What is difference between has and have
by Yogi P - October 18, 2023
Understanding the Difference between ‘Has’ and ‘Have’
Confusion surrounding the differences between the words “has” and “have” often arises in both written and spoken English. Although they have identical meanings, these two verbs follow different usage patterns in various contexts.
In this article, we’ll explore the meanings and usages of both words, providing examples to illustrate their proper use in sentences.
Has
The verb “has” means “to own,” “to possess,” or “to hold.” It is commonly used as a conjugation of the verb “to have” and is used with both singular and plural nouns. In third person singular, it is used as an auxiliary verb to express present tense.
Examples:
- He has a pet parrot.
- She has enough books to last a lifetime.
- This team has won the championship three years in a row.
- They have the potential to achieve great things.
Have
The verb “have” means “to be in possession of something.” Like “has,” it is used as a conjugation of the verb “to have.” Unlike “has,” however, it is only used in past tense and with first and second person singular and plural forms.
Examples:
- I have a pet rabbit.
- You have a great sense of humor.
- We have set up camp for the night.
- They have been searching for the answer.
Table Summarising the difference between has and have
| Aspect | Has (Third Person Singular) | Have (First Person/Second Person/Third Person Plural) |
|---|---|---|
| Subject | He, She, It (singular nouns) | I, You, We, They (and plural nouns) |
| Verb Form | Has + past participle (e.g., “He has eaten.”) | Have + past participle (e.g., “They have eaten.”) |
| Tense | Present Perfect (indicating an action that happened in the past with relevance to the present) | Present Perfect (indicating the same tense, but with different subjects) |
| Example | She has completed the task. | They have finished their work. |
| Usage | Used with singular subjects and third-person singular nouns | Used with all other subjects and plural nouns |
| Singular/Plural | Singular form | Plural form |
Key Differences:
- Subject: “Have” is used with first person singular, second person singular, and both first and second person plural subjects. “Has” is used with the third person singular subjects (“he,” “she,” “it,” singular nouns).
- Ownership: Both “have” and “has” can be used to talk about possession or ownership.
- Tenses: Both “have” and “has” are used in the present simple tense. “Have” is used in other tenses like the past simple and present participle.
- Singular vs. Plural: “Have” can be used with both singular and plural subjects, while “has” is exclusively used with singular subjects in the third person.
Examples of difference between has and have
- I had a pet rat, but my brother has a pet parrot.
- She has a gold watch, but they have a silver one.
- They had a nice house, but we have a great one.
- He had three cars, but she has only one.
Activity to Enhance Understanding
Readers can undertake the following activity to practice using these words in context: Select a book or article from a magazine and analyze the text to determine when each of these words are employed.
Conclusion
The verb “has” is used as a conjugation of the verb “to have” with third-person singular. It expresses possession in present tense. The verb “have” is used with first and second person singular and plural forms to express possession in past tense.
While both have the same meanings, they are used in different contexts. When writing or speaking, it is important to remember that these two words should be used accurately in order to ensure clear communication.
