When should you use “hasn't” or “haven't”?
When is it correct to use haven't, hasn't, or hadn't? In other words, how do we form negatives with have across tenses? Let's take a look at the answers and some clear examples.
What do "haven't" and "hasn't" mean?
These are contractions combining have (or has) with not. They indicate that something is not true in the present or that an action has not occurred or been completed. For example, "I haven't finished my homework" means the speaker has not completed the homework.
When to use haven't, hasn't, and hadn't
| Present (negative) | Past (negative) | Future (negative) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple | I do not have / haven't | I did not have / hadn't | I will not have |
| Continuous | I am not having | I was not having | I will be not having |
| Perfect | I haven't had | I hadn't had | I will not have had |
| Perfect Continuous | I haven't been having | I hadn't been having | I will have been not having |
Compare the role of negatives in the following sentences:
I haven't confirmed the reservation yet.
She hasn't called back.
The first sentence is present perfect negative (haven't + past participle). The second is present simple negative for third-person singular using the contraction hasn't with auxiliary has + not when functioning as auxiliary in present perfect or as negated present (hasn't called = has not called).
Remember: hasn't is used for third-person singular in present perfect or present negative constructions; haven't is used with I, you, we, they in present perfect or present negative. Hadn't is the past perfect negative used for all subjects.
| Form | Negative contraction | Use |
|---|---|---|
| have / has | haven't / hasn't | Present negative (possession or present perfect negative) — "I haven't seen it." / "She hasn't finished." |
| do / does | don't / doesn't | Present simple negative for other verbs — "I don't know." / "He doesn't care." |
| had | hadn't | Past perfect negative for all subjects — "They hadn't arrived." |
| have been / had been | haven't been / hadn't been | Perfect continuous negatives — "We haven't been waiting long." |
Negation with "have" as an auxiliary verb
When have appears with another verb (forming perfect tenses), add not to negate it. Often writers use contractions (haven't/hasn't/hadn't) in informal and spoken contexts:
I haven't done that before.
She hasn't called yet.
They hadn't realized the time until I told them.
Note: after haven't/hasn't/hadn't, follow with the past participle when it's forming a perfect tense (haven't eaten, hasn't seen, hadn't realized).
"Haven't" / "hasn't" / "hadn't", in sentence examples
| Contraction | Example Sentences |
|---|---|
| haven't (have not) |
I haven't finished my assignment. We haven't been there before. |
| hasn't (has not) |
He hasn't replied to my email. She hasn't seen the new series yet. |
| hadn't (had not) |
We hadn't expected the results to arrive so quickly. They hadn't realized the meeting was rescheduled. |
Common mistakes
- Using hasn't with first-person subjects (I hasn't) — incorrect. Use haven't.
- Using haven't for third-person singular (He haven't) — incorrect. Use hasn't.
- After haven't/hasn't/hadn't used as auxiliary, use the past participle, not the simple past: "haven't gone" (correct) vs "haven't went" (incorrect).
Fill-in-the-blank: negatives with have
I _____ finished my homework.
She _____ arrived yet.
They _____ expected such rain last summer.
We _____ been to Paris before this trip.
Which sentence uses the contraction correctly?
You _____ been listening to the whole story.
He _____ called me back by the time I left.
She _____ seen that episode yet.
By the time he reached the station, the train _____ left.
We _____ been told about the change in schedule.
FAQs
When do you use haven't vs hasn't?
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Is hadn't used for all subjects in the past perfect?
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Can I use haven't / hasn't with continuous forms?
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Are contractions informal?
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What about negatives with other verbs after have?
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Sources
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“Have, V.” Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford UP, June 2025, https://doi.org/10.1093/OED/5209466568.
Yash, D. "How to Use Haven't vs. Hasn't (Definition, Examples & Quiz) ." Grammarflex, Sep 2, 2025, https://grammarflex.com/havent-vs-hasnt/.
