Have, Has and Had: Simple Rules and Everyday Examples

I have a small bag.

💡 Have describes possession.

My sister has a bicycle.

💡 With he, she or it, use has.

We have two tickets.

💡 With “we”, use “have”.

They had a car last year.

💡 Had places possession in the past.

I have lunch at noon.

💡 Have is part of an activity phrase.

She has a meeting today.

💡 Has is a main verb here.

Do you have a charger?

💡 A main-verb question uses do.

Does Omar have a key?

💡 After does, use have, not has.

Did you have breakfast?

💡 Did asks about the past.

We don’t have much time.

💡 Main-verb negative uses do not.

Have you got a pen?

💡 A common present-possession alternative.

I haven’t got a pen.

💡 This matches the have got pattern.

I have finished my message.

💡 Have helps the perfect form.

She has lost her ticket.

💡 A past event has a present consequence.

Have you eaten yet?

💡 Put the helping word have before you to ask the question.

Has the bus arrived?

💡 Has asks about a current result.

We had left before it rained.

💡 Had shows the action happened before another past time.

Had you met her before the course?

💡 Had forms the past-perfect question.

❌ Does she has a ticket?

✅ Does she have a ticket?

After does, use have, not has.

❌ Do you have finished?

✅ Have you finished?

Perfect have forms the question directly.

❌ She have a bicycle.

✅ She has a bicycle.

Use has with he, she or it in the present.

1. B — has

💡 My friend means one person. Use has in the present.

2. A — Did she have lunch?

💡 After did, use have, not had.

3. B — Have you finished the task?

💡 Put have before you. Do not add do when have helps finished.

4. A — We own a car.

💡 Have describes possession here. It does not help another verb.

5. B — had

💡 Had left shows that their leaving happened before my past arrival.