Have or have: when to use each of the forms?

for verb forms have and have, that are homophone words, that is, they have the same sound, the grammar provides for a differential accent. In the case in question, the incorrect use of this differential accent is not capable of harming communication, because the meaning remains the same. However, it is one of those mistakes in Portuguese that affect the grade of the redaction of Enem, for example, as it is a failure of verbal agreement.

Read too: Ten Portuguese tips about verbs

when to use have?

There are many doubles of words in the Portuguese language that usually cause doubt in writing. The have/have pair is one of them.
There are many doubles of words in the Portuguese language that usually cause doubt in writing. The have/have pair is one of them.

the verb form have is used to designate the third person of thesingular of present tense of the verb to have. In other words, it's how it conjugates he/she has. It is also used to agree with subjects who give the notion of many people, but who are always conjugated in the singular, such as “everyone” and “people”.

Look at the examples:

  • Is it over there have a remarkable sense of justice.
  • The boy thinks his dog have Super powers.
  • The person have to know when it is not welcome.
  • Bobo is the one who doesn't have nothing crazy.
  • Everyone have a strange side.
  • we have to unite.
  • Many people have account in that bank.

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  • impersonal verb

The verb to have (in colloquial usage) may have a function similar to the verb be (with the sense of "existing" or "happening" and also of elapsed time), in these contexts, it is classified as impersonal.

this kind of verb notit presents subject and it was agreed that the conjugation must be done in the singular, regardless of the tense and verbal mode. In the case of the present tense, it is written without a circumflex accent. Likewise, when used as an auxiliary to the verb to have the sense of "exist" or "happen", conjugates in the singular.

Look at the examples:

  • Have days that we feel like someone who left or died.”
  • Have there have been strange things in this house.
  • Have many dissatisfied people.
  • in the waiting room, have people waiting for you.

when to use have?

The shape have, in turn, corresponds to third person of theplural of the present tense of the verb to have. This means that it represents they/they have. This differential accent is even useful for compound shapes, such as abstain (abstain/abstain), obtain (gets/obtains), contain (contains/contains), hold (holds/holds), entertain (entertains/entertains), maintain (maintain/maintain). However, these verbs differentiate the singular with acute accent, which does not happen with having.

The last spelling reform, in effect since 2009, known as New deal, eliminated the circumflex accent of the paroxytone verb forms that end with in. As is the case with believing, giving, disbelieving, reading, predicting, rereading, reviewing, seeing. It is important to emphasize that this norm did not affect the verb have, which continues to differ in have or have.

See the examples:

  • They have many common interests.
  • The boys have an inexhaustible energy.
  • People have very different manias.
  • In some countries, those who don't have money can get a free coffee.
  • All have a little genius and crazy.
  • Many people have the dream of home ownership.

Read too: Was there or was there?

solved exercises

question 1 (Carlos Chagas Foundation) In order to respect the verbal agreement, it will be necessary to correct the sentence:

a) There have been doubts about the capacity of the Cuban health system.

b) Doubts have been raised about the capacity of the Cuban health system.

c) Has the Cuban health system raised doubts about its effectiveness?

d) What doubts have Cuba's opponents had about its health system?

e) How many doubts has Cuba's health system given rise?

 Solution:

Alternative a, as the verb does not need to agree with the word doubts, since it is not the subject of the prayer, but the object. As it is a subjectless prayer, the auxiliary verb is impersonal. in b, doubts it is the subject, therefore the agreement is correct. Both in c and in e the subject is system, therefore, singular. In d, the subject is plural (opponents).

question 2 Indicate the alternatives in which the verb ter is correctly conjugated:

a) He has many friends, they have great appreciation for each other.

b) Some are luckier than others.

c) Nowadays you have to know how to do everything.

d) Lack of payment from suppliers has affected delivery.

e) Customers are not always right.

Solution:

Alternatives a and c. In b, the subject is plural (some); in d, the subject is singular (the lack of payment); in e, the subject is plural (the clients).

by Paula Piva
grammar teacher

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