Meaning
Asking if someone possesses something.
Cultural Background
The 'Sie' vs 'Du' distinction is very important. Even neighbors who have lived next to each other for 20 years might still use 'Haben Sie' if they haven't explicitly agreed to 'Du-zen' (use du). Austrians are often considered slightly more formal or traditional with titles. You might hear 'Haben Sie, Herr Doktor...?' more frequently than in Berlin. In Swiss German (Schwiizerdütsch), the formal 'Sie' is used similarly to High German, but the pronunciation of 'haben' changes significantly (e.g., 'Händ Sie...').
The 'Feuer' Rule
If you ask 'Haben Sie Feuer?', you are asking for a light (for a cigarette/candle). It's a very common idiom.
Capitalization
In writing, always capitalize 'Sie' when it means 'you'. If you write 'haben sie', it means 'do they have'.
Meaning
Asking if someone possesses something.
The 'Feuer' Rule
If you ask 'Haben Sie Feuer?', you are asking for a light (for a cigarette/candle). It's a very common idiom.
Capitalization
In writing, always capitalize 'Sie' when it means 'you'. If you write 'haben sie', it means 'do they have'.
Add 'vielleicht'
Adding 'vielleicht' (perhaps) makes the question sound even more polite: 'Haben Sie vielleicht...?'
Test Yourself
Choose the correct formal question to ask for a bag.
___ ___ {eine|f} {Tüte|f}?
'Haben Sie' is the correct formal pairing.
Complete the sentence with the correct masculine article (Accusative).
Haben Sie ___ {Katalog|m}?
'Haben' takes the Accusative case, so 'der' becomes 'den'.
Match the German phrase to its English context.
1. Haben Sie Zeit? 2. Haben Sie {ein|n} {Zimmer|n}? 3. Haben Sie {den|m} {Schlüssel|m}?
Matching basic vocabulary with the phrase.
Complete the formal dialogue.
Kunde: Entschuldigung, ___ ___ {einen|m} {Stadtplan|m}? Verkäufer: Ja, natürlich. Hier bitte.
A customer (Kunde) should always use formal address with a seller.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Formal vs Informal Possession
Practice Bank
4 exercises___ ___ {eine|f} {Tüte|f}?
'Haben Sie' is the correct formal pairing.
Haben Sie ___ {Katalog|m}?
'Haben' takes the Accusative case, so 'der' becomes 'den'.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Matching basic vocabulary with the phrase.
Kunde: Entschuldigung, ___ ___ {einen|m} {Stadtplan|m}? Verkäufer: Ja, natürlich. Hier bitte.
A customer (Kunde) should always use formal address with a seller.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questionsYes, in Germany, students usually address teachers and professors with 'Sie' unless told otherwise.
'Haben Sie' asks if the person has it. 'Gibt es' asks if it exists in that location generally.
Usually yes, unless it's an uncountable noun like 'Zeit' (time) or 'Geld' (money).
It's not strictly rude, but starting with 'Entschuldigung' (Excuse me) is much more natural and polite.
Related Phrases
Hätten Sie...?
similarWould you have...?
Gibt es...?
similarIs there / Are there...?
Besitzen Sie...?
specialized formDo you own...?
