Representing being and having

Using have and other possession verbs

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Using have for actions

Sometimes the verb have does not represent possession at all. It is used with a wide range of nouns to represent actions. So, for example, instead of saying I shower every evening, (where shower is a verb), it is more common to say I have a shower every evening. Have a look is the most common expression formed in this way:

We had a look at it and we had a chat with Terry O'Connell.
(Bank of English)

The two people who had an influence on me were Paula and Nicole.
(Bank of English)

Clear evidence that have in such contexts represents action and not possession is in the tenses that are usually used with it. When the time reference is to an event going on "now", the present continuous is used:

The government is having a fight over how much food labels ought to tell consumers. (Bank of English)

Note that have is generally used instead of eat in expressions relating to meals:

Why don't you come have dinner with us? (Bank of English)

He typically begins the morning by having breakfast in the hotel coffee shop with friends and associates. (Bank of English)

For further information about using have to talk about actions, see Representing actions with nouns: Some everyday nouns used to represent actions.

Introduction
Using have for possession
Using have got for possession
 Using have to describe things
Using have for actions
 Using own
 Using possess
 Using lack
 Verbs representing part-whole relationships