Has she completed her homework?
  • Had they finished the work?

Negatives

To make “to have” negative, add “not” after it.

• • I do not have any questions.
  • She has not arrived yet.
  • We had not seen him before.

Contractions:

• • I haven’t (have not)
  • She hasn’t (has not)
  • They hadn’t (had not)

Practice Time!

Let’s test your understanding with a few exercises. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of “to have”:

1. I _____ a lot of homework to finish tonight.

2. She _____ a big birthday party last year.

3. They _____ not arrived yet.

5. We _____ been planning this trip for months.

Answers

1. have

2. had

3. have

4. have