Practice
It has or it have: which is correct?
The apartment has a balcony. It may have a parking space too. One letter changes the form, but the sentence tells you which form belongs there.
Use it has with a singular subject in the present simple, and use have after a modal verb or in a structure where another verb controls the form.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
it has /ɪt hæz/
The short answer
Choose it has when it is the subject of a present-simple sentence. Choose have when a modal verb comes before it or when the grammar pattern requires the base form. Check the words immediately before have or has.
This phone has a longer battery life.
Why it works: This phone is singular, so the present-simple verb is has.
5 more examples
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The new printer has a quiet mode.
The new printer is one thing, so the simple present uses has.
Not this:The new printer
may havea quiet mode. What changes: May is a modal verb, so have stays in its base form. -
It has a small crack near the screen.
It is singular, and the sentence is a direct present-tense statement.
Not this:It
could havea crack near the screen. What changes: Could requires the base form have. -
The report has three sections.
The report is singular, even though three sections is plural.
Not this:The report
will havethree sections. What changes: Will is followed by the base form have. -
Does it have an update available?
Does carries the present-simple grammar in this question, so the next verb is have.
Not this:It
hasan update available. What changes: Without does, the singular present form is has. -
It does not have enough memory for the program.
Does not requires the base form have after it.
Not this:It
hasenough memory for the program. What changes: This positive statement has no auxiliary does, so has carries the singular present form.
Read the full guide
First, find the subject and the verb group. The pronoun it is singular, so a simple present-tense sentence uses has. A modal verb changes the next verb to its base form, so may have and will have are correct.
Use has in a simple statement
When it is the subject of a present-simple statement, use has. The same pattern appears with he and she.
It has two doors.
The sentence describes a present fact, so has carries the singular form.
Choose the form: This device ___ a built-in camera.
Use has: This device has a built-in camera.
Keep have after a modal verb
Modal verbs such as can, may, will, and should are followed by the base form. That is why it can have and it will have are correct.
It will have a larger screen next year.
Will controls the verb form, so use have, not has.
Complete the sentence: The package may ___ a tracking number.
Use have: The package may have a tracking number.
Questions and negatives use have after does
In a present-simple question or negative, does carries the singular form. The main verb after does stays as have.
Does it have a charger in the box?
Does is already the singular present form. Have does not change to has after it.
Choose the form: It does not ___ a charger.
Use have: It does not have a charger.
Check the verb group before editing
Do not choose by looking at it alone. Read the whole verb group. A direct statement needs it has, while a helper verb before have changes the form you need.
It should have a label on the back.
Should is the helper verb, so have remains unchanged.
Which phrase is a direct present-tense statement: it has or it should have?
Use it has for a direct present-tense statement.
Before you go
Remember this
Use it has in a simple present-tense statement. Use have after a modal verb and after do, does, or did. Find the helper verb first, then choose the form that follows it.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "It has or it have: which is correct?"
Why is it has correct in a simple sentence?
It is a singular subject, like he or she. In a simple present-tense statement, singular third-person subjects use has. Write it has when there is no modal or helper verb before the main verb.
The new printer has a quiet mode.
Why do we say it will have instead of it will has?
Will is a modal verb. A modal verb is followed by the base form of the next verb, so the correct pattern is will have. The singular form has does not follow will, can, may, should, or similar modal verbs.
The new printer may have a quiet mode.
Is it have correct after does?
Yes, in a question or negative that uses does. Does already shows the singular present-tense form, so the main verb stays as have. This pattern also works after does not and did.
It has a small crack near the screen.
Can it have appear in a present-tense question?
Yes. Use have after does in a present-simple question because does is the helping verb that agrees with it. The rest of the verb group uses the base form, even though the subject is singular.
It could have a crack near the screen.
What should I check before choosing has or have?
Find the complete verb group. If it begins a direct present-tense statement, choose has. If a modal verb or do, does, or did appears before the main verb, choose have. Reading the whole group avoids a spelling-only decision.
The report has three sections.