The Plural Form of “Have”: Rules, Examples & Usage Explained

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The verb “have” is one of the most fundamental and versatile verbs in English. It serves both as a main verb (to express possession, relationships, or experiences) and as an auxiliary (helping) verb used to form perfect tenses. Understanding how “have” behaves with singular and plural subjects is essential for mastering English grammar.

Unlike nouns, verbs do not have plural forms in the traditional sense. Instead, verbs like “have” change their form based on the subject they agree with. For example, “has” is used with third-person singular subjects, while “have” is used with plural subjects and with “I” and “you”. This distinction is crucial for subject-verb agreement.

Grasping when to use “have” versus “has” is key for grammatical accuracy, clear communication, and academic writing. This guide is designed for students, teachers, ESL learners, and grammar enthusiasts who want a deep and thorough understanding of the plural usage of “have”.

Inside, you’ll find clear definitions, detailed rules, extensive examples, comparison tables, common mistakes, practice exercises with answers, and much more—all designed to help you master “have” in plural contexts.

Table of Contents

3. Definition Section

3.1. What Is “Have”?

“Have” is an irregular verb with two primary grammatical roles:

  • Main verb: indicates possession, relationships, experience, or obligation.
  • Auxiliary (helping) verb: combines with main verbs to form perfect tenses.

Examples:

  • Main verb: They have a new house.
  • Auxiliary verb: They have finished their homework.

3.2. Plural of “Have”: What Does It Mean?

Unlike nouns, verbs do not have plural forms by adding “-s” or “-es.” Instead, the plural concept relates to subject-verb agreement—choosing the correct form of “have” based on whether the subject is singular or plural.

For example:

  • He has a car. (singular subject, third-person)
  • They have a car. (plural subject)

3.3. Grammatical Classification

“Have” is an irregular verb with these forms:

  • Base form: have
  • Third-person singular present: has
  • Past tense: had
  • Present participle: having

3.4. Plural Usage Contexts

In the present tense, the form of “have” depends on the subject:

  • Plural subjects: They have, We have, You have
  • Singular third-person: He has, She has, It has

In the past tense, all subjects use the same form: had.

4. Structural Breakdown

4.1. Subject-Verb Agreement with “Have”

Correct subject-verb agreement is essential. Here are the rules:

  • Use “has” with third-person singular (he, she, it, or singular nouns)
  • Use “have” with plural subjects (we, you, they, plural nouns) and with “I”
Subject Verb Form Example
I have I have a question.
You have You have many friends.
He/She/It has She has a dog.
We have We have tickets.
They have They have new shoes.

4.2. Present Simple Tense

In the present simple:

  • He/She/It has (singular, third-person)
  • I/You/We/They have (plural or non-third-person singular)

This is irregular because most verbs add an -s for third-person singular, but “have” changes form entirely to “has”.

4.3. Auxiliary “Have” in Perfect Tenses

When “have” is an auxiliary verb, it helps form perfect tenses:

Subject Present Perfect (Affirmative) Example
He/She/It has + past participle She has left.
We/You/They have + past participle They have finished.

4.4. Past Tense: “Had”

In the past tense, “have” becomes “had” for all subjects, singular and plural.

  • I had a cat.
  • He had a cat.
  • They had a cat.
  • We had a cat.

4.5. Negative Forms

In negatives, “have” forms differ according to tense and usage:

Form Plural Subjects Example
Present Simple Negative do not (don’t) have They don’t have time.
Auxiliary Perfect Negative have not (haven’t) We haven’t finished.
Singular Present Negative does not (doesn’t) have She doesn’t have a pen.

4.6. Questions with “Have”

To form questions:

  • Main verb: Use do/does + subject + have
    • Do they have a car?
    • Does he have a car?
  • Auxiliary verb: Invert have/has + subject + past participle
    • Have they finished?
    • Has she finished?

5. Types or Categories

5.1. Plural Usage as a Main Verb

When “have” is a main verb, plural subjects indicate possession or experience:

  • We have a new project.
  • They have three dogs.
  • You have many options.

5.2. Plural Usage as an Auxiliary Verb

With plural subjects in perfect tenses:

  • They have completed the task.
  • We have traveled a lot.
  • You have learned quickly.

5.3. Regional Variations (Dialectal Forms)

There are dialectal differences in the use of “have” and “have got”:

Dialect Plural Form Example
British English They have got They have got a new car.
American English They have They have a new car.

5.4. Contractions in Plural Forms

Common plural contractions:

  • We’ve (We have)
  • They’ve (They have)
  • You’ve (You have)

Examples:

  • We’ve seen the movie.
  • They’ve finished their work.
  • You’ve got mail.

6. Examples Section

6.1. Plural Main Verb – Possession

  • They have two children.
  • We have a meeting today.
  • You have a lot of energy.
  • We have a problem to solve.
  • They have new neighbors.
  • You have the documents.
  • We have several options.
  • They have many books.
  • We have enough time.
  • You have a busy schedule.

6.2. Plural Auxiliary Verb – Present Perfect

  • They have finished their homework.
  • We have traveled to Japan.
  • You have learned a lot.
  • They have gone home.
  • We have eaten already.
  • You have improved significantly.
  • They have bought a new house.
  • We have won the match.
  • You have forgotten your keys.
  • They have written several reports.

6.3. Negative Plural Forms

  • They don’t have any money.
  • We haven’t seen that movie.
  • You haven’t finished yet.
  • They don’t have a plan.
  • We don’t have enough supplies.
  • You don’t have the answer.
  • They haven’t started the project.
  • We haven’t received the package.
  • You haven’t met him.
  • They don’t have a choice.

6.4. Questions with Plural Subjects

  • Do they have a plan?
  • Have you heard the news?
  • Have we met before?
  • Do you have any questions?
  • Have they completed the task?
  • Do we have enough chairs?
  • Have you finished your work?
  • Do they have permission?
  • Have we agreed on the date?
  • Do you have the address?

6.5. Comparative Example Tables

Table 1: Singular vs. Plural Present Simple

Subject Singular (has) Plural (have)
He/She/It She has a car. They have a car.
I — I have a car.
You — You have a car.
We — We have a car.
They — They have a car.

Table 2: Auxiliary “Have” Forms (Affirmative, Negative, Question)

Form Plural Subject Example
Affirmative have They have finished.
Negative haven’t They haven’t finished.
Question Have + subject Have they finished?

Table 3: Plural Contractions

Full Form Contraction Example
We have We’ve We’ve seen it.
They have They’ve They’ve arrived.
You have You’ve You’ve done well.

Table 4: Regional Variations: “Have” vs. “Have got”

Dialect Plural Form Example
British English They have got They’ve got a dog.
American English They have They have a dog.

Table 5: Past Tense (No Plural Difference)

Subject Past Tense Example
He/She/It had She had a cat.
We/They/You had They had a cat.
I had I had a cat.

7. Usage Rules

7.1. Subject-Verb Agreement Rules

  • Use “have” with plural subjects (we, you, they).
  • Use “has” only with third-person singular (he, she, it).
  • “I” always uses “have”, not “has”.

7.2. Auxiliary Verb Agreement

  • In perfect tenses, plural subjects take have (e.g., They have gone).
  • Singular third-person takes has (e.g., He has gone).

7.3. Negative and Question Forms

  • For present simple possession, use do/does support:
    • Plural: do not have or don’t have
    • Singular: does not have or doesn’t have
  • For perfect tenses, invert have/has in questions, and use have not/has not (or haven’t/hasn’t) in negatives.

7.4. Contraction Guidelines

  • Use ’ve with plural subjects: We’ve, They’ve, You’ve.
  • Do not contract “has” with plural subjects.

7.5. Common Exceptions & Special Cases

  • Indefinite pronouns: “Everyone has” (singular meaning, despite plural meaning).
  • Collective nouns:
    • British English: The team have won.
    • American English: The team has won.
Case Plural or Singular Verb Form Example
Everyone Singular has Everyone has arrived.
Team (UK) Plural have The team have won.
Team (US) Singular has The team has won.

8. Common Mistakes

8.1. Using “has” with plural subjects

Incorrect: They has a car.

Correct: They have a car.

8.2. Using “have” with third-person singular

Incorrect: She have a dog.

Correct: She has a dog.

8.3. Confusing auxiliary and main verb forms

Incorrect: They has finished.

Correct: They have finished.

8.4. Errors in questions/negatives

Incorrect: Does they have?

Correct: Do they have?

8.5. Incorrect contractions

Incorrect: They’s got a car.

Correct: They’ve got a car.

8.6. Mistakes with collective nouns

British English:

Correct: The staff have decided to strike.

American English:

Correct: The staff has decided to strike.

9. Practice Exercises

9.1. Fill-in-the-Blank (Choose “have” or “has”)

  1. They _______ a new house.
  2. She _______ a bicycle.
  3. We _______ an idea.
  4. My friends _______ tickets.
  5. He _______ a cold.
  6. You _______ the keys?
  7. The students _______ questions.
  8. It _______ four legs.
  9. I _______ a headache.
  10. Dogs _______ sharp teeth.

9.2. Correct the Error

  1. They has a lot of homework.
  2. She have a new dress.
  3. We has finished the report.
  4. Does they have a car?
  5. My brothers has a game tonight.
  6. He have a phone.
  7. You has done well.
  8. The children has toys.
  9. They has gone home.
  10. She have finished her lunch.

9.3. Identify the Verb Type (Main verb or Auxiliary)

  1. They have a meeting.
  2. We have finished our work.
  3. You have a bike.
  4. They have traveled far.
  5. I have lunch at noon.
  6. They have gone to the park.
  7. We have a problem.
  8. They have solved the puzzle.
  9. You have two sisters.
  10. They have completed the exam.

9.4. Sentence Construction

Make plural sentences using “have”.

  1. The students / many questions
  2. My friends / tickets for the concert
  3. We / a new project
  4. They / finished their work
  5. You / a lot of homework

9.5. Answers Section

Fill-in-the-Blank Answers

  1. have
  2. has
  3. have
  4. have
  5. has
  6. have
  7. have
  8. has
  9. have
  10. have

Correct the Error Answers

  1. They have a lot of homework.
  2. She has a new dress.
  3. We have finished the report.
  4. Do they have a car?
  5. My brothers have a game tonight.
  6. He has a phone.
  7. You have done well.
  8. The children have toys.
  9. They have gone home.
  10. She has finished her lunch.

Identify the Verb Type Answers

  1. Main verb
  2. Auxiliary
  3. Main verb
  4. Auxiliary
  5. Main verb
  6. Auxiliary
  7. Main verb
  8. Auxiliary
  9. Main verb
  10. Auxiliary

Sentence Construction Answers (Sample)

  1. The students have many questions.
  2. My friends have tickets for the concert.
  3. We have a new project.
  4. They have finished their work.
  5. You have a lot of homework.

10. Advanced Topics

10.1. “Have Got” in Plural Contexts

“Have got” is mainly used in British English to express possession, often interchangeably with “have”.

  • They have got a problem. (British)
  • They have a problem. (American)

10.2. Emphatic “Do Have” in Plural

To emphasize, use “do have”:

  • They do have a point.
  • We do have enough time.

10.3. Inversion in Formal Questions

For formal questions in perfect tenses:

  • Have the students completed the exam?
  • Have we made ourselves clear?

10.4. Subjunctive and Conditional Forms

Use “have” with plural in hypothetical statements:

  • If they have time, they will come.
  • If we have finished, we can leave.

10.5. Agreement with Indefinite Pronouns and Collective Nouns

Everyone, someone are singular: Everyone has.

Collective nouns:

  • British English: plural meaning → The committee have decided.
  • American English: singular meaning → The committee has decided.

11. FAQ Section

  1. Is there a plural form of the verb “have”?
    No, verbs do not have plural forms like nouns. The “plural form” concept refers to using “have” with plural subjects, while “has” is used with singular third-person subjects.
  2. When do I use “has” vs. “have” with plural subjects?
    Use “have” with all plural subjects (we, you, they) and “has” only with third-person singular (he, she, it).
  3. Does “have” change in the past tense for plural subjects?
    No. In the past, all subjects—singular and plural—use “had”.
  4. How do contractions work with plural forms of “have”?
    Plural subjects contract “have” as “’ve”: We’ve, They’ve, You’ve. Never use “’s” with plural subjects.
  5. Can “have” be both main and auxiliary verb with plural subjects?
    Yes. For example: “They have a car” (main verb), “They have finished” (auxiliary verb).
  6. What is the difference between “have” and “have got”?
    “Have got” (mainly British English) also means possession, similar to “have”. e.g., “They have got a car” = “They have a car”.
  7. Do collective nouns take plural or singular “have”?
    British English often treats collective nouns as plural: “The team have won.” American English prefers singular: “The team has won.”
  8. How do I form questions with plural subjects and “have”?
    Use “Do” for main verb: “Do they have a car?” or invert “have” for perfect tenses: “Have they arrived?”
  9. Are there regional differences in plural use of “have”?
    Yes. British English uses “have got” more often; American English prefers plain “have”.
  10. What are common mistakes when using plural forms of “have”?
    Using “has” with plural subjects (“They has”), confusing question forms (“Does they have?”), and wrong contractions (“They’s”).
  11. Is “have” used differently in formal and informal contexts?
    Informally, contractions like “they’ve” are common. Formal writing often uses the full form (“they have”).
  12. What plural forms of “have” contractions exist?
    We’ve, You’ve, They’ve (never “has” contractions with plural subjects).

12. Conclusion

To sum up, although “have” does not have a plural form like nouns do, understanding its agreement with plural subjects is vital for correct English grammar. Remember:

  • Use “have” with plural subjects (we, you, they) and “I”.
  • Use “has” only with third-person singular (he, she, it).
  • In perfect tenses, plural subjects take “have”.
  • In the past tense, all subjects use “had”.

Practice with the examples and exercises to reinforce your skills. Mastering the plural usage of “have” will greatly enhance your writing, speaking, and comprehension in English. Return to this guide whenever you need a refresher on “have” in plural contexts!

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