Who Has or Who Have – Which Is Correct? (Full Grammar Guide with Examples)

Using Who, has, or have can be surprisingly tricky, even for native English speakers. These phrases look correct at first, but their meaning changes in different grammatical contexts. The subject of your sentence and verb agreement is the key. Who is a relative pronoun that refers back to the subject, and your choice of has or have depends on whether the subject is singular or plural. For example, in “Who has the key?”, the implied subject is singular, so you use has. But in “Who have finished their homework?”, the subject is plural, making have the right option. Understanding this difference helps you speak and write grammatically in both formal and informal situations.

This topic can easily confuse learners, as people, groups, or individuals make the verb choice unclear. From my experience teaching English, mastering the usage of Who has vs. Who have is essential for clear communication. A guide that explains the meanings, grammar rules, and practical examples allows you to confidently choose the right form every time. With careful attention to subject, verb, singular, and plural forms, you can speak and write in a way that feels natural, correct, and easily understood by people of all levels.

Understanding Subject–Verb Agreement

To understand who has vs. who have, we first need to talk about subject–verb agreement — one of the building blocks of English grammar.

Subject–verb agreement simply means that the verb must match the subject in number and person.

• If the subject is singular, the verb must be singular.
• If the subject is plural, the verb must be plural.

Here’s how it looks:

So far, so good. But things get trickier when we introduce the pronoun “who.”

The Role of “Who” in English Grammar

The word “who” is a relative pronoun. That means it connects two parts of a sentence and stands in place of a noun or pronoun — the antecedent.

Here’s the key rule:

The verb that follows “who” depends on the word “who” refers to.

If “who” refers to a singular noun, use has.
If “who” refers to a plural noun, use have.

Let’s see this in action

• Singular: The person who has the tickets is waiting outside.
• Plural: The people who have the tickets are waiting outside.

You can see that “who” changes based on its antecedent — the noun it replaces.

Think of “who” like a mirror. It reflects the number of the noun it represents.

When to Use “Who Has”

You’ll use “who has” whenever “who” refers to a singular noun or subject.

For example:

• Who has my phone?
• The student who has the highest score will receive a prize.
• Who has been calling me all morning?

In these sentences, the subject represented by “who” (a person, student, or someone) is singular. That’s why “has” is correct.

Common Situations Where “Who Has” Is Used

1. Questions:
   • “Who has seen my notebook?”
   • “Who has taken the last cookie?”
2. Descriptions:
   • “The man who has the red car is my uncle.”
3. Ongoing actions (with perfect tenses):
   • “Who has been working on this project?”

Quick Tip:

If you can replace “who” with he/she/it, then use has.

He has my phone → Who has my phone?
They have my phone → Who has my phone?

When to Use “Who Have”

You’ll use “who have” when “who” refers to plural nouns or subjects.

Examples:

• The people who have finished early can leave.
• Who have completed their assignments?
• The students who have laptops may start typing.

Here, the antecedent — people, students, or others — is plural, so “have” fits perfectly.

Common Scenarios for “Who Have”

1. Referring to groups or teams:
   • “The volunteers who have registered will receive badges.”
2. Talking about multiple individuals:
   • “The children who have pets are happier.”
3. In formal writing:
   • “Those who have served deserve recognition.”

Quick Tip:

If you can replace “who” with they, then use have.

They have books → The people who have books.
He has books → The person who have books.

Why “Who Has” Sounds More Common

You’ll notice that “who has” appears far more often than “who have.” That’s because most questions or sentences using “who” refer to one person, even when the speaker doesn’t know who that person is.

For example

• “Who has taken my seat?” (refers to one unknown person)
• “Who has my pen?” (refers to one specific person)

In speech, people often assume singular subjects, so “who has” becomes the default choice.

However, “who have” isn’t wrong — it’s just less common in daily conversation because we rarely refer to groups using “who” in questions.

Simple Rule to Remember

Here’s the golden rule for deciding between who has and who have:

Quick Reference Table

Mnemonic to Remember:

“One has, many have.”
If you’re talking about one, choose has. If you’re talking about many, go with have.

Using “Who Has” and “Who Have” in Questions

English questions can sometimes make subject–verb agreement feel tricky, but the rule stays the same

• Use “who has” for singular subjects.
• Use “who have” for plural subjects.

Examples

Sometimes both forms can be correct — it depends on what the question refers to.

Example:

• “Who has completed the task?” → asking about one person.
• “Who have completed the task?” → asking about several people.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even native speakers sometimes slip up when choosing between “who has” and “who have.” Here are the top mistakes and how to fix them:

1. Forgetting Agreement

The people who has tickets can enter first.
The people who have tickets can enter first

2. Using “who have” for Singular

Who have taken my wallet?
Who has taken my wallet?

3. Confusing Tenses

• “Who has been working here?” (correct for singular)
• “Who have been working here?” (correct for plural)

4. Overcorrecting

Sometimes, writers overthink and switch “have” and “has” incorrectly. Trust the rule: match “who” with its noun.

British vs. American English Differences

There’s no real grammatical difference between “who has” and “who have” in British or American English.
However, British English occasionally uses plural forms more flexibly.

Examples

• US English: The team who has won deserves a trophy.
• UK English: The team who have won deserve a trophy.

In British English, collective nouns (like team, staff, committee) can take either singular or plural verbs depending on whether the group is seen as one unit or as individuals.

So, both forms can appear correct depending on the dialect.

Real-Life Usage Examples

Let’s look at some authentic examples from books, movies, and media where these phrases appear:

These examples show that professional writers use both forms — it all depends on the subject.

Read More:“Just So You Know” – Meaning Explained (With Examples)

Mini Grammar Quiz

Try this short quiz to test your understanding:

If you got all five right, you’ve mastered it!

Expert Tip: Context Is King

Sometimes, even with perfect grammar, both forms can sound right depending on context and emphasis.

For example:

• “Who has arrived?” (you expect one person)
• “Who have arrived?” (you expect several people)

Language is flexible. Clarity and consistency matter more than strict memorization.

Famous Quote to Remember

“Grammar is the logic of speech, even as logic is the grammar of reason.”
— Richard Chenevix Trench

Understanding the difference between “who has” and “who have” isn’t about memorizing dry rules — it’s about seeing the logic behind how English works.

Summary: The Golden Rule

To wrap it all up, here’s the simplest way to remember everything you’ve learned:

Quick memory trick:

“One has, many have.” That’s it.

Keep your writing and speech natural by focusing on who “who” represents — singular or plural.

Related Grammar Guides You’ll Love

• Has vs. Have: What’s the Difference?
• Who Is or Who Are – Which Is Correct?
• Who vs. Whom Explained Simply
• Common Grammar Mistakes to Avoid
• Subject–Verb Agreement in English

Conclusion

Mastering Who has and Who have is all about understanding subject-verb agreement and knowing whether your subject is singular or plural. By paying attention to the context, using practical examples, and confidently choosing the right form, you can avoid common mistakes that often confuse learners. With consistent practice, this tricky aspect of English grammar becomes easier, allowing you to speak and write grammatically correct sentences in both formal and informal situations.

FAQs

Q1: When should I use “Who has”?

You use Who has when the subject is singular, like in “Who has the key?”.

Q2: When should I use “Who have”?

You use Who have when the subject is plural, as in “Who have finished their homework?”.

Q3: Why is this confusing for learners?

It’s tricky because Who can refer to people, groups, or individuals, making the verb choice unclear without checking singular or plural forms.

Q4: How can I master this usage?

Mastering the usage requires understanding grammar rules, studying examples, and practicing speaking and writing in formal and informal situations.

Q5: Does this apply to both written and spoken English?

Yes, knowing the difference between Who has and Who have helps in clear communication in both spoken and written English.

Ruby Skye