對詞彙對照的方式翻譯英語是很難的，因為不同的語言有不同的思維習慣及用法，有時很難找到兩種語言中完全對應的詞彙來進行解釋翻譯。因此不少人主張遇到不認識的單詞要查英英詞典，而非英漢典，以免進入思維誤區。
這不，孩子在學英語時，忽然問「Did you have a good summer holiday"一句話中，「have"是什麼意思？這一問還真把人問住了，因為英文中have 的用法真是太多了。一位教英語的朋友解釋了這個問題。
一 實義動詞：具有由後面名詞決定的多種意思
他說have的基本用法是作實意動詞、使役動詞及助動詞。這個句子中「did"是助動詞，have是實義動詞。它可以和很多名詞連用，其意思主要由它後面的名詞決定，視具體情況採用不同的翻譯。故此，有人將have稱為「萬能詞」！他舉例說，have 和一些其他名詞連用，可以表示：
1.一種活動。
We have no classes on Sunday.（上課）
they’re going to have a volleyball match.（舉行比賽）
Are we going to have a meeting this week?（開會）
We are going to have a talk this afternoon.（聽報告）
2.患病。
I have got a headache.(JBⅣL8)
I have a bad cold.(JBⅤL3)
3.發生的情況。
I've had so many falls that I'm black and blue all over.（跌跤）
4.生育。
The queen ant may have tens of thousands of babies in one summer.
5.經歷，經驗：
had a difficult time last winter.
6.「吃」、「喝」。
I wanted to have a cup of tea and some eggs.
Does she have lunch at home?
7.和一與動詞同形的名詞連用，表示一個動作（have＋a＋由動詞轉化和名詞）。
Are you going to have a swim.(JBⅢL1)
I have a long talk with the teacher.(JBⅣL10)
8.have on sth.或 have sth. on，表示「穿著」、「戴著」(=to be wearing)。
I noticed he had on bedroom slippers.(SBⅡL6)
At the ball Motile had a diamond necklace on.
所以「have a good time"這個句子中的have 和後面名詞連用，表示的是——一種經歷、經驗。那麼，have還有什麼其它用法，他繼續介紹了一些。
二 實義動詞：有
have 作實意動詞時，還可以表示「有」的意思，這是一種最簡單易譯，最貼近中國人思維的用法。如：
Look, I have wings, just like you.
He had fair hair and blue eyes. 〔注 〕：其否定和疑問形式變化，在美國通常用助動詞
do。
在英國口語中常用 have got 代替 have.
Look, can’t you see I've got teeth, too.
I haven't got any jewelry.
三 使役動詞：讓某人做某事
have常組成複合結構即「have＋賓語＋賓語補足語」，具體形式包括：
1.不加 to 的動詞不定式作賓語補足語(have sb. do sth.)，表示讓、叫某人做某事。
The soldier had him stand with his back to his father.(SBⅠL17)
〔注〕：否定結構表示「不能讓…」或「從未有人…」.
We won't have you blame it on others.
She had never had anybody speak to her that way before.
2.加現在分詞作賓語補足語(have sb.(sth.)doing)，表示讓（使）某人做某事。
…the two men had their lights burning all night long….
3.加過去分詞作賓語補足語(have sb. (sth.)done)，表示：
①使（讓，請）別人作某事，表示的動作是別人做的。
Emperor Qin Shi Huang had all the walls joined up.
…he should have new clothes made of this splendid cloth for the coming great procession.
It really works very well.
②遭遇到某事。
Houses near airports sometimes have their windows broken.
Workers in some industries have their hearing harmed by the noise of the machine.
四 助動詞：have+過去分詞構成完成時態
have 做助動詞與動詞的過去分詞一起構成現在完成時和過去完成時。如
Great changes have taken place the last two years.
They said that the Arab had stolen their camel.
I have never seen such a strange man.
我從未見過這麼奇怪的人。
Yes, he has been here twice but hasn't had his hair cut yet.
是啊,他來了兩次還沒把頭髮理了。
He's gone to your house.
他去你家了。
have+been +過去分詞，構成完成式被動語態.
例如：
English has been taught in China for many years.
中國教英語已經多年。
英語教師課堂用語
五 組合搭配：多種用法
1.have 與 to 一起構成情態動詞，表示「不得不」、「必 須」，可用於各種時態。如：
I have to look after her at home.
2.have 用於「情態動詞＋have＋過去分詞」的結構，有推測、假設之意。
（1）must＋have＋過去分詞，表示對過去時間發生的動作或存在的情況的推測，一般用於肯定句。
Her father thought that she must have met a fairy.(SBⅠL10)
You must have left your bag in the theatre.
（2）can(could)＋have＋過去分詞，表示對過去發生事情的「不肯定」，常用於否定句和疑問句。
He can't have been to your home, he doesn't know your address.
（3）should＋have＋過去分詞，表示「某事本該早做而實際未做」，用於肯定句。
You should have been here five minutes ago.(SBⅡL10)
3.用於某些成語，表示固定的意思。
（1）have a word(a few words)with sb.，表示和某人說一（幾）句話。
Where's Peter? I want to have a word with him.(SBⅢL13)
（2）had better＋不帶 to 的動詞不定式，表示「…最好…」。
I'd better go and look for him now.(JBⅢL2)
（3）have nothing(something)to do with，表示「和…無（有）」關係。
Most of questions had nothing to do with Edison's lessons.
六、 學英語不是知識的記憶
have的用法很多，不過學英語還是最好在語言環境中理解並學習，而不是一味地去記各種語法。其實中國人對於本國的語法等知識也並不是很清楚的，只要生活中夠用就行了。當然，感興趣或有需要的可以多看一點做參考。比如：have to 與一般情態動詞的異同等。
相同點：
一般的情態動詞不能單獨作謂語，後面必須接動詞原形一起構成謂語，have to 也是這樣。
不同點：
1.一般的情態動詞沒有人稱和數的變化，而且所用的時態也受到一定的限制，而 have to 有人稱和數的變化。可用於多種時態中：一般現在時中當主語是第三人稱單數時要用 has to，其餘的人稱用 have to，一般過去時中要用 had to；一般將來時中則要用 will have to.
e.g. She has to go to school by bus.她不得不乘公汽上學。
You'll have to see the doctor if you get ill.如果你生病了，就得去看醫生。
2.否定句和疑問句的構成方式不同：
①一般的情態動詞直接在後面加 not 構成否定句，把這些情態動詞提到句首就構成一般疑問句。
②而 have to 的否定句和疑問句的構成往往要藉助於助動詞 do 的適當形式或助動詞 will 即 have to, has to, had to 和 will have to 的否定式分別為 don't have to, doesn't have to, didn't have to 和 won't have to，疑問句是在句首加助動詞do 的相應形式，句中還原成 have to 或把 will 放到句首，這裡 have to 簡直就是一個十足的行為動詞。
e.g. What does she have to do?她必須做什麼？
You didn't have to wait for me yesterday.昨天你沒有必要等我