have

Pronunciation

• (stressed) IPA ^(key): /hæv/
• (unstressed) IPA ^(key): /həv/ or /əv/ or /ə/
• (have to): (UK, US) IPA ^(key): /hæf/, (UK) IPA ^(key): /hæv/

• Audio (US)

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• Audio (UK)

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Verb

Plain form have

Third-person singular has

Past tense had

Past participle had

Present participle having

1. (transitive) Someone has something if the thing is in their hands. The person is holding or gripping it.

   Do you have a spoon, or do you need me to give you one so you can eat the soup?

2. (intransitive) If you have to do something, you must do it.

   I have to go.

   John had to pay a fine.

3. (transitive) Someone has something if the thing is that person's thing: the person owns it; it belongs to the person.

   The rich family has a big house.

4. (transitive) If you have you hold something in the mind.

   I have a doubt about him.

5. (transitive) If you have you join something.

   We have lunch at 13:00.

6. (transitive) You use have to say that you suffer from something or to tell the experience.

   I have a defective vision. (I don't see well.)

   He had a wonderful time with his friends.

Verb

Plain form have

Plain present have

Third person singular has

Past had

Present participle having

Negative

haven't

hasn't

hadn't

None

Contracted

've

's

'd

None

1. (auxiliary) You use have to form the perfect.

   I have closed the window. (Also: I've closed the window.)

   I had already eaten before. (Also: I'd already eaten before.)