Why can you say ‘I’ve got a car’ and ‘I have a car’, but you can’t say ‘I’m having a car’?

Federico, (Colombia)

This is a very important question and lots of students find this area of grammar quite difficult. However, the answer is really quite simple.  ‘I’ve got a car’ and ‘I have a car’ – here, we are talking about possession, in other words, something which is ‘yours’.  Think about other things which are ‘yours’; a computer, a mobile, a sister even a headache!  So, when we are talking about the idea of possession, we cannot use a continuous form. 

For example, Sally had a bike when she was a child, not Sally was having a bike when she was a child.

So, remember that the verb ‘have (got)’ is for possession and is called a ‘stative’ verb in English.  However,  the verb ‘to have’ is like other main verbs and is used for actions and experiences.  It is called a ‘dynamic’ verb and here, the continuous form can be used. 


Common examples of ‘have’ as a ‘dynamic’ verb are;

• have a shower
• have a holiday
• have an accident
• have breakfast .

 
Can you think of any others?!


‘What are you doing’?  ‘I’m having breakfast’ (not ‘I have breakfast’) 
‘What were you doing last night at 10pm?’  ‘I was having a bath’. (not ‘I had a bath.’
‘When do you usually have a holiday?’  ‘I usually have a holiday in August.’ 


Now it’s your turn!  Can you complete the sentences?

When I was young, I ________ a cat and a dog. (possession)

I ________________ lunch when you called.  (main verb)