Word: Have
Pronunciation
/hæv/
Definitions
- Verb (mainly transitive): To possess, own, or hold something as one’s own. For example: “I have a car.”
- Verb (auxiliary): To experience or do something. It’s often used to form perfect tenses with the past participle of another verb. For example: “I have eaten breakfast already.”
- Verb: To host or organize an event. For example: “They’re having a party this weekend.”
- Verb: To consume food or drink. For example: “Let’s have lunch together.”
- Verb: To require or need something. For example: “You’ll have to finish your homework before playing games.”
- Noun: Used in certain expressions like ‘it’s high time (that) someone had…’ to suggest necessity or inevitability. For example: “It’s high time we had a serious talk.”
Phrases
- “Have to” indicates necessity or obligation. For example: “I have to go to work.”
- “Have got” is informal and equivalent to “have” when expressing possession. For example: “I’ve got a new phone.”
- “To have done something” is used to describe a completed action. For example: “By 5 pm, I had finished all my tasks.”
Example Sentences
- Verb (possession): “She has a beautiful house on the beach.”
- Verb (auxiliary): “I have studied French for five years.”
- Verb (hosting): “They are having a barbecue on Saturday.”
- Verb (consumption): “We’re going to have dinner at 7 pm.”
- Verb (necessity): “You don’t have to stay if you don’t want to.”