Speaking: Grammar in Speaking A1 - Lesson 2: Using "have got" for Possession

Speaking: Grammar in Speaking A1 - Lesson 2

Using "have got" for Possession

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to use "have got" and "has got" to talk about the things you own and ask questions about what other people own.

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The Big Idea: Using "have got" for Possession

In English, to talk about possession¹ (things you own), it is very common to say "have got"² or "has got"³. It means the same as "have" or "has" (មាន), but it's very popular in spoken English.

The form changes based on the subject:

Subject	Correct Form	Example Statement
I / You / We / They	have got	I have got a phone4.
He / She / It	has got	She has got a red moto5.

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Vocabulary Glossary

1. Possession (Noun) | កម្មសិទ្ធិ | Owning something; showing that something belongs to you. ↩
2. have got (Verb Phrase) | មាន | A common spoken way to say you have something. Used with I, you, we, they. ↩
3. has got (Verb Phrase) | មាន | A common spoken way to say you have something. Used with he, she, it. ↩
4. phone (Noun) | ទូរស័ព្ទ | A mobile telephone. ↩
5. moto (Noun) | ម៉ូតូ | A motorcycle. ↩
6. brother (Noun) | បងប្អូនប្រុស | A boy or man with the same parents as you. ↩
7. sister (Noun) | បងប្អូនស្រី | A girl or woman with the same parents as you. ↩

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record_voice_over Speaking Fluently with Contractions

To sound natural, we use contractions when we speak. "Have got" becomes "'ve got" and "has got" becomes "'s got".

• I have got -> I've got (I've got an idea.)
• You have got -> You've got (You've got a nice watch.)
• He has got -> He's got (He's got a new bicycle.)
• She has got -> She's got (She's got a question.)

Important Tip: "He's" can mean "He is" or "He has". You know the meaning from the words that come after. "He's a teacher" means "He is". "He's got a pen" means "He has".

lightbulb Asking Questions with "have got"

To make a question, we change the order. It's easy!

Statement ➡ Question

• You have got a pen. ➡ Have you got a pen?
• He has got a job. ➡ Has he got a job?
• She has got a sister⁷. ➡ Has she got a sister?

Short Answers

• Have you got a pen? -> Yes, I have. / No, I haven't.
• Has he got a job? -> Yes, he has. / No, he hasn't.

sports_esports Practice Using "have got"

Activity 1: Choose the Correct Form

Complete the sentences with "have got" or "has got".

1. I ___ two brothers. (Answer: have got)
2. She ___ a black helmet. (Answer: has got)
3. They ___ a beautiful house. (Answer: have got)
4. My brother⁶ ___ a new job. (Answer: has got)

Activity 2: Ask Your Partner

Work with a partner. Ask them these questions. They should answer with a short answer ("Yes, I have." / "No, I haven't.").

• Have you got a pen?
• Have you got a brother?
• Have you got a watch?

task Your Grammar Mission

This week in Siem Reap, your mission is to talk about possession.

1. Tell a friend about one thing you have using "I've got...". (e.g., "I've got a new shirt.")
2. Ask a friend one question using "Have you got...?". (e.g., "Have you got the time?")