has not got

USAGE SUMMARY

'has not got' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express the negative of 'has got' (which means "possesses, has"). Example: She has not got a pet.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"And he has not got his props.

The New York Times - Arts

But YouTube has not got very far.

The Economist

The message has not got through.

The Guardian - Sport

It has not got any intellectual weight.

The Guardian

By contrast, he thinks science has not got very far.

The Economist

In short, America has not got better at producing stuff.

The Economist

And he has not got all that much time left.

The Guardian - Opinion

The HS2 project has not got that far.

The Guardian - Opinion

One area it has not got into is docks.

The Guardian - Business

Three years on, it has not got any easier.

The Guardian - Sport

He has not got it right just yet, he said.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has not got" to maintain a formal or British English tone, especially in writing where precision is valued.

Common error

Avoid using "has not got" in contexts where American English is preferred, as it may sound unnatural or overly formal to native American English speakers. Opt for "does not have" or "doesn't have" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has not got" functions as a negative verb phrase, indicating the absence of possession or attainment. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness, aligning with its usage in expressing negation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has not got" is a grammatically sound phrase used to indicate a lack of possession or attainment, as validated by Ludwig. Predominantly found in News & Media contexts, it maintains a neutral register and is more common in British English. While semantically similar to phrases like "does not have" or "lacks", its usage can influence the tone and perceived formality of writing. Ludwig’s analysis and examples affirm its correct usage, while cautioning against overuse in contexts where American English is preferred. The phrase effectively serves its purpose, expressing negation across various contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

does not have

Uses a more common and straightforward phrasing to express the absence of something.

doesn't have

A contraction of "does not have", making it more informal and conversational.

has no

A direct and simple way to express the lack of possession.

lacks

A more concise and formal way of saying that something is missing or absent.

is missing

Highlights that something is absent or not present.

does not possess

A formal and emphatic way of saying that someone does not own or have something.

is without

Emphasizes the absence of something as a defining characteristic.

is not in possession of

A formal phrase emphasizing the absence of ownership or control.

is devoid of

A more emphatic way to say that something completely lacks a particular quality.

has yet to get

Indicates something hasn't been obtained, implying a future possibility.

FAQs

What does "has not got" mean?

The phrase "has not got" is a way of saying that someone or something does not have something. It is grammatically correct and more common in British English.

What can I say instead of "has not got"?

You can use alternatives like "does not have", "doesn't have", or "lacks" depending on the context.

Is "has not got" formal or informal?

"Has not got" is generally considered more formal than alternatives like "doesn't have", but it's less formal than "does not possess".

Which is correct, "has not got" or "does not have"?

Both "has not got" and "does not have" are grammatically correct. The choice often depends on the desired tone and regional dialect. "Has not got" is more common in British English.