Facts about "have" and "have got" in BrE

Question

I am really confused now, so I've done the research it by making the sentences,searching from the internet,etc.

so, here are the facts,

Facts :

HAVE GOT is only used in the present and past form.

the plain "have" is used in all tenses.

HAVE GOT cannot be combined with the modal verbs such as :must, may, might, can, etc. and can't be combined with to+infinitive.

Only the plain "have" can be combined with the modal verbs & it can be combined with to+infinitive. ex. I want to have a pair of shoes (or) I want to have got a pair of shoes.

HAVE GOT and the plain "have" are used in BrE. (Do BrE natives use both ? Could you explain the differences between them?)

The pattern

A. HAVE GOT : I have got.. & I haven't got..& have I got (in the negative, haven't I got ___ ?)

B. HAVE : I do have.. / I have.. & I don't have.. & do I have? (negative, don't I have?)

C. past : I had got /(I did have) I had & I hadn't got /I didn't have & had I got (hadn't I got?), did I have? ( didn't I have?)

Are these facts correct? I await your explanations, thanks.

I'm confused, is "have got" a verb? Because when I've searched it in a dictionary, it said "have got" was an equivalent of "have", the form is like the "Present Perfect Tense", and it is the equivalent of "have" in British English. I've ever heard that "have got" can't be used in every situation, and only "have" can be used in all situation and all verbs, is that right?

These are the examples. So, do you hear them in standard British English?

I have already got to go (or) I already have to go.

I never have a new pen when I need one (or) I have never got a new pen when I need one.

I have got to do it (or) I have to do it.

I have still got to research itsign those contracts (or) I still have to research itsign those contracts.

I have just/only got five pence (or) I just/only have five pence.

I have also got to do my homework (or) I also have to do my homework.

I haven't just/only got 5 pence (or) I just/only don't have 5 pence.

Have/ haven't I just/only got 5 pence? (Or) do/don't I have 5 pence?

I have/haven't also got to do it (or) I also don't have to do it.

Have/haven't I also got to do it? (Or) do/don't I also have to do it?

So In the past, do you use "had got" or "had in BrE? e.g.

I had got 5 pounds (or) I (did have) had 5 pounds.

I hadn't got 5 pounds (or) I did not have 5 pounds.

Had/hadn't I got 5 pounds? (Or) did/didn't I have 5 pounds?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

I'm a native English speaker in the US, but I'll try to answer this. Regarding the sample sentences you gave:

1. In the US you'd hear: "I've got to go." or "I have to go." ("Already" is implied by "got to" and "have to," so it sounds redundant here.)

2. You'd hear: "I never have a pen when I need one." (When you need a pen to write with, it doesn't matter if the pen is a brand new one, or one that you've had for a while.) "I've never got a pen when I need one." is ungrammatical.

3. "I've got to do it." and "I have to do it." are both correct.

4. You'd say: "I've still got to research it and sign those contracts." or "I still have to research it and sign those contracts."

5. "I've just/only got 5 pence." and "I just/only have 5 pence." are correct.

6. "I've also got to do my homework." and "I also have to do my homework." are correct.

7. The following would be correct: "I haven't just/only got 5 pence. I've got 50 pounds!"; A: "I want to buy this. Come on. It's only 5 pence. Why won't you help me out?" B: "Sorry. I've just don't have 5 pence on me. I left the house this morning without taking any money with me."

8. The following would be okay: "Have I just/only got 5 pence? No, I've more than that on me."; ("Haven't I just/only got 5 pence?" would not be used in English.); "Do I have 5 pence? Why, yes I do."; ("Don't I have 5 pence?" is theoretically grammatical. But when would you use something like this?)

9. "I've also got to do it." is okay. "I haven't also got to do it." would not be used in English. "I also don't have to do it." is theoretically grammatical, but when would you use something like this?

Anonymous · Answer

10. "I've also got to do it." is okay. "I haven't also got to do it." is not used in English. "I also don't have to do it." is okay.

11. "Have/haven't I also got to do it?" is not used in (US) English. "Do/don't I also have to do it?" is okay.

12. "I had got 5 pounds from various sources." would be okay. "I had 5 pounds on me." is okay. "I did have 5 pound on me." is okay.

13. "I hadn't got 5 pounds, as I was promised." would be okay. "I did not have 5 pounds." is okay.

14. "Had I got 5 pounds, I wouldn't have had any problems." would be okay. "Hadn't I got 5 pounds?" is not used in English. "Did I have 5 pounds at the time?" would be okay. "Didn't I have 5 pounds." is not used in English.

Facts about "have" and "have got" in BrE

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