You can use have got or have (without got). There is no difference in meaning:
- They’ve got a new car. or They have a new car.
- Lisa’s got two brothers, or Lisa has two brothers.
- I’ve got a headache, or I have a headache.
- Our house has got a small garden, or Our house has a small garden.
- He’s got a few problems, or He has a few problems.
With these meanings (possession etc.), you cannot use continuous forms (am having etc.):
- We’re enjoying our holiday. We’ve got / We have a nice room in the hotel, (not We’re having)
For the past we use had (without got):
- Lisa had long hair when she was a child, (not Lisa had got)
In questions and negative sentences there are three possible forms:
| Have you got any questions? | I haven’t got any questions. |
| Do you have any questions? | I don’t have any questions. |
| Have you any questions? (less usual) | I haven’t any questions, (less usual) |
| Has she got a car? | She hasn’t got a car. |
| Does she have a car? | She doesn’t have a car. |
| Has she a car? (less usual) | She hasn’t a car. (less usual) |
In past questions and negative sentences, we use did/didn’t:
- Did you have a car when you were living in London?
- I didn’t have a watch, so 1 didn’t know the time.
- Lisa had long hair, didn’t she?
Have breakfast / have a bath / have a good time
We also use have (but not have got) for many actions and experiences.
- have breakfast / dinner / a cup of coffee / something to eat etc.
- have a bath / a shower / a swim / a break / a rest / a party / a holiday
- have an accident / an experience / a dream
- have a look (at something)
- have a chat / a conversation / a discussion (with somebody)
- have difficulty / trouble / fun / a good time
- have a baby (= give birth to a baby)
Have got is not possible in the expressions
- Sometimes I have (= eat) a sandwich for my lunch, (not I’ve got)
but I’ve got / I have some sandwiches. Would you like one?
You can use continuous forms (am having etc.) with the expressions:
- We’re enjoying our holiday. We’re having a great time, (not We have)
- Mike is having a shower at the moment. He has a shower every day.
In questions and negative sentences we use do/does/did:
- I don’t usually have a big breakfast, (not I usually haven’t)
- What time does Jenny have lunch? (not has Jenny lunch)
- Did you have difficulty finding a place to live?