“Has” vs “Have” - What’s the Difference?

Even advanced learners sometimes pause and wonder, “Do I use has or have here?” You’re not alone—this is one of the most common grammar doubts. The good news is, once you understand the basic rules, it’s easy to get right.

Midoo AI will guide you through the difference between has and have, show you how to use them in sentences, and give you plenty of examples to practice.

The Role of “Has” and “Have”

Both has and have are forms of the verb to have. This verb can mean “to own,” “to hold,” “to experience,” or be used in perfect tenses like has eaten or have seen.

The only difference is who the subject is.

When to Use “Has”

You use has with:

• Third-person singular subjects (he, she, it, or a singular noun).

Examples of “Has”:

• She has a new bicycle.
• My dog has brown spots.
• The teacher has a meeting today.
• He has finished his homework.
• This city has a rich history.

👉 Think of has as belonging to “he, she, it.”

When to Use “Have”

You use have with:

• First-person singular (I)
• Second-person (you)
• Plural subjects (we, they, or plural nouns).

Examples of “Have”:

• I have two brothers.
• You have a great idea.
• We have a big project tomorrow.
• They have been to Japan before.
• My friends have a car.

👉 A quick memory trick: if it’s not he, she, or it, you almost always use have.

Special Case: Questions and Negatives

Things get slightly tricky in questions and negatives.

• With has, use does in questions/negatives:
  • Does she have a car?
  • She does not have any pets.
• With have, use do in questions/negatives:
  • Do they have tickets?
  • I do not have enough time.

Notice that in questions and negatives, we don’t use “has” directly with do/does. We switch back to the base form have.

Has vs. Have in Perfect Tenses

Both has and have are also used to form the present perfect tense.

• Use has + past participle with he, she, it:
  • She has eaten lunch already.
  • The train has left the station.
• Use have + past participle with I, you, we, they:
  • I have seen that movie.
  • They have visited Paris twice.

Quick Reference Table

FAQs

Can I ever use “has” with I or you?

No. “Has” is only for third-person singular (he, she, it, singular nouns).

Why do questions use “have” even with he or she?

Because once you add does, the main verb goes back to its base form: Does she have…?

What about “has got” and “have got”?

They mean the same as “has” and “have,” mostly used in British English (e.g., “She’s got a car” = “She has a car”).

Is “have” only about ownership?

No! It can also mean to experience (I have a cold) or to form tenses (They have finished).

What’s the simplest way to remember the rule?

Just memorize: he, she, it = has. Everything else = have.

Final Thoughts

The difference between has and have is all about the subject. Use has with he, she, or it. Use have with I, you, we, they, and plural nouns. Once you remember this golden rule, the confusion disappears.

Midoo AI suggests practicing by writing 10 sentences—five with has and five with have. This hands-on approach will make the rule stick in your mind.