Definition have in American English

Have can be used in the following ways:

as an auxiliary verb in perfect tenses of verbs (followed by a past participle): We have lived here for 20 years.Who’s eaten all the grapes? (used without a following past participle): Ellen hasn’t finished, but I have. Questions, negatives, and tag questions using the auxiliary verb have are formed without do: Has the meeting finished?You haven’t eaten anything.The customers haven’t complained, have they?

as a transitive verb used in descriptions and for talking about possession, relationships, or the state that someone or something is in: She has dark curly hair.He had two sisters. This use of have is never in progressive or passive forms. Have got is often used instead of have for these meanings, especially in spoken English and informal writing, but only in the present tense: Alan’s got a new bike. Questions and negatives can be formed by using do or have got: Do you have any money?Have you got any money?We don’t have any money.We haven’t got any money. Tag questions are formed with do when the main verb is have, and with do or sometimes have when the main verb is have got: They have a nice house, don’t they?We’ve still got a few more minutes, haven’t we?

as a transitive verb used for talking about actions and experiences: I had a good time at the party. This use of have can sometimes be in the progressive but is almost never in the passive: She’s having a baby.Are you having a drink? Have got is not used, and neither short forms of have nor weak forms of pronunciation are ever used in these meanings. Questions, negatives, and tag questions are formed with do: Did you have a nice walk?I didn’t have breakfast this morning.They had quite a bad accident, didn’t they?

as a transitive verb (followed by an object and then a participle or infinitive without “to”): How often do you have your hair cut?I’ll have someone clean out your room. This use of have can be in the progressive: I’m having all the carpets cleaned. Questions, negatives, and tag questions are formed with do: Did you have the engine checked?

as a verb used for talking about what is necessary (followed by a verb in the infinitive with “to”): I had to wait for an hour. (followed by “to” without a verb in the infinitive): We’ll fight for our rights if we have to. This use of have can be in the progressive: I was having to work every weekend. Have got to is often used instead of have to, especially in spoken English and in informal writing, but only in the present tense: You’ve got to show your passport. Questions, negatives, and tag questions are formed with do: Do we have to pay now?You don’t have to leave yet.We have to take a test, don’t we?

In conversation or informal writing the auxiliary use of have is often shortened. Have can be shortened to ’ve, has to ’s, and had to ’d: They’ve already left.John’s lost his ticket.I’d forgotten to tell you.

The ordinary transitive uses of have are not usually shortened.

Short forms are usually used before “got”: I’ve got an idea.Jack’s got the tickets.

Negative forms can also be shortened: have not can be shortened to haven’t, has not can be shortened to hasn’t, and had not can be shortened to hadn’t.