Has vs Have: Correct Usage, Rules, and Examples Explained | Grammar Guide

Let’s dive into the correct usage of "has" and "have" in English grammar.

1. "Has" and "Have" as Main Verbs

When used as main verbs, "has" and "have" indicate possession, ownership, or relationships.

Rules:

- "Has" is used with third-person singular subjects (he, she, it, or a singular noun).

- "Have" is used with first-person (I, we), second-person (you), and third-person plural subjects (they, or plural nouns).

Examples:

- She has a new car. (Third-person singular)

- I have a book. (First-person singular)

- They have two dogs. (Third-person plural)

- You have a beautiful voice. (Second-person singular/plural)

- The cat has blue eyes. (Third-person singular)

2. "Has" and "Have" in Present Perfect Tense

In the present perfect tense, "has" and "have" are used as auxiliary (helping) verbs to indicate actions that started in the past and continue into the present or have just been completed.

Rules:

- "Has" is used with third-person singular subjects.

- "Have" is used with all other subjects.

Examples:

- He has finished his homework. (Third-person singular)

- I have visited Paris three times. (First-person singular)

- We have already eaten dinner. (First-person plural)

- They have never seen the ocean. (Third-person plural)

- The train has just arrived. (Third-person singular)

3. "Has" and "Have" in Other Perfect Tenses

"Has" and "have" are also used in other perfect tenses, such as the past perfect and future perfect, but they are combined with other auxiliary verbs like "had" or "will have."

Examples:

- By the time we arrived, she had already left. (Past perfect)

- They will have completed the project by tomorrow. (Future perfect)

4. "Has" and "Have" in Questions and Negatives

When forming questions or negative sentences, "has" and "have" are used with auxiliary verbs like "do" or "does" in simple present tense, but not in perfect tenses.

Examples:

- Does she have a pen? (Question, simple present)

- He doesn’t have any siblings. (Negative, simple present)

- Has she had breakfast yet? (Question, present perfect)

- They haven’t had any problems so far. (Negative, present perfect)

5. Common Mistakes to Avoid

- Incorrect: She have a dog.

Correct: She has a dog. (Third-person singular requires "has.")

- Incorrect: They has a big house.

Correct: They have a big house. (Third-person plural requires "have.")

- Incorrect: He have been to London.

Correct: He has been to London. (Present perfect tense with third-person singular requires "has.")

Summary Table:

Subject	Verb Form	Example
I, We, You, They	Have	I have a pen.
He, She, It	Has	She has a pen.
Singular Noun	Has	The dog has a bone.
Plural Noun	Have	The dogs have bones.

By understanding these rules and practicing with examples, you will master the correct usage of "has" and "have" in no time!