Hasn't or Haven't: Which Is Correct?
Updated · Which One Is Correct editorial team
Quick answer: The choice between hasn't and haven't depends entirely on the subject of your sentence. Use hasn't with he, she, and it to match third-person singular forms. Switch to haven't when the subject is I, you, we, or they. This simple rule ensures your grammar remains precise and professional.
The Short Answer
Use hasn't with he, she, and it; use haven't with I, you, we, and they.
People often confuse these forms because both serve as contractions for the auxiliary verb have in negative contexts. The distinction lies strictly in subject-verb agreement, which changes based on whether the subject is singular third-person or any other person.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Form | Status | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| hasn't | Correct | The subject is he, she, or it |
| haven't | Correct | The subject is I, you, we, or they |
| hasn't | Contraction | Standing in for has not |
| haven't | Contraction | Standing in for have not |
Correct Example Sentences
- She hasn't finished her homework yet.
- He hasn't called me back this morning.
- The dog hasn't eaten its dinner.
- I haven't seen that movie before.
- You haven't told me the secret.
- We haven't decided on a date.
- They haven't arrived at the party.
- It hasn't rained all week long.
- My brother hasn't visited us recently.
- You all haven't heard the news yet.
Common Mistakes and Fixes
- She haven't got any money.
- She hasn't got any money.
- We hasn't heard from him.
- We haven't heard from him.
- They hasn't left the building.
- They haven't left the building.
- I hasn't done my chores.
- I haven't done my chores.
- The cat haven't slept well.
- The cat hasn't slept well.
- You hasn't paid the bill.
- You haven't paid the bill.
A Quick Test You Can Use
Identify the subject performing the action in your sentence. If the subject is a single person or thing other than the speaker or listener, choose hasn't. If the subject includes multiple people, the speaker, or the listener, choose haven't. This mental check aligns the verb directly with the grammatical number and person of the subject.
Related Word Pairs
- Its vs It's
- Use its for possession and it's as a contraction for it is or it has.
- Their vs There
- Use their for ownership, there for location, and they're as a contraction.
- Your vs You're
- Use your for possession and you're as a contraction for you are.
- Then vs Than
- Use then for time sequences and than for making comparisons.
More Example Sentences
- The team hasn't found a solution to the puzzle yet.
- I haven't received the package you sent last week.
- She hasn't mentioned the meeting to her colleagues.
- We haven't finished decorating the living room.
- They haven't visited the museum since it reopened.
- He hasn't checked his email this entire afternoon.
- The committee hasn't reached a final decision.
- You haven't tried the dessert from the new cafe.
- The store hasn't restocked the popular item.
- I haven't heard from my cousin in months.
Quick Practice
I finished my report for the boss.
haven't
She called the doctor about her symptoms.
hasn't
We seen that documentary on television.
haven't
The train arrived at the station yet.
hasn't
They paid for the concert tickets online.
haven't
He lost his keys anywhere near home.
hasn't
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use hasn't with plural subjects?
No, you cannot. Plural subjects like they, we, or the team require haven't. Using hasn't with a plural subject creates a subject-verb agreement error that sounds incorrect to native speakers.
Is hasn't ever correct in formal writing?
Yes, it is perfectly correct. You can use hasn't ever in formal essays or business emails as long as the subject is he, she, or it. It is standard English grammar.
Why does he hasn't sound wrong?
It sounds wrong because he requires the third-person singular form has. The contraction of has not is hasn't, while haven't comes from have not. Mixing them breaks grammatical rules.
Do collective nouns use hasn't or haven't?
In American English, collective nouns like the team usually take hasn't because they are treated as singular units. In British English, you might see haven't if the focus is on individual members.
