DOESN’T HAVE is correct. HAVE is used with the auxiliary verb DOESN’T for negative sentences. The verb “DOESN’T” agrees with 3rd person singular subjects (He, She, It) so HAVE does not change to HAS. “She doesn’t have time.”
I was teaching a private lesson here in Japan and one of my students was describing a situation with a friend. She had a question about Doesn’t have or has? English grammar:
| “He hasn’t any money.” Or “He doesn’t have any money.” |
My student wanted to know which sentence was correct. This is a great question, and I think it is a common question for anyone who is studying English.
I have seen people asking similar questions online. Questions like “Should I use “He doesn’t have or has?”
Table of Contents
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The verb TO HAVE becomes HAS for third-person singular subjects
The pronouns – he, she, it + any name, position or relation that describes one single person or thing are third-person singular subjects.
Do you want to learn more about Third-Person Singular English grammar? I wrote a complete guide that you can see here!
| Subject | Singular (one) | Plural (more than one) |
| First-person | I have | We have |
| Second-person | You have | You have (plural) |
| Third-person | He, She, It has | They have |
*The pronouns – he, she, it + any name, position, or relation that describes one single person or thing are third-person singular subjects.
・Michael has time after work.
・The boss has time after work.
・My sister has time after work.
・The dog has a blue collar.
The verb HAVE can also be used as an auxiliary verb.
auxiliary verb – a verb such as be, do and have used with main verbs to show tense, etc. and to form questions and negatives
Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries auxiliary verb
Negative and Interrogative (Questions)
Look at the table below to understand how we make negative and interrogative statements (questions) with the verb HAVE in English.
| HAVE as the main verb | HAVE as an auxiliary verb |
| Have is used with the auxiliary verb DO/DOES for the negative. | Haven’t or Hasn’t are used to make a negative statement with the main verb. |
| He doesn’t have enough money. They don’t have enough money. | He hasn’t got enough money. They haven’t got enough money. |
| Have is used with the auxiliary verb DO/DOES for questions. | Have or Has are used to make a question with the main verb. |
| Does he have enough money? Do you have enough money? | Has he been to the bank yet? Have you been to the bank yet? |
Negative questions too
| Doesn’t he have enough money? Don’t you have enough money? | Hasn’t he been to the bank yet? Haven’t you been to the bank yet? |
Hasn’t VS. Doesn’t have
I’ll explain the difference between Hasn’t and Doesn’t have with some simple examples.
The verb HAVE is written HAS for the third-person singular.
Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries has 33 uses for the verb HAVE! The #1 definition and the one we will focus on in this post is:
to own, hold or possess something
Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries HAVE
There are 2 ways to use the verb “have” in English.
Have is the main verb
One way to use HAVE is as the main verb in a sentence. The verb is showing who or what owns, holds, or possesses something.
- I have time on Wednesday.
I will possess time on Wednesday. To have time means to be available, to be free.
- Mike has the project files.
Mike holds the project files now.
Free time is very valuable.
The average person spends five years waiting in lines during their lifetime. About six months of this time is spent waiting at traffic lights!
The verb have is also used with illnesses or medical conditions.
- I’m going to lie down for a few minutes, I have a headache.
- Michael didn’t come to work this morning, I think he has a bad cold.
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*Note – this meaning of HAVE is not used in the progressive tense.
I’m having time on Wednesday. This is incorrect.
Some other meanings of HAVE can be used in the progressive tense.
- to eat, drink or smoke something
“I’m having dinner right now, can you call me back?”
The third-person singular is not used in the progressive tense.
Bill is hasing some time on Wednesday. X incorrect.
More examples
We have a new puppy, his name is Rosco.
Linda has a Master’s degree in physics from the University of Toronto.
Have as an auxiliary verb
Another way we can use HAVE is as an auxiliary (helper) verb.
Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries HAVE auxiliary verb
As an auxiliary verb, HAVE is used with the past participle to form perfect tenses.
More great Perfect Tense English grammar study is waiting for you here!
Please look at these 2 examples:
I’VE been to Mexico twice.
HAS anyone seen Karen today?
HAVE is the auxiliary verb in these sentences. The main verbs are been (the past participle of the verb to be) and seen (the past participle of the verb to see).
Another common English sentence pattern is have been plus the continuous tense of a verb. Verb +ing.
- I’ve been teaching English since 2006.
- We have been waiting for almost 90 minutes.
- Steve has been acting strange recently, I wonder what’s wrong.
If you find the past participle verb form confusing I’ve got just the lesson you need! I wrote a blog post with a detailed explanation of how we use the past participle with lots of examples.
The auxiliary verb HAVE can be used with its own past participle, “HAD” to make the common English idiom have had it.
This expression means to be unable to accept a situation any longer.
“Jennifer has lied to me too many times, I’ve had it with her. I’ll never trust her again.”
More examples
HAVE you tried that new café on Front street yet? I hear it’s really good. (Tried is the past participle of the verb to try)
I HAVE just eaten lunch so I’m not hungry. (Eaten is the past participle of the verb to eat).
Have is the main verb – Negative
When have is the main verb in a sentence we will use the verb do/does as an auxiliary verb for the negative. (don’t/doesn’t)
Let’s look at the negative forms of our first 2 example sentences:
“I don’t have time tomorrow.”
“Mike doesn’t have the project files anymore. He gave them to Kevin.”
HAVE is the main verb in both of these sentences.
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More examples
“Linda doesn’t have a Ph.D.”
“I don’t have any pets.”
Have is the auxiliary verb – Negative
When have is the auxiliary verb in a sentence we will use its negative form (haven’t/hasn’t) before the past participle of the main verb.
Let’s look at the negative form of our other 2 example sentences:
“I have been to Mexico but I HAVEN’T been to Australia yet.”
“HASN’T anyone seen Karen today?”
HAVE is the auxiliary verb in these sentences.
The word “anyone” is a third-person singular pronoun. It must agree with the auxiliary verb, in this sentence HAS. This is also true in other sentence constructions.
- “Does anyone have the time?”
- “Does anyone know what time the movie starts?”
More examples
“If I HADN’T seen it with my own eyes I wouldn’t have believed it.”
“It’s only 4:30 so Kelly probably HASN’T left work yet.” (Left is the past participle of the verb to leave.)
“Mike HASN’T called me yet.” (Called is the past participle of the verb to call.)
Do you remember my student’s question?
He hasn’t any money.
OR
He doesn’t have any money.
Which is correct?
To have money means to hold or possess money. This is the main verb in our sentence. Remember…
When have is the main verb in a sentence we will use the verb do/does as an auxiliary verb for the negative. (don’t/doesn’t)
He doesn’t have any money is correct!
Are you good with money? Good at money? Learn the difference here >> GOOD AT or GOOD IN (or GOOD WITH?)
(He never does...)
More examples
A: Is Brad coming to the party?
B: Unfortunately no. He doesn’t have time this weekend.
*Got can also be used in casual English to mean have. (Especially in North America)
Got is often used with have\has as an auxiliary form.
He hasn’t got time.
I’ve got time.
She’s got money.
We haven’t got any money.
Conclusion – Doesn’t have or has
If HAVE/HAS is the main verb in your sentence, you need to use the auxiliary verb DO/DOES to make the negative form.
When HAVE is the main verb it will not change for third-person sentences. The auxiliary verb DON’T will become DOESN’T for negative sentences with a third-person subject.
I’d love to help you Candace, but I don’t have any time today.
Brian wants to come to Korea with us but he doesn’t have any money
If HAVE/HAS is an auxiliary verb that supports another verb in your sentence, you will use HAVEN’T/HASN’T to make the negative.
I haven’t been to Disneyland since I was 8 years old.
Why is Lincoln taking a break? He hasn’t done anything all day!
DONE is the past participle of the verb TO DO.
Doesn’t have or has Infographic
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