Possession States
Indicating possession and ownership
Statements of Possession Having Expressions
| POSSESSESION | EXPERIENCE |
|---|---|
STATIVE VERBS - the verbs below cannot be progressive. They are states not actions. |
DYNAMIC VERB – the verb "have" occurs in expressions about activities. Have in these expressions can be progressive. |
My dog has a ball. |
My dog is having a ball! (expression – a good time) |
The dog belongs my sister. |
We are already having a drink. ( to consume) |
She has blonde fur |
We are having dinner/ lunch/ breakfast. (to eat) |
She will possess your heart. (take hold of) |
We are having trouble / difficulty. (to experience) |
We own a house with a backyard. |
We are having a baby. (to await the birth) |
We hold the title to our house. (ownership papers) |
He's having a bad time. (to experience) |
Secretariat holds the title as the fastest horse ever. (possesses the distinction) |
He's having a party. (to host) |
Expressions
| HAVING - HOSTING | HAVING - EATING |
|---|---|
Having a turkey for dinner could mean inviting a turkey as a guest, or it could mean eating a (just one) turkey at dinner. |
Having turkey for dinner means eating turkey meat for dinner. |
We are 
We are
HAVE - Other Expressions
| MEANING | EXAMPLE |
|---|---|
TO BE RELATED (v) |
I have four brothers. |
TO ACCEPT RELATIONSHIP (v) |
She didn't want to marry him. She wouldn't have him. |
TO EXPERIENCE (v) |
We're having a great time. |
TO HOLD IN MIND (v) |
I have an idea. |
TO BE IDENTIFIED BY (v) |
She has a mole on her left cheek. |
TO CARRY ON (v) |
Let's have a little talk. |
TO ASSERT (v) |
Rumor has it that Brad Pitt will be doing the movie. |
TO HOLD ADVANTAGE (v) |
They have it over us by at least three points. |
TO BE DECEIVED (v) |
The investors were had by the con artist. (crook) |
TO PUT IN A POSITION (v) |
The other chess player had him on the defensive. |
TO GAIN POSSESSION (v) |
There was none to be had at any price. |
TO ADVISE (v) |
You had better go. You had better not say anything. |
TO BECOME TIRED OR DEFEATED (v) |
We have had it with his complaining all the time. Enough! |
TO DESERVE (v) |
He had it coming to him after treating her so badly. (misfortune) |
Let's have it out. I don't want to keep fighting. |
|
TO WEAR (v) |
She had on a beautiful white, sleeveless ball gown. |
TO ATTACK (v) |
It's time to have at my homework. (informal) |
TO BE UNRELATED; TO AVOID (v) |
We have nothing to do with that situation. She has nothing to do with him anymore. |
Pop-Q "Have got"
Also see Phrasal Verbs- have
Have vs. Have Got
| HAVE | HAVE GOT |
|---|---|
Have is used for possession and actions (to experience) such as "I am having fun". |
Have got is used for possession more commonly in British English (while have gotten has a meaning of acquiring something by some unmentioned means.) |
He has money. (Eng.–US – possession) |
He has got money. ( Eng.–Br. – possession) He has gotten money. (Acquired it or received it by some means – Amer. English) |
I usually have dinner at 8:00 p.m. (Action – eat ) |
I usually have got dinner at 8:00 p.m.
|
|
Song (1921): In the morning, in the evening, ain't we got fun. (Informal - artistic license) Eng-US – license, Eng–Br: licence |
Common Mistakes
| ERROR | FIX |
|---|---|
I have twenty-one years. |
I am twenty-one. I am twenty-one-years old. |
I'm have trouble with my washing machine. I've trouble with my washing machine. |
I'm having trouble with my washing machine. I have trouble with my washing machine. (Have – for possession – cannot be contracted.)
|
My puppy has six months.
She is having a ball. |
My puppy is six months old. (Use is not has.) She is having a ball with it. (expression - having a great time) |
Pop-Q "Having"
Practice
Possession vs. Expression with Have
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Practice 2
Have vs. Having
- Choose the answer that best completes the sentence.
- Compare your responses to the answers by clicking the the "show answers" button at the bottom.