BE, HAVE AND HAVE GOT
1. BE
I am English.
You are early.
POSITIVE
She is a teacher.
They are ill.
I am not French.
NEGATIVE He is not a tennis player.
We are not from here.
Are you English? No, we are not.
QUESTIONS Are they interesting? Yes, they are.
Why is it a good job.
NATURAL ENGLISH. In speech and informal writing, we usually use short forms e.g.
I’m, she’s, he isn’t, we aren’t. For negative questions with I am, we use aren’t I. Why
aren’t I on the list?
We use the verb to be to talk about:
o This is Karen Brady.
• PEOPLE AND THINGS
o Ginny is very attractive.
o It’s really hot at the moment.
• CURRENT STATES o She’s married.
o I’m homesick.
o My car is Japanese.
• QUALITIES (ADJECTIVES) o My children aren’t rude!
o I’m 1.75 metres tall.
o This book is boring.
• OPINIONS
o Musicals are very popular.
o My flat’s close to the city centre.
• POSITION / LOCATION AND TIME
o It’s two o’clock.
o Karen Brady is a businessperson.
• SOMEONE’S JOB / POSITION
o We are students.
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2. HAVE AND HAVE GOT
I have two brothers. I have (‘ve) got two brothers.
POSITIVE She has a sport car. She has (‘s) got a sport car.
They have a huge house. They have (‘ve) got a huge house.
I do not have a sister. I have not (haven’t) got a sister.
NEGATIVE He does not have a motorbike. He has not (hasn’t) got a motorbike.
We do not have an apartment. We have not (haven’t) got an apartment.
Do you have a niece? Yes, I do. Have you got a niece? Yes, I have.
QUESTIONS Does she have a cat? No, she doesn’t. Has she got a cat? No, she hasn’t.
Why do they have two cars. Why have they got two cars.
Q We use forms of have, not have got, with past and future tenses.
r When I was a child, I had got a pet cat.
aWhen I was a child, I had a pet cat.
r One day we will have got our own house.
aOne day we will have our own house.
We use both have and have got to talk about:
o I’ve got two brothers.
• RELATIONSHIPS
o She has two children.
o I’ve got a good camera.
• POSSESSIONS
o Do they have a lot of money?
o Everyone in my family has got dark hair.
• FEATURES
o The apartment doesn’t have a garden.
o Sandra’s got a cold.
• ILLNESS
o Does the baby have a temperature?
o I have an exam tomorrow.
• APPOINTMENTS
o Has Fiona got an interview at Oxford?
We can also use have + noun (but not have got) to talk about some things we do:
• HIGIENE AND APPEARANCE. Have a haircut / a shower / a bath / a wash / a
shave
• FOOD AND DRINK. Have lunch / an evening meal / a snack / a drink / a meal
out
• EXPERIENCES. Have fun / a good time / a bad time
• SPECIAL EVENTS. Have a party / a celebration / a holiday / a trip
• ACTIVITY (OR LACK OF). Have a walk / a run / a swim / a sleep / a rest / a
break
• COMMUNICATION. Have a talk / a conversation / an argument / a word (with)
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