Rules for Using Have and Has With Plural and Singular Nouns
Understanding when to use have or has with a plural subject is essential for writing correct English sentences. This guide will help students from Class 6–12 master the key grammar rule with clear steps, simple tips, and real-life examples. After reading, you will feel confident choosing “have” or “has” with plural subjects in any exam or daily writing.
When To Use Have Or Has With a Plural Subject: Rules and Easy Examples
Key rule: Use “have” with all plural subjects and “has” only with singular subjects. “Have” is also used with “I” and “you,” even though these are not plural.
Step 1: Identify if the subject is singular or plural.
Step 2: Use “has” with singular nouns and pronouns (he, she, it, Riya).
Step 3: Use “have” with plural nouns and pronouns (they, we, the students, my friends).
When to Use Have or Has With a Plural Subject
Use “have” with plural subjects (e.g., “They have books”). Use “has” only with singular subjects (e.g., “She has a book”). The verb “have” agrees with all plural nouns and pronouns like “we” and “they”.
Quick Checklist
• “Have” is used with plural nouns and pronouns.
• “Has” is only for singular nouns or pronouns: he, she, it, a cat.
• “You” always takes “have”, never “has,” even if one person.
• “We” and “they” always use “have.”
• Never use “has” with plural subjects.
See related grammar notes
What’s Covered on This Page
| Section | Main Content |
|---|---|
| Rules Explained | When to use have or has with a plural subject |
| Examples | Practical sentences and pronoun cases |
| Common Mistakes | What to avoid; quick fixes |
| Practice | Exercises for students (with answers) |
| Download | Worksheet links and PDFs (if needed) |
How to Use “Have” and “Has” – Detailed Guide
“Have” with Plural Subjects: Use “have” whenever the subject is plural or is the pronoun “I” or “you.” For example, “The boys have football practice.” “I have a pen.” “You have homework.” These are all correct.
“Has” with Singular Subjects: “Has” is always linked to a singular subject or name. For example, “She has a bike.” “My dog has a collar.” Do not use “has” with plural words.
Difference Between Plural and Singular Subjects: A singular subject refers to just one person or thing (the cat, he). A plural subject refers to more than one (the cats, they, we).
Common Mistakes: Some students write “They has a new bag.” This is wrong. Use “They have a new bag.” Also, never write “You has.” Always use “You have.”
Key Grammar Facts & Rules
- Rule 1: “Have” is for plural subjects and “I,” “you.”
- Rule 2: “Has” is always for singular subjects.
- Expert Tip: Remember: If the subject is more than one, use “have.”
- From Oxford: “‘Has’ is the third-person singular present tense of ‘have.’”
- Cambridge Rule: “We use ‘have’ with ‘we’ and ‘they’ – never ‘has.’”
- Example: “The cities have many parks.”
- Common Mistake: Never pair “has” with “they” or “we.”
Sample Answers for Practice
Short Homework Answer (150 Words)
In English grammar, choosing “have” or “has” depends on the subject. Have is always used with plural subjects like “students,” “they,” “we.” For example: “The dogs have food.” “We have exams.” “They have fun.” On the other hand, has is for singular subjects (he, she, it, Rohan). For example, “He has a pencil.” “My friend has a notebook.” A common mistake is using “has” with plural subjects: “They has” is wrong. Always say, “They have.” Remember: “You” always takes “have,” whether singular or plural. Following these rules makes your writing correct and easy to understand.
Extended Practice Answer (250 Words)
To decide when to use “have” or “has” with a plural subject, first find whether your subject is singular or plural. “Have” pairs with plural nouns: “Many students have books.” Also, always use “have” with “I” and “you.” For instance, “You have a project.” “Has” works with singular nouns: “The girl has a doll.” A typical mistake is “We has holidays.” The right answer is “We have holidays.” Another error students make is saying, “She have a bag” instead of “She has a bag.” When in doubt, check the subject. Remember, “cities have,” “schools have,” but “the school has” (only one school). Read the sentence aloud—if it sounds odd, double-check the subject-verb agreement. For more worksheets and sample questions, students can explore other English grammar resources on Vedantu.
Long Sample Explanation (500 Words)
Using the correct form of “have” or “has” in a sentence is called subject-verb agreement. Here, we focus on how to decide whether “have” or “has” fits with a plural subject. The general rule is simple: “have” is used after plural subjects, for example, “The students have finished their homework.” It is also correct to say “We have a test tomorrow” and “They have joined the club.” Remember, “I” and “you” are exceptions; both take “have” despite being singular or plural.
“Has” is the third-person singular form—use it with “he,” “she,” “it,” names, or any singular noun. For example, “He has a cricket bat,” “Anu has good marks,” and “My car has four doors.” Never use “has” with plural subjects. Statements like “They has many friends” are incorrect; the right form is “They have many friends.” “Cities have busy roads,” but “The city has a big market.”
Some questions from students: “You has or have?” Always use “you have.” Another question: “Can we use ‘has’ with ‘they’?” Never—use “they have.” “Do John and Mary has or have assignments?” Since John and Mary are two people (plural), use “have.”
Quick rules for revision:
- If your subject is singular (like “he,” “the cat,” “my mother”), use “has.”
- If your subject is plural (like “they,” “dogs,” “my friends”), use “have.”
- With “I” and “you,” always use “have.”
- “Teachers have meetings.”
- “It has rained.”
- “We have plans.”
- “She has long hair.”
- “The houses have gardens.”
- Don’t say, “They has gone.” Say, “They have gone.”
- Don’t write “You has a chance.” Write, “You have a chance.”
Explore More on Vedantu
- Read about subject-verb agreement rules
- Learn the difference between has and have
- Practice with has/have/had exercises
- Find out about helping verbs in English
- See simple present tense usage
Now you know exactly when to use “have” or “has” with a plural subject. Use “have” for plurals and “has” for singulars. By applying this simple grammar rule in homework, writing, and daily speech, you will boost your English accuracy and confidence. Keep reviewing with Vedantu’s expert guides and see your language skills improve every day.
FAQs on When to Use “Have” or “Has” With a Plural Subject
1. When do we use “have” or “has” with a plural subject?
Use “have” with plural subjects and “has” with singular subjects. For example:
- Plural: They have books.
- Singular: She has a book.
2. Is “has” ever used with plural nouns?
No, "has" is not used with plural nouns. Instead, use “have” for all plural subjects—both nouns and pronouns. For example:
- The students have exams.
- Cars have engines.
3. What is the difference between “has,” “have,” and “had”?
"Has" and "have" are present tense forms, while "had" is the past tense form. Here’s a breakdown:
- Has: Used with singular nouns/pronouns (He, she, it).
- Have: Used with plural nouns/pronouns (We, they, you).
- Had: Used for all subjects in the past tense.
4. Do we say “John has” or “John have”?
We say “John has” because John is a singular subject. For example:
- John has a new bag.
- Never say “John have a new bag.”
5. How do we use “have” with pronouns like “they” and “we”?
"Have" is used with plural pronouns such as “they” and “we.” For example:
- They have completed the assignment.
- We have a holiday tomorrow.
6. Can cities and objects take “have” or “has”?
Singular cities and objects take “has”; plural nouns take “have.” For example:
- Delhi has many monuments.
- Cars have wheels.
7. What is the rule for has/have with names?
Use “has” with a single name (e.g., "Sara has a pet"). Use “have” with more than one name combined by “and” (e.g., “Sara and Manu have pets”). This supports correct verb agreement with singular and plural subjects.
8. Can we use “has” with “they”?
No, we cannot use “has” with “they”. “They” is a plural pronoun, so use “have” instead. For example:
- They have an exam (correct).
- “They has an exam” is incorrect.
9. How do we use “had” in past tense sentences?
“Had” is the past tense of both “has” and “have”. Use “had” for all subjects when talking about past events. For example:
- She had a sandwich yesterday.
- They had a test last week.
10. You has or you have: which one is correct?
Correct usage is “you have”. The pronoun “you” always takes “have” in both singular and plural forms. For example:
- You have done your homework (correct).
- “You has done your homework” is incorrect.
