1. 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?

2. •  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)

3. 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.

4. 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

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

6. 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.

8. 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?