English — have got vs have
To talk about possession and relationships, English often uses have got as an alternative to have. I've got a sister means the same as I have a sister. Have got is common in speech, especially in British English.
How it works
Have got = have + got (present tense only). Contract have to 've/'s: I've got, she's got. Questions and negatives are formed with have as the auxiliary, not with do: Have you got a car? / I haven't got a car — never Do you got. In the past and other tenses, use plain have: I had a car (not I had got).
Forms
| Form | Example |
|---|---|
| Affirmative (I/you/we/they) | I've got two brothers. |
| Affirmative (he/she/it) | She's got a new phone. |
| Negative | I haven't got any money. |
| Negative (he/she/it) | He hasn't got a car. |
| Yes/no question | Have you got a pen? |
| Short answer | Yes, I have. / No, I haven't. |
| Obligation (have got to) | I've got to go now. |
Good to know
Have got means possession, not action — you cannot use it for habits or experiences. Say I have breakfast at eight (not I've got breakfast) and I have a shower every morning. Note too that have got to (obligation) equals have to and often shortens to gotta in speech: I've got to go = I gotta go.