HAVE vs. HAVE GOT

Good morning / afternoon / evening everyone, depending on when you are reading this. Welcome back to the Daily Vitamin!

As you may know, in spoken English it is very common to use have got for possession (Sp.=tener/Cat.=tenir).

Example 1:
I've got a lot of free time now.

We can also use the non-auxiliary form of have alone.

Example 2:
I have a lot of free time now.

Remember, in Example 1 have is an auxiliary verb combined with got and in Example 2 have is a lexical verb; it has it's own meaning, which is why we don't create the contraction I'VE in Example 2.

As you probably know, you can't create a contraction with a subject pronoun (I, he, she...) and a normal lexical verb. For example, I and GET cannot become **I'ET**. And YOU and LIVE cannot contract to **YOU'IVE**. Therefore, you should avoid saying sentences like **"I've a book."** and instead say "I have a book" or "I've got a book."

And of course, in the past tense you do not have the option of using the past of have got.

Example 3:
Last year I had a lot of work, but this year I've got very little.

You cannot say **"Last year I had got a lot of work..."**

When in doubt, use the verb have for possession, rather than the combination of "got" with the auxiliary verb "have."

Today's Daily Vitamin has been a bit technical, so if you have any questions feel free to post them on one of our social media sites (Facebook or Twitter) and we will answer your questions as soon as possible.

I hope you have a nice day!