An American once asked a young British woman `Do you have children An American once asked a young British woman `Do you have children?’ She replied, `Not very often.’ The American was very surprised by this answer because he was thinking of one meaning of the word `have’ but the woman was thinking of another meaning of the word. Can you explain the difference between the two meanings?

•  HAVE (1): you own or possess something, or it is with or part of you (a continuing state). E.g. –  I have three brothers –      A triangle has three sides –      I have three children (= there are three children in my family) •  HAVE (2): something happens to you or you do something (an event or an activity). E.g. –      I had lunch at 1.00 p.m. –      Paul had an accident –      Jane had a baby (= gave birth to a baby)

So we say `Have you got any children?’ In BRITISH ENGLISH we prefer to use HAVE GOT instead of just HAVE when the meaning is `own’ or `possess’ So we say `Have you got any children?’ `Have the students got their books with them?’ etc.

They’ve got plenty of time We also often use `some’ or (in negative statements and questions) `any’ with the nouns that come after the verb I’ve got a new haircut Have you got any rice? They’ve got plenty of time

We often shorten `have got’ and `has got’ Sam’s got a pet dinosaur They’ve got 340 hot dogs in the freezer

Notice how we make negative sentences and questions and give short answers I haven’t got any money Has he got the time?Yes, he has/No, he hasn’t Have Ho Kei Kwai and Li Chi Sin got a baby alligator in their locker? Yes, they have.

HAVE with activities or events have lunch have a game of tennis have an accident have a terrible fright have a bath have a long sleep CAN YOU THINK OF ANY OTHERS?