verb 'have' (2)

Using have in many common expressions

In English, we often use have + noun to talk about actions and experiences, not only possession. In these expressions, have is like a normal action verb.

1. Meals, drinks, and food

We use have to talk about eating and drinking.

• have breakfast / lunch / dinner
• have a snack
• have a cup of coffee / tea
• have something to eat / drink

Examples:

• We usually have breakfast at 7:30. (Normalmente desayunamos a las 7:30.)
• Let’s have a cup of coffee. (Tomemos una taza de café.)
• Are you going to have dinner at home? (¿Vas a cenar en casa?)

2. Washing and relaxing

We also use have for activities like washing or resting.

• have a bath
• have a shower
• have a swim
• have a break
• have a rest
• have a party
• have a holiday

Examples:

• I’m tired. I’m going to have a rest. (Estoy cansado. Voy a descansar.)
• They had a big party last weekend. (Tuvieron una gran fiesta el fin de semana pasado.)
• She always has a shower before bed. (Siempre se ducha antes de acostarse.)

3. Events and experiences

We can use have to describe things that happen to us.

• have an accident
• have an experience
• have a dream

Examples:

• He had an accident on his way to work. (Tuvo un accidente de camino al trabajo.)
• We had a strange experience in that old house. (Tuvimos una experiencia extraña en esa casa antigua.)
• I had a terrible dream last night. (Anoche tuve una pesadilla horrible.)

4. Communication and looking

We often use have with nouns about talking or looking.

• have a look (at something)
• have a chat (with somebody)
• have a conversation (with somebody)
• have a discussion (about something)

Examples:

• Let me have a look at your phone. (Déjame mirar tu móvil.)
• We had a long conversation about our plans. (Tuvimos una larga conversación sobre nuestros planes.)
• Can we have a chat later? (¿Podemos charlar luego?)

5. Abstract ideas: fun, difficulty, etc.

We also use have with some abstract nouns for experiences.

• have trouble
• have difficulty
• have fun
• have a good time
• have a great day / a terrible day

Examples:

• We had a good time at the concert. (Lo pasamos bien en el concierto.)
• She’s having trouble with her car. (Está teniendo problemas con su coche.)
• I always have fun with my cousins. (Siempre me divierto con mis primos.)

6. Have a baby

The expression have a baby means “give birth to a baby”.

• She had a baby last month. (Tuvo un bebé el mes pasado.)
• They’re going to have a baby in May. (Van a tener un bebé en mayo.)

7. Simple vs. continuous forms

With these “activity” meanings, have can be used in the present/past simple or in the continuous.

a) Simple forms

Use the simple forms for general, repeated, or finished actions.

• I usually have lunch at work. (Normalmente como en el trabajo.)
• We had a party last Friday. (Hicimos una fiesta el viernes pasado.)

b) Continuous forms: be having

Use the continuous (am / is / are + having, was / were + having) for actions happening right now or for temporary situations.

• Be quiet! I’m having a shower. (¡Silencio! Me estoy duchando.)
• They’re having dinner at the moment. (Están cenando ahora mismo.)
• We’re having a great time here. (Nos lo estamos pasando genial aquí.)
• She was having a bath when I called. (Se estaba bañando cuando llamé.)

Important: This is different from have meaning “possess”. For possession, we do not usually use the continuous:

• Correct: I have a car. (Tengo coche.)
• Not natural: ✗ I am having a car.

8. Questions and negatives

In these meanings, have behaves like a normal verb (not like an auxiliary).

• Do you have a minute? (¿Tienes un minuto?)
• We didn’t have a good time yesterday. (Ayer no lo pasamos bien.)
• Are you having a break now? (¿Estás descansando ahora?)

9. Have got vs. activity have

The structure have got is normally used only for possession or relationships, not for these “activity” expressions.

• Correct: I’ve got a car. (Tengo coche.)
• Not natural: ✗ I’ve got breakfast at 8:00. (Use: I have breakfast at 8:00.)