Has vs Have: tercera persona singular

Master the difference between has and have in the third person with clear rules, natural examples, and common pitfalls. Build confidence forming affirmative, negative, and question structures using he, she, and it.

Why does have become has with he, she, and it?

In English, the verb have changes in the third person singular. Use has in affirmative sentences with he, she, and it. Use have with I, you, we, and they. This skill helps you keep subject–verb agreement accurate and natural.

• Correct rule: has for he, she, it in affirmatives.
• Do not add s to have: haves is incorrect.
• Havies does not exist in English.

What are correct and incorrect forms?

• Correct: "She has a dog." "He has a dog." "It has a dog."
• Incorrect: "She have a dog." "He haves a dog." "It havies a dog."

What is the sentence structure?

• Pattern: subject + action (verb) + complement.
• Example: "He has a dog." Subject: he. Action: has. Complement: a dog.
• Key concept: third person singular triggers has in affirmatives.

How do negative sentences use doesn't have?

In negatives with he, she, and it, the auxiliary carries the change. Use doesn't + have (base form). The main verb returns to its base form have.

• Correct: "She doesn't have a cat." "He doesn't have a cat." "It doesn't have a cat."
• Do not use has after doesn't: not "doesn't has."
• Reminder: don't is for I, you, we, they; doesn't is for he, she, it.

What is the negative structure?

• Pattern: subject + negative auxiliary (doesn't) + verb in base form (have) + complement.
• Example: "He doesn't have a dog." Subject: he. Auxiliary: doesn't. Verb: have. Complement: a dog.

How do simple questions use does + have?

For yes/no questions with he, she, and it, start with does, then the subject, then have in base form.

• Pattern: Does + subject + have + complement + ?
• Examples: "Does she have a dog?" "Does he have a cat?" "Does it have a dog?"
• Use rising intonation at the end.

What short answers are correct?

• Affirmative: "Yes, he does." "Yes, she does." "Yes, it does."
• Negative: "No, he doesn't." not "No, he has not" for this question pattern.

What skills and keywords should you notice?

• Subject–verb agreement in the third person singular.
• Verb in base form after auxiliaries: doesn't, does.
• Affirmative sentences: has with he, she, it.
• Negative sentences: doesn't have.
• Simple questions: does + subject + have.
• Roles in a sentence: subject, action/verb, complement.
• Auxiliary choice: do/don't for I, you, we, they; does/doesn't for he, she, it.

Want to practice?

• Write examples with a dog, a house, and an airplane using he, she, and it.
• Try: "Does he have a dog?" "Does she have a house?" "Does it have an airplane?"
• Share your sentences and answers in the comments. Let's build accuracy together.