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ESL forum >
Grammar and Linguistics > Has/have got Vs has/have
Has/have got Vs has/have
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yingying
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Has/have got Vs has/have
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Hi, everybody. I just noticed form the Sesame Street that when we describe different parts of body, people tend to say " I have got a pair of eyes" rather than " I have a pair of eyes". Is there any difference between the two? And is it right or natural for us to say "I have". Just want to ensure I say it right and teach it right. Thanks a lot. |
16 Dec 2008
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Zora
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Both are correct. "have got" just emphasizes the point of "possessing" something.
In fact, as a teacher... I don�t like "have got"... oh, sure it�s an easy tense to learn but so is "have" as a normal verb.
"Have" can also be used virtually the same way as "Have got". You can say:
"He has a dog." or "He has got a dog" // "Has he a dog?" or "Has he got a dog?" = both are correct. The first interrogative form may sound a bit weird but it is correct.
Anyhow... as I was saying, I myself prefer to treat "have" as a normal verb with it�s normal conjugations. Why? Because I have found many students forget that "have got" is used only in the present simple tense. It has no other tense and therefore can become confused.
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16 Dec 2008
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Vickiii
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In regards to native speakers:
The word got is used a lot by young children as it is very easy to apply. You will see it appear in a childs writing repeatidly.
As children develop their vocabularly teachers actively discourage the use of the word �got�. You will find that it can always be replaced by a more sophisticated phrase. It is considered a very simple way of saying something.
when I ask 9 year old and up children to edit their writing - I usually underline the word got and ask them to �have a go� at changing it.
Example:
I got a bike for my birthday.
I received a bike for my birthday.
I got an A for my report.
I earned an A for my report.
I have got a pair of eyes.
I have one pair of eyes. |
16 Dec 2008
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Zora
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I�d like to point out that Sesame Street is an American program and it is erroneous to think that Americans don�t use "have got". Adults may not use it as often and it is as Vickii has pointed out more of a "child�s" thing. But it is used. In Canada, we use it and I can assure you that American�s too...
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16 Dec 2008
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yingying
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Thanks to Zora, Tere-arg and Vickiii. Glad to be part of this community. |
16 Dec 2008
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yingying
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Just after posting the last reply, another question pops up in my mind. Which of the following sentences is correct?
1) My monster has a neck like a giraffee.
Or
2) My monster has a neck like a giraffee�s.
And is it correct for us to put " s" after animals? or we can only put "s" after human beings to show possession. Thanks in advance. |
16 Dec 2008
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Zora
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My monster has a neck like a giraffee�s. is correct, the �s may be used with things in this case. |
16 Dec 2008
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alien boy
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I would think "My monster has a neck like a giraffe" is correct as it is a simile, so the neck is not in fact a giraffe�s neck, but similar.
Now if it was "My monster has a giraffe�s neck" that would be correct because it is, in fact, the neck of a giraffe.
I have actually heard this structure used both ways regularly.
Cheers,
B-)
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16 Dec 2008
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Zora
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Hey Alien boy,
To know if it is correct you would just substitute "giraffe�s"... by making a similar sentence.
Example: Her mother has a neck like her "sister�s"(referring to her sister�s neck although it has been omitted) not "Her mother has a neck like her "sister". (Although both are heard, I do agree with that.. )
It looks like a simile but it�s not really, it�s a comparison of sorts. A simile would be "She sings like a lark". // "He drives like a mad man".
Just thought I�d add...
"My monster has a neck like a giraffe"... would mean "My monster has a neck in the shape/form of a giraffe" and not that it is similar to a giraffe�s... Same with the "Her mother has a neck like her "sister". .. it would mean virtually that "her neck is shaped like her sister, and not her sister�s neck.." ALTHOUGH we natives would understand that sentence to mean that it is similar to her sister�s but grammatically it is wrong if we are looking at the meaning she wanted to give it...
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16 Dec 2008
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wolfy
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As natives we are permitted so many errors Zora, it almost shames us for trying to correct our students.�
Here�s some lyrics:
I have got� I have� I got�
Take your pick as a native speaker I reckon you could get away with any of them.
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16 Dec 2008
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