have

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العربية الفصحى
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/hæv/
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To connect someone with what belongs to them, happens to them, or is required of them.
Practice using have in conversation until it feels natural

Examples

  • Would you like to have some cake?
  • She had a gift from her aunt.
  • We had left before noon.
  • Our dog has long ears.
  • They spoke of wanting to have each other.

Similar words

get
include
fuck
have sex with
receive
get
give birth to
bear
possess
sleep with

Meanings

Own or hold

verb
possession
neutral
To own something or keep it available for use.

Examples

  • I have a bicycle.
  • She has a new bag.
  • Do you have a pen?
  • We had a small house.
  • He has the keys.

Similar words

own
possess

Be connected with or contain

verb
family
neutral
To be related to someone, or to include a feature or part.

Examples

  • I have two sisters.
  • She has blue eyes.
  • The house has three rooms.
  • This book has many pictures.
  • Our dog has long ears.

Similar words

include
contain

Experience a state or event

verb
experience
neutral
To feel, experience, or be affected by something, including an illness or a good time.

Examples

  • I have a headache.
  • They had a great day.
  • She has a cold.
  • We had fun at the park.
  • Did you have any trouble?

Similar words

experience
feel
suffer

Eat or drink

verb
food
neutral
To eat or drink something, especially as part of a meal or offer.

Examples

  • Can I have some water?
  • She had a sandwich.
  • We have tea at four.
  • He had two cups of coffee.
  • Would you like to have some cake?

Similar words

eat
drink

Do or hold an activity

verb
activities
neutral
To take part in an activity, meal, conversation, or event named by the noun that follows.

Examples

  • I have breakfast at eight.
  • She had a shower.
  • We had a meeting yesterday.
  • They had a party.
  • Let us have a look.

Similar words

do
hold

Receive something

verb
receiving
neutral
To get something that someone sends, gives, or offers.

Examples

  • We had a letter from her.
  • I have a message for you.
  • Did you have my email?
  • She had a gift from her aunt.
  • We had some news this morning.

Similar words

receive
get

Give birth

verb
birth
neutral
To give birth to a child.

Examples

  • She had a baby in June.
  • They had their first child last year.
  • My sister had a daughter.
  • She hopes to have a baby soon.
  • His mother had twins.

Similar words

give birth to
bear

Cause or arrange an action

verb
arrangements
neutral
To make someone do something or arrange for someone to do a task.

Examples

  • I will have someone call you.
  • She had her hair cut.
  • We had the car repaired.
  • The joke had us laughing.
  • He had the children clean the room.

Similar words

arrange
cause
get

Form a perfect tense

verb
grammar
neutral
To help another verb show that an action happened before a later time or remains relevant now.

Examples

  • I have finished my work.
  • She has already eaten.
  • We had left before noon.
  • Have you seen this film?
  • They have lived here for years.

Similar words

Express a need or duty

verb
obligation
neutral
To say that something must be done, in the construction have to followed by a verb.

Examples

  • I have to go now.
  • She has to work today.
  • We had to wait.
  • Do you have to leave?
  • They have to wear shoes.

Similar words

must
need to

Have sex with someone

verb
sexuality
slang
To have sex with someone, in informal or slang use that may sound blunt or objectifying.

Examples

  • He boasted that he had had her, and she objected to his language.
  • She said he could not simply have her.
  • The boast “I had him” sounded crude.
  • They spoke of wanting to have each other.
  • He was told not to say he had had someone.

Similar words

sleep with
have sex with
fuck

Etymology

From Old English habban, meaning to possess or experience. The helping-verb use also goes back to Old English.

FAQ

What does have mean?

Its common uses include owning something, experiencing something, and helping form perfect tenses.

What are the forms of have?

The third-person present is has. The past and past participle are had.

What does have to mean?

It expresses a need or duty, much like must.

Why is have in “I have eaten”?

It helps form a perfect tense with the past participle eaten.

Can have mean eat or drink?

Yes. “Have some tea” means drink some tea.

Can have mean give birth?

Yes. “She had a baby” means she gave birth.

Is have always a main verb?

No. It can also help another verb form a tense.

Comments & contributions

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