What is the Difference Between Has and Have?

It’s likely that you use has and have frequently, but are you aware of the differences between the two and their usage? It is important that proper usage of verbs is carried out in the formation of sentences which leads to effective communication in English, both written and spoken. Make sure you keep reading the blog post as you will get to understand the difference between has and had,  how both words are used in sentence formation, and with other different verb forms.

Difference Between Has and Have: Explanation

Before we begin with the explanation between both ‘has’ and ‘have’, we must understand that both words are present tense forms of the verb “to have.”  The verb ‘to have’ is used to describe the ownership or possession of something.

Definition of Has and Have

One of the main differences between ‘has’ and ‘have’ is what subjects they are used for. ‘Has’ is used for third-person singular subjects “he,” “she,” and “it,” or a singular noun. 

Whereas, ‘Have’ is used for first-person (“I,” “we”), second-person (“you”), and third-person plural (“they”) subjects.

Here are some examples to give you a better understanding:

Johnny has to leave soon. Peter has not come in yet.

I have not called the doctor. Do you have a question?

Summarising the Difference Between Has and Have

Let us look at the table below which has summarised the differences between ‘has’ and ‘have’. 

Particulars	Has	Have
Meaning	Both ‘has’ and ‘have’ are different forms of verbs that refer to ‘possession’ or to have something.
Usage	Used with the subject pronouns such as ‘he’ and ‘she’.	It is used with pronouns such as ‘I’, ‘we,’ ‘you’ etc.
Action	It should only used in the third person.	It can be used in first (I), second (you) or third person (they).
Type of Verb	Generally used as an auxiliary or main verb	Used as a main verb or auxiliary verb depending on the context.
Example	He has cold.	I have cold.

Also Read: Tenses Rules in English

Difference Between Has and Have: Usage 

Let us look at the difference between ‘Has’ and ‘Have’ in terms of their usage through the following table below.

Particulars	How Usage of Has and Have		Examples
Possession	Both indicate possession when used in sentences.		He has a PhD in English.(singular pronouns) We are having lunch.(third-person pronoun)
Possibility	Both can describe actions that could happen but have not occurred yet.		You have to go there today. He has to submit his homework by Tuesday.
Completed Action	Both words are used with other verbs to indicate that an action has been completed. Make sure you use the verbs in the present perfect tense.		She has completed the homework. My neighbours have moved out of the house. Jane has played the piano for two years.
Questions and Negations	Finally, words like ’has’ and ‘have’ can also be used in questions and negations.		For Questions: Has she finished her homework? Have you seen the movie? For Negations: I have not been there before. She has not completed the project.

Singular and Plural Usage of Has and Have

One major confusion which people face is is has and have is to be used around which subject or with which verb. Let’s clear this out.

• “Has” is used with third-person singular subjects (“he,” “she,” and “it”).

• While, “Have” is used with first, second, and third-person plural subjects (“I,” “you,” “we,” and “they”).

Are Has and Have Singular or Plural?

So, have can be singular (I/you have) or plural (we/they have). While has is always singular (he/she/it has). 

This might seem simple. However, it gets tricky when you are talking about a group of people, a company or a team. So, to make things easy, you must keep this in mind:

• If you are referring to a group of people with the pronoun everyone or everybody, you need to use HAS.

Example: Everybody has bad days.

• If you’re referring to a general group such as children, people, and the media, you’ll need HAVE.

Example: Children have always struggled during World Wars.

Also Read: Singular vs. Plural Nouns

Has and Have in Different Verb Forms

Now, let’s look at the usage of “has” in different verb forms.

Simple Present Tense

When describing current events or routines for third-person singular subjects, the word “has” is used in the simple present tense.

Example: 

• He has a beautiful garden.
• John has a green bicycle.

Present Perfect Tense

We use “has” with present perfect tense verbs to discuss events that began in the past but still have a connection to the present.

Example:

• She has written a fascinating novel.
• Jacky Chan has won several awards.

Below is the usage of “have” in different forms of verbs.

Simple Present Tense

“Have” is used with first-, second-, and third-person plural subjects in the simple present tense.

Examples:

• You have a talent for playing the guitar.
• We have four cats as pets.
• I have a drawing board.

Present Perfect Tense

The present perfect tense with “have” is used to describe an action that began in the past but continues to affect the present.

Examples:

• They have finished their project.
• You have visited Paris.

Other Verb Forms

Particulars	Has	Have
Progressive Form	She has been having fun learning to play the guitar.	I am having a blast at the amusement park.
Past Tense	He had a great time at the concert.	We had a delicious dinner last night.

Also Read: Tenses Cheat Sheet

How to Remember When to Use Has and Have?

Don’t worry if you’re still having trouble telling whether to use has or have. Two useful tips to assist you in remembering which one to pick.

#Tip 1: Make sure the subject and verb agree.

#Tip 2: Remember that Has is only used with third-person singular subjects.

Check Your Understanding

Instructions: Fill in the blanks with the correct form of “have”:

1. She _____ a beautiful dress.
2. We _____ a big house.
3. It _____ rained all night.
4. You _____ a lot of friends.
5. He _____ a new car.
6. They _____ gone to the park.
7. I _____ finished my homework.
8. The dog _____ a bone.
9. The cat _____ climbed the tree.
10. We _____ a meeting tomorrow.

Answers:

1. Has
2. Have
3. Has
4. Have
5. Has
6. Have
7. Have
8. Has
9. Has
10. Have

Now, let’s try a more challenging exercise:

Instructions: Choose the correct form of “have” to complete each sentence

1. The children _____ been playing outside all day.
2. I _____ never seen such a beautiful sunset.
3. She _____ always wanted to travel to Europe.
4. They _____ just eaten dinner.
5. He _____ been working hard all week.

Answers:

1. Have
2. Have
3. Has
4. Have
5. Has

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Present Continuous Tense	Past Tense and Present Tense Exercise
Present Indefinite Tense	Exercise on Tenses for Class 9
Past Tense	Class 10 Tenses Exercise
Past Perfect Tense	Present Continuous Tense Exercises
Future Tense	Simple Past Tense Examples
Present Indefinite Tense	Present Perfect Tense Examples
Tenses Tests	Simple Future Tense Examples
Present Indefinite Tense Exercise	Past Perfect Tense Examples

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