Pattern
有 for have / there is
Possession and existence share 有; negate with 没有.
Two uses
有 means have and there is/are. Context decides.
Possession: 我有手机。 Existence: 这儿有银行。
Both negate with 没有.
Questions
你有…吗？ and 有没有…？ are common.
Place questions: 附近有地铁吗？
Answer with 有 / 没有.
Measure words after 有
Often 有 + number + measure + noun: 我有两本书。
Learn measures with the nouns you own/see.
两 before measures.
Avoidances
Never say 不有.
Do not confuse 有 with 是 for identity.
For location of a known subject, prefer 在: 书在桌子上。
Examples
I have a phone.
Is there a bank here?
I don’t have time.
There is a table in the room.
Do you have a pen?
I have two older brothers.
No problem / there is no problem.
The school has a library.
Tips
- Never say 不有.
- 没有 works for both possession and existence negation.
- Answer short with 有 / 没有.
- Use 在 when locating a known thing already identified.
Cloze drills
1. I have a book.
Full: 我有书。
有
2. I don’t have money.
Full: 我没有钱。
没有
3. Is there a restroom here?
Full: 这儿有厕所吗？
有
4. Do you have time?
Full: 你有时间吗？
有