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DictionaryRoot: habban
Old English

habban

have or hold

Forms

  • habban
  • have — The modern form reflects changes in the consonant and endings.
  • had — The past form contracted in later English.

Origin

An inherited Germanic possession verb.

Note

Its later use to build verb phrases developed from the older possession or holding sense.

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verb

have

Forms perfect tenses with a past participle.

They have finished painting the kitchen walls.

Etymology
haveOld Englishhave or hold

The possession verb developed constructions describing a completed result in one’s keeping. These became the grammatical perfect, linking a past action with a later reference point.

More examples

  • She has already left.
  • We had met before the conference.
  • I have never seen snow.

Forms

have · has · had · having