Have Fun with the Verb ‘Have’

Abstract

I have found that ESL students in the university (UPM) where I teach have difficulty with the usage of the English verb ‘have’. Richard B. Noss highlighted the difficulties of this verb and its usage in English Teaching Forum (1972). I agree with him that students whose native language is not English have very reason to experience difficulty with the verb HAVE. For whenever my students encounter this verb, they have difficulties with it. The reason is that the verb ‘have’ has many different meanings and each ‘have’ also has a different grammar (Noss, 1972). Therefore, getting the verb ‘have’ under control is not an easy task. Students encounter additional complications in terms of American and British usage when it is used both as a main verb and as an auxiliary.