An explanation of how the English verbs "be" and "have" are used to express states of being and possession.
Understanding how to use be and have is essential for expressing basic ideas about identity, states, and ownership in English. Be describes what someone or something is like, while have shows what someone owns or what relationships or experiences they possess.
- Be = describes identity, characteristics, feelings, and situations
- Have = shows ownership, relationships, or experiences
- Example: “I am tired” (state) vs. “I have a book” (possession)
Usage
The verb be is used to talk about who or what someone is, their qualities, or their current state. It often appears as am, is, or are in the present tense.
The verb have is used to indicate ownership, describe relationships (e.g., family), or talk about experiences and obligations.
- Be + adjective/noun/prepositional phrase (e.g., She is happy.)
- Have + noun (e.g., They have two cats.)
Examples
Here are some examples showing how be and have work in simple sentences:
Be (states and descriptions):
- I am a student.
- She is tired.
- They are at home.
Have (possession and relationships):
- I have a bike.
- He has three sisters.
- We have a meeting today.
Common Mistakes
Be is not used to show possession, so don’t say “I am a car” when you mean “I have a car.”
Have is not used to describe feelings or identity, so don’t say “I have tired” — say “I am tired.”
- Correct: I am happy. / I have a dog.
- Incorrect: I have happy. / I am a dog.
Summary
- Use be to describe who or what someone is and how they feel: am/is/are + (adjective/noun/location)
- Use have to show ownership, relationships, or things someone possesses: have/has + (noun)
- Example: “I am a teacher” vs. “I have a classroom.”
When do you use "be"?
To describe who or what someone is and how they feel
"Be" is used for descriptions of identity, characteristics, and states, not for ownership or actions.
What is the correct structure for "have" sentences in the present tense?
have/has + noun
"Have" sentences use have/has followed by a noun to indicate possession or relationships.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
