Have and have got – other uses

‚have‘ for actions

We often use have + object to talk about actions and experiences.

In these expressions, have can be the equivalent of other verbs; the meaning of ‚have‘ depends on the following noun, e.g.:

have breakfast/ lunch/ dinner etc. (= eat, drink)

have a bath/ a shower/ a wash (= take)

have a rest/ a dream

have a good time/ a day off/ a holiday

have a chat/ a fight/ an argument/ a conversation etc.

have a look (=take)

have a walk/ a swim/ a dance

Example sentences:

I have breakfast at work every day.

He had a bath after he came from the gym.

She likes to have a rest after lunch at weekends.

Peter has lunch in his office every day.

Tom and Melanie had an argument last night.

I had a nice chat with my brother on Skype last Sunday.

Let’s have a walk in the park!

‚have (got)‘ for possessions, illnesses, the characteristics of people and things

Examples:

I have a cold.

My mother has got a bad back these days.

My sister used to have epileptic fits when she was little.

My parents have (got) a dog.

He has (got) an old rusty car.

His wife has (got) black hair.

He had a good stamina when he was younger.

Our house hasn’t got an air-conditioning.

Repetition usually without got

I have got flu today.

BUT I often have flu.

Have you got time to call your parents tonight?

BUT Do you have time to call your parents every week?