As Well As Has vs. As Well As Have – Which is Correct?
When choosing “as well as has or have,” use the verb that agrees with the main subject before “as well as.” Use “has” after a singular subject and “have” after a plural subject or I/you. The phrase “as well as” adds information but does not create compound subject verb agreement.
As Well As Has or Have – Which is Correct?
Both has and have are correct, but the choice depends on the main subject of the sentence. The phrase as well as introduces additional information without changing the number of the main subject.
Use has when the main subject is singular:
The manager, as well as her assistant, has approved the schedule.
Use have when the main subject is plural or is I or you:
The manager and her assistants, as well as the director, have approved the schedule.
A common mistake is treating as well as like and. However, as well as does not create a compound subject. The first subject controls the verb.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the removal test: temporarily remove everything between as well as and the main subject. If the remaining sentence uses has, keep has; if it uses have, keep have.
For example:
- The scientist, as well as her colleagues, has presented the findings.
- Remove the extra phrase: The scientist has presented the findings.
Another example:
- The scientists, as well as the director, have presented the findings.
- Remove the extra phrase: The scientists have presented the findings.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| has | Verb | Third-person singular present form of have | The report, as well as its appendix, has been revised. |
| have | Verb | Base form and present-tense form used with plural subjects, I, and you | The reports, as well as the appendix, have been revised. |
How to Use Has
Has is the third-person singular present-tense form of the irregular verb have. Use it with singular nouns and third-person singular pronouns such as he, she, and it. In sentences containing as well as, use has when the main subject is singular, even if the additional phrase contains a plural noun.
Example 1: The professor, as well as her students, has completed the research.
Example 2: The new policy, as well as several supporting guidelines, has received approval.
Example 3: He, as well as his teammates, has trained for the tournament.
What are the different forms of Has?
Has is one form of the irregular verb have. Its main forms are have for the base form, has for the third-person singular present, had for the past tense and past participle, and having for the present participle.
| Form | Example |
|---|---|
| Base form: have | They want to have more time. |
| Third-person singular: has | She has more time. |
| Past tense and past participle: had | She had more time yesterday. |
| Present participle: having | She is having a productive day. |
Etymology of the Word Has
Has developed as the third-person singular form of have. The verb traces back through Middle English to Old English habban, meaning “to possess,” “to hold,” or “to consider.” Over time, its uses expanded to include possession, experience, obligation, and auxiliary verb functions.
How to Use Have
Have is the base form of the irregular verb have. In the present tense, use it with plural subjects and with I and you. When a sentence includes as well as, choose have if the main subject is plural, even when the extra phrase contains a singular noun.
Example 1: The researchers, as well as the lead scientist, have published their findings.
Example 2: I, as well as my colleagues, have reviewed the contract.
Example 3: The company’s offices, as well as its warehouse, have reopened.
What are the different forms of Have?
Have has several forms because it is an irregular verb. The base form is have; the third-person singular present form is has; the past tense and past participle are had; and the present participle is having.
As an auxiliary verb, have helps form the present perfect tense: They have finished. It also appears in expressions of obligation, such as We have to leave, and in phrases describing experiences, possession, or relationships.
Etymology of the Word Have
Have comes from Old English habban, related to the idea of holding or possessing something. The word has existed in English for more than a thousand years and gradually developed grammatical uses beyond physical ownership.
Related Concepts
Understanding subject-verb agreement and the function of as well as makes this choice straightforward.
- Subject-verb agreement: A verb must match its main subject in number. A singular subject takes has, while a plural subject takes have in the present tense.
- As well as: This phrase adds one person or thing to the sentence for emphasis or additional information, but it normally does not make the subject plural.
- Compound subjects: Subjects joined by and usually take a plural verb. For example, “The manager and her assistant have arrived.” This differs from a singular subject followed by as well as.
- Interrupting phrases: Expressions such as along with, together with, in addition to, and as well as can interrupt the subject-verb connection without controlling agreement.
Examples from Media and Literature
The following examples reflect the kinds of constructions commonly found in news writing, biographies, reviews, and narrative prose.
- News style: The mayor, as well as several council members, has announced a new transportation plan.
- Business reporting: The corporation, as well as its regional offices, has released a financial statement.
- Sports reporting: The players, as well as their coach, have returned to the training facility.
- Biographical writing: The author, as well as her longtime editor, has influenced generations of readers.
- Narrative prose: The travelers, as well as the guide, have crossed the mountain pass before nightfall.
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct word to complete each sentence.
- The director, as well as her assistants, ____ approved the proposal.
- The director and her assistants, as well as the consultant, ____ approved the proposal.
- The museum, as well as its two galleries, ____ reopened after renovations.
- The galleries, as well as the museum, ____ reopened after renovations.
- You, as well as your classmates, ____ received an invitation.
Answer Key
- has — The main subject is the singular noun director.
- have — The main subject is the plural compound noun director and assistants.
- has — The main subject is the singular noun museum.
- have — The main subject is the plural noun galleries.
- have — The subject you takes have.
Has Synonyms
The best substitute for has depends on its meaning in the sentence. In some uses, no direct synonym sounds natural, particularly when has functions as an auxiliary verb.
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Possesses | Owns or holds something |
| Contains | Includes something within it |
| Experiences | Goes through or encounters something |
| Includes | Incorporates something as a part |
Have Synonyms
Like has, have can express several meanings. A replacement should match the intended meaning rather than simply replace the word in every sentence.
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Possess | Own or control something |
| Own | Hold legal or personal possession |
| Experience | Encounter or undergo something |
| Include | Contain something as a part |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Should I write “the teacher, as well as her students, has” or “have”?
Write has because teacher is the main singular subject. The phrase as well as her students is additional information and does not control the verb.
Question 2: Is “as well as” the same as “and” for subject-verb agreement?
No. And normally joins two subjects into a compound subject that takes a plural verb. As well as usually adds secondary information, so the main subject controls the verb.
Question 3: Is “the employees, as well as the manager, have” correct?
Yes. The main subject is the plural noun employees, so the correct verb is have. The singular noun manager appears in an additional phrase.
Question 4: What is the quickest way to choose between “has” and “have”?
Remove the phrase beginning with as well as and read the sentence again. If the remaining subject takes has, use has; if it takes have, use have.
Conclusion
Both has and have can follow a sentence containing as well as. Use has when the main subject is singular, and use have with plural subjects, I, and you. Remember that as well as adds information but does not usually create a compound subject. Pro Tip: Applying this rule carefully helps your writing appear polished and protects your professional reputation.
