The negative form of the verb to have: How and When to Use in English

You have a smartphone → You don't have a smartphone. Make this sentence negative by adding don't before the main verb (have). Example: you don't have enough money.

Anna has news → Anna does not have news. When the verb to have follows a subject like Anna (=she), make the sentence negative by following this structure: subject (Anna) + does not + verb in the infinitive form without to (have), just like all regular verbs Present simple, negative, short. Example: the guest does not have a big suitcase.

They have got many friends → They haven't got many friends. When to have means to possess, you can create the negative form with got by following this structure: subject (here, they) + haven't (short for have not) + got. Example: they haven't got their documents. Note: you could also say They don't have many friends.

She hasn't got a formal dress. When to have means to possess, you can make it negative by following this structure: subject (here, she) + haven't/hasn't + got. Example: Timmy hasn't got a boat. Note: you could also say She doesn't have a formal dress.

Dr Meyer doesn't have a degree. Just like any regular verb Present simple, negative, short, you can make the verb to have negative by following this structure: subject (Dr Meyer) + don't/doesn't + verb (have). Example: James doesn't have any pets.

We do not have a small apartment. To make the verb to have negative, follow this structure: subject (in this case, we) + do/does + not + verb (have). Example: we do not have any hobbies.

Caroline has a menu → Caroline doesn't have a menu. Generally, you can make the verb to have negative by following the same structure as you use for regular verbs Present simple, negative, short, here: subject (Caroline) + doesn't (short for does not) + have. Example: Mike has an English cousin → Mike doesn't have an English cousin.

You can say I have a menu → I don't have a menu with the subject I, but you cannot use don't with Caroline (=she).

We normally don't eat menus! Anyway, Caroline doesn't eat is the negative form of Caroline eats and not of the sentence shown above.

I have got a new offer for you → I haven't got a new offer for you. If the affirmative sentence contains to have + got, make it negative by following this structure: subject (here, I) + have not/has not (or their short forms haven't/hasn't) + got. Example: Rebecca has got a Spanish mother → Rebecca has not/hasn't got a Spanish mother. Note: you could also say I don't have a new offer for you.

You could say Magda has got a new offer for you → Magda has not got a new offer for you because the subject is Magda (=she), but you cannot use this option after I.

You could say He has got a new offer for you → He doesn't have a new offer for you using the traditional negative structure with do/does + not, but you cannot do it here because the subject is I and we used got.

Simon and Harry have a holiday → Simon and Harry do not have a holiday. The negative form of to have can be created by using the same structure as we use for regular verbs: subject (here, Simon and Harry) + do/does + not + have. Example: my friends do not have a clue about this.

You could say Simon has a holiday → Simon does not have a holiday because the subject is just Simon (=he), but in the original sentence we have Simon and Harry (=they).

Use the form with got when to have means to possess, as in Simon has not got a large office, but not when to have is part of an expression such us to have a holiday, which means to go on holiday.