Distinguishing Between Have Had & Had

Have Had vs Had

Discerning the difference between the phrases “have had” and “had” can be challenging, particularly because comprehending the use of “have had” can be complex. These two terms are often confused in their usage, but they serve different purposes in English grammar. “Have had” is in the present perfect tense, with “have” functioning as the main verb. Typically, we use “have” and an object to discuss common actions. When using the present perfect form of “have,” it implies a connection between the present and the recent past. “Had,” however, is simpler to understand, as it is the past form of “to have” and is also used as an auxiliary verb in the past perfect tense.

Key Takeaways

• “Have had” is used to connect the present with the recent past in some way and is in the present perfect tense.
• “Had” is the past form of “to have” and is also used as an auxiliary verb in the past perfect tense.
• “Have had” is only used with plural nouns and pronouns, while “had” is used with both singular and plural nouns and pronouns, as well as with the first, second, and third persons.

Understanding Have Had

“Have had” is employed when we want to create a connection between the present and the recent past. Consider the following examples:

I have had enough of food in the morning.
They have had some fight among themselves.

In both sentences, “have had” is used to indicate “took” in the first sentence and “fought” in the second sentence. The usage of “have had” is similar to “had,” but with added stress or emphasis on the action. In the first sentence, the emphasis is on the action of “taking,” while in the second sentence, it is on the action of “fighting.” Thus, “have had” is used to emphasize actions that took place not long ago.

Understanding Had

“Had” serves as the past form of the verb “to have.” Observe the following examples:

She had a bag.
I had an umbrella.
They had a huge quarrel.

In these cases, “had” is employed with both singular and plural nouns and pronouns. Moreover, “had” is used in past perfect tense forms, as seen in these examples:

It had rained last month.
She had given a book to me last year.

“Had” is used in both sentences above in the past perfect tense and applies to all three persons: first, second, and third.

Differences Between Have Had and Had

• “Have had” is utilized to create a connection between the present and the recent past, and it is in the present perfect tense.
• “Had” is the past form of “to have” and also functions as an auxiliary verb in the past perfect tense.
• “Have had” is used only with plural nouns and pronouns, while “had” is employed with both singular and plural nouns and pronouns, as well as with the first, second, and third persons.