Understanding when to use “have” and “had” is crucial for mastering perfect tenses in English. These auxiliary verbs play a vital role in constructing sentences that accurately convey the timing and completion of actions.
This article provides a comprehensive guide to using “have” and “had,” covering their definitions, structural rules, usage, common mistakes, and advanced topics. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, this guide will help you confidently use “have” and “had” in your writing and speaking.
By understanding the nuances of “have” and “had,” learners can construct more precise and sophisticated sentences, leading to improved communication skills. This article is designed to provide a thorough understanding of these essential verbs, offering clear explanations, numerous examples, and practical exercises to reinforce learning.
It is beneficial for ESL learners, students preparing for English exams, and anyone looking to refine their English grammar skills.
Table of Contents
- Definition of Have and Had
- Structural Breakdown: Forming Perfect Tenses
- Types and Categories: Understanding Perfect Tenses
- Examples of Have and Had in Sentences
- Usage Rules: When to Use Have and Had
- Common Mistakes with Have and Had
- Practice Exercises
- Advanced Topics: Perfect Progressive Tenses
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Conclusion
Definition of Have and Had
Have and had are auxiliary verbs (also known as helping verbs) in English grammar. They are primarily used to form perfect tenses, which indicate completed actions or states at a specific point in time. Understanding their distinct roles is essential for constructing grammatically correct and meaningful sentences.
Have is used to form the present perfect and future perfect tenses. It indicates that an action was completed at some point before the present or will be completed before a future point. Had, on the other hand, is used to form the past perfect tense, indicating that an action was completed before another point in the past.
In addition to their role in perfect tenses, “have” can also be used as a main verb to indicate possession, obligation, or experience. For example: I have a car. (possession), I have to go. (obligation), I have a good time. (experience). However, this article focuses primarily on their use as auxiliary verbs in perfect tenses. “Had” as a main verb is the past tense of “have” (e.g., “I had a car yesterday.”)
Structural Breakdown: Forming Perfect Tenses
The structural breakdown of perfect tenses involves using “have” or “had” along with the past participle of the main verb. The past participle is usually formed by adding “-ed” to the base form of regular verbs (e.g., walked, played, talked). Irregular verbs have different past participle forms that need to be memorized (e.g., gone, eaten, seen).
Here’s a breakdown of the structure for each perfect tense:
- Present Perfect: have/has + past participle (e.g., I have finished, she has eaten)
- Past Perfect: had + past participle (e.g., I had finished, she had eaten)
- Future Perfect: will have + past participle (e.g., I will have finished, she will have eaten)
The choice between “have” and “has” in the present perfect tense depends on the subject of the sentence. “Have” is used with the pronouns I, you, we, and they, while “has” is used with the pronouns he, she, and it. In the past and future perfect tenses, the form of the auxiliary verb (“had” and “will have,” respectively) remains the same regardless of the subject.
Types and Categories: Understanding Perfect Tenses
Perfect tenses are used to describe actions that are completed or have a specific relevance to a particular point in time. There are three main types of perfect tenses in English: present perfect, past perfect, and future perfect.
Each tense conveys a different relationship between the action and the time frame.
Present Perfect
The present perfect tense connects a past action to the present. It is used to describe actions that started in the past and continue to the present, actions that happened at an unspecified time in the past, or actions that have a result or consequence in the present.
Structure: have/has + past participle
Examples:
- I have lived here for ten years. (action started in the past and continues to the present)
- She has traveled to many countries. (action happened at an unspecified time in the past)
- They have finished their work. (action has a result in the present)
Past Perfect
The past perfect tense describes an action that was completed before another action in the past. It is used to clarify the sequence of events, indicating which action happened first.
Structure: had + past participle
Examples:
- I had eaten dinner before they arrived. (eating dinner happened before their arrival)
- She had studied hard before the exam. (studying happened before the exam)
- They had left when I got there. (leaving happened before my arrival)
Future Perfect
The future perfect tense describes an action that will be completed before a specific time in the future. It is used to project an action’s completion into the future.
Structure: will have + past participle
Examples:
- I will have finished the report by tomorrow. (the report will be finished before tomorrow)
- She will have graduated by next year. (graduation will happen before next year)
- They will have moved to their new house by then. (moving will happen before then)
Examples of Have and Had in Sentences
To further illustrate the use of “have” and “had,” here are extensive examples categorized by tense. These examples demonstrate the different contexts in which each tense is used and how “have” and “had” function as auxiliary verbs within these structures.
Present Perfect Examples
The following table provides examples of sentences using the present perfect tense. Notice how “have” and “has” are used with different subjects and how the tense indicates a connection between the past and the present.
| Subject | Sentence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| I | I have seen that movie before. | Indicates a past experience that is relevant to the present. |
| You | You have done a great job on this project. | Praises a completed action with present relevance. |
| He | He has lived in London for five years. | Describes an action that started in the past and continues to the present. |
| She | She has already finished her homework. | Indicates a completed action with a present result. |
| It | It has rained a lot this week. | Describes a series of actions that have occurred within a time period that includes the present. |
| We | We have been to Italy twice. | Indicates a repeated past experience. |
| They | They have decided to move to a new city. | Describes a decision made in the past that has present consequences. |
| The dog | The dog has eaten all its food. | Indicates a completed action with a visible result. |
| My sister | My sister has learned to play the piano. | Describes a skill acquired in the past. |
| The students | The students have studied hard for the exam. | Indicates effort made in the past with present implications. |
| I | I have never tried sushi before. | Indicates a lack of past experience. |
| You | You have always been there for me. | Describes a consistent action or state from the past to the present. |
| He | He has just arrived at the airport. | Indicates a very recent action. |
| She | She has become a successful doctor. | Describes a transformation completed in the past with present relevance. |
| It | It has been a long day. | Reflects on a day that started in the past and continues to the present. |
| We | We have known each other since childhood. | Describes a relationship that started in the past and continues to the present. |
| They | They have built a new house. | Indicates a completed project with present visibility. |
| The company | The company has increased its profits this year. | Describes a change that has occurred within a time period that includes the present. |
| My parents | My parents have visited me several times. | Indicates a repeated action with present relevance. |
| The team | The team has won the championship. | Describes a completed achievement with present prestige. |
| I | I have not finished my work yet. | Indicates an incomplete action with present implications. |
| You | You have improved a lot since last year. | Describes progress made in the past that is evident in the present. |
| He | He has written several books. | Indicates a completed body of work with present recognition. |
| She | She has met many interesting people. | Describes a series of past experiences. |
| It | It has become very popular recently. | Describes a change in status over time. |
| We | We have learned a lot from this experience. | Indicates knowledge gained from a past event. |
| They | They have traveled all over the world. | Describes extensive past experiences. |
| The chef | The chef has created a new dish. | Indicates a recent creation with present availability. |
| My friend | My friend has started a new job. | Describes a recent change in life. |
| The author | The author has released a new book. | Indicates a recent publication with present availability. |
Past Perfect Examples
The following table provides examples of sentences using the past perfect tense. Pay attention to how “had” is used to indicate an action that was completed before another action in the past.
These sentences often involve a sequence of events, where the past perfect clarifies which event occurred first.
| Subject | Sentence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| I | I had already eaten when they arrived. | Eating happened before their arrival. |
| You | You had finished the report before the deadline. | Finishing the report happened before the deadline. |
| He | He had lived in Paris before moving to Rome. | Living in Paris happened before moving to Rome. |
| She | She had studied French before visiting France. | Studying French happened before visiting France. |
| It | It had stopped raining by the time we left. | The rain stopping happened before we left. |
| We | We had never seen snow before we went to Canada. | Not seeing snow happened before going to Canada. |
| They | They had sold their house before buying a new one. | Selling their house happened before buying a new one. |
| The team | The team had won the championship before the scandal broke. | Winning the championship happened before the scandal broke. |
| My friend | My friend had left before I could say goodbye. | Leaving happened before I could say goodbye. |
| The movie | The movie had already started when we got to the theater. | The movie starting happened before we got to the theater. |
| I | I had never felt so nervous before the presentation. | Feeling nervous happened before the presentation. |
| You | You had worked hard to achieve your goals. | Working hard happened before achieving the goals. |
| He | He had forgotten his keys before leaving the house. | Forgetting his keys happened before leaving the house. |
| She | She had practiced the song many times before performing it. | Practicing the song happened before performing it. |
| It | It had snowed heavily the day before the accident. | Snowing heavily happened before the accident. |
| We | We had planned the trip for months before finally going. | Planning the trip happened before finally going. |
| They | They had invested a lot of money before the company failed. | Investing money happened before the company failed. |
| The chef | The chef had prepared the meal before the guests arrived. | Preparing the meal happened before the guests arrived. |
| My parents | My parents had saved enough money before retiring. | Saving money happened before retiring. |
| The author | The author had written several books before becoming famous. | Writing books happened before becoming famous. |
| I | I had studied all night, so I was tired. | Studying all night happened before feeling tired. |
| You | You had promised to call, but you forgot. | Promising to call happened before forgetting. |
| He | He had already left when she called. | Leaving happened before she called. |
| She | She had done her best, but it wasn’t enough. | Doing her best happened before realizing it wasn’t enough. |
| It | It had been a long day, so they were tired. | Being a long day happened before feeling tired. |
| We | We had lived there for years before moving away. | Living there happened before moving away. |
| They | They had practiced a lot before the concert. | Practicing happened before the concert. |
| The teacher | The teacher had explained the lesson before the test. | Explaining the lesson happened before the test. |
| My cousin | My cousin had visited many countries before settling down. | Visiting countries happened before settling down. |
| The computer | The computer had crashed before I saved my work. | Crashing happened before saving the work. |
Future Perfect Examples
The following table provides examples of sentences using the future perfect tense. Observe how “will have” is used to indicate an action that will be completed before a specific time in the future.
This tense often involves a prediction or expectation about the future.
| Subject | Sentence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| I | I will have finished the book by next week. | Indicates completion before next week. |
| You | You will have graduated by the end of the year. | Indicates completion before the end of the year. |
| He | He will have learned to speak Spanish in two years. | Indicates completion of learning before two years pass. |
| She | She will have traveled to Europe by next summer. | Indicates completion of travel before next summer. |
| It | It will have been a year since we moved here next month. | Indicates the completion of a year period next month. |
| We | We will have saved enough money by then. | Indicates completion of saving before a specified time. |
| They | They will have built the new school by September. | Indicates completion of building before September. |
| The company | The company will have launched the new product by the end of Q4. | Indicates completion of the launch before the end of Q4. |
| My friend | My friend will have completed his PhD by 2025. | Indicates completion of the PhD before 2025. |
| The project | The project will have been finished by the time the investors arrive. | Indicates completion of the project before the investors’ arrival. |
| I | I will have worked here for ten years next June. | Indicates the completion of ten years of work next June. |
| You | You will have mastered English by the time you move to the US. | Indicates completion of mastering English before moving to the US. |
| He | He will have finished writing his novel by the end of the year. | Indicates completion of writing the novel before the end of the year. |
| She | She will have run the marathon by this time next year. | Indicates completion of running the marathon before this time next year. |
| It | It will have become a major tourist attraction in a few years. | Indicates the completion of becoming a tourist attraction in a few years. |
| We | We will have paid off the mortgage by the time we retire. | Indicates completion of paying off the mortgage before retirement. |
| They | They will have renovated the entire house by the summer. | Indicates completion of renovating the house before the summer. |
| The chef | The chef will have perfected the recipe by the next cooking competition. | Indicates completion of perfecting the recipe before the competition. |
| My parents | My parents will have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary next year. | Indicates completion of 50 years of marriage next year. |
| The team | The team will have won several championships by the end of the decade. | Indicates completion of winning championships before the end of the decade. |
| I | I will have forgotten all about it by then. | Indicates completion of forgetting by a certain time. |
| You | You will have achieved all your goals by the time you’re 40. | Indicates completion of achieving goals before turning 40. |
| He | He will have climbed all the major mountains by next year. | Indicates completion of climbing mountains before next year. |
| She | She will have visited every continent by the time she’s 60. | Indicates completion of visiting continents before turning 60. |
| It | It will have become a classic film in the years to come. | Indicates the completion of becoming a classic film in the future. |
| We | We will have explored all the national parks by the end of our road trip. | Indicates completion of exploring parks before the end of the trip. |
| They | They will have seen all the major sights by the time they leave the city. | Indicates completion of seeing sights before leaving the city. |
| The scientist | The scientist will have made a groundbreaking discovery by the next conference. | Indicates completion of making a discovery before the conference. |
| My neighbor | My neighbor will have planted all the flowers by the weekend. | Indicates completion of planting flowers before the weekend. |
| The city | The city will have completed the new infrastructure project by 2030. | Indicates completion of the project before 2030. |
Usage Rules: When to Use Have and Had
Understanding the specific rules for using “have” and “had” is crucial for accurate and effective communication. This section outlines the rules for each tense and provides guidelines for their proper usage.
Present Perfect Rules
The present perfect tense is used to describe:
- Actions that started in the past and continue to the present (e.g., I have lived here for ten years.)
- Actions that happened at an unspecified time in the past (e.g., She has traveled to many countries.)
- Actions that have a result or consequence in the present (e.g., They have finished their work.)
- Life experiences (e.g., I have never tried sushi.)
The present perfect is often used with adverbs like ever, never, already, yet, just, and for/since. These adverbs help to specify the timing and duration of the action.
Past Perfect Rules
The past perfect tense is used to describe:
- Actions that were completed before another action in the past (e.g., I had eaten dinner before they arrived.)
- To show cause and effect in the past (e.g., I had studied all night, so I was tired.)
The past perfect is often used with time expressions like before, after, by the time, and when. These expressions help to clarify the sequence of events.
Exceptions and Special Cases
There are some exceptions and special cases to consider when using “have” and “had”:
- Stative verbs: Stative verbs describe states rather than actions (e.g., know, believe, understand). While they can be used in perfect tenses, they often describe a continuous state rather than a completed action. (e.g., I have known him for years.)
- Modal verbs: Modal verbs (e.g., can, should, must) cannot be used with “have” or “had” to form perfect tenses. Instead, use “have” + past participle after the modal verb (e.g., I should have gone.)
- “Get” vs. “Have”: In some cases, “get” is used instead of “have” to describe an achievement or acquisition (e.g., I’ve got a car. This is more common in British English.)
Common Mistakes with Have and Had
Many learners make common mistakes when using “have” and “had.” Understanding these mistakes and how to correct them can significantly improve your grammar.
| Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| I have ate dinner. | I have eaten dinner. | Using the correct past participle form (eaten) instead of the simple past (ate). |
| She had went to the store. | She had gone to the store. | Using the correct past participle form (gone) instead of the simple past (went). |
| He has finished the work yesterday. | He finished the work yesterday. OR He has finished the work. | Using the present perfect with a specific past time marker (yesterday). Use the simple past for specific past times. |
| I am having lived here for years. | I have lived here for years. | Incorrect use of the present continuous with the present perfect. |
| They have been to Paris last year. | They went to Paris last year. OR They have been to Paris. | Using the present perfect with a specific past time marker (last year). Use the simple past for specific past times. |
| I had saw the movie before. | I had seen the movie before. | Using the correct past participle form (seen) instead of the simple past (saw). |
| She has a car since 2010. | She has had a car since 2010. | Using the correct form of “have” as a main verb in the present perfect. |
| We have to went to the meeting. | We have had to go to the meeting. | Using the correct past participle form of “go” (gone) and the correct structure for obligation in the present perfect. |
| I have been knowing him for years. | I have known him for years. | The verb “know” is a stative verb and is not typically used in continuous tenses. |
| He had finished the report and then he is leaving. | He had finished the report and then he left. | Maintaining consistent past tense. |
| She has didn’t eat lunch. | She hasn’t eaten lunch. | Correct word order in a negative present perfect sentence. |
| Have you ever went to Japan? | Have you ever been to Japan? | Using the correct past participle form of ‘be’ (been) in present perfect questions about experiences. |
| I have study English for 5 years. | I have studied English for 5 years. | Using the correct past participle form of ‘study’ (studied). |
Practice Exercises
To reinforce your understanding of “have” and “had,” complete the following practice exercises. These exercises will test your ability to choose the correct form and use it in the appropriate context.
Exercise 1: Choose Have or Has
Choose the correct form, “have” or “has,” to complete the following sentences.
Instructions: Select ‘have’ or ‘has’ to complete the following sentences correctly.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. I _____ already finished my homework. | have |
| 2. She _____ lived in New York for five years. | has |
| 3. They _____ decided to go on vacation. | have |
| 4. He _____ just arrived at the airport. | has |
| 5. We _____ known each other for a long time. | have |
| 6. It _____ been a pleasure meeting you. | has |
| 7. You _____ done a great job on this project. | have |
| 8. My sister _____ learned to play the guitar. | has |
| 9. The students _____ studied hard for the exam. | have |
| 10. The dog _____ eaten all its food. | has |
Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks with Have, Has, or Had
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb: “have,” “has,” or “had.”
Instructions: Complete the sentences using ‘have’, ‘has’, or ‘had’ to form the correct perfect tense.
| Question | Answer | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. I _____ never seen such a beautiful sunset. | have | ||
| 2. She _____ already left when I arrived. | had | ||
| 3. They _____ been working on this project for months. | have | ||
| 4. He _____ finished his degree last year. | has | ||
| 5. We _____ planned the trip before the pandemic started. | had | ||
| 6. It _____ been a long and difficult journey. | has | 7. You _____ always been a great friend. | have |
| 8. My parents _____ visited many countries before settling down. | had | ||
| 9. The chef _____ created a new dish for the restaurant. | has | ||
| 10. The computer _____ crashed before I saved my work. | had |
Exercise 3: Correct the Sentences
Identify and correct the mistakes in the following sentences.
Instructions: Identify and correct the errors in the use of ‘have’, ‘has’, or ‘had’ in the sentences below.
| Incorrect Sentence | Correct Sentence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1. I have ate dinner already. | I have eaten dinner already. | Corrected the past participle of “eat.” |
| 2. She had went to the store yesterday. | She went to the store yesterday. | Simple past is appropriate since “yesterday” is used. |
| 3. He has finish the work. | He has finished the work. | Corrected the past participle of “finish.” |
| 4. We has been to Italy twice. | We have been to Italy twice. | Corrected the verb to match the subject “we.” |
| 5. They had saw the movie before. | They had seen the movie before. | Corrected the past participle of “see.” |
| 6. I am having lived here for ten years. | I have lived here for ten years. | Corrected to the present perfect tense. |
| 7. She have a car since 2010. | She has had a car since 2010. | Corrected the subject-verb agreement and added the correct participle. |
| 8. We has to went to the meeting. | We have had to go to the meeting. | Corrected the subject-verb agreement and verb form. |
| 9. He had forgot his keys. | He had forgotten his keys. | Corrected the past participle of “forget.” |
| 10. They has build a new house. | They have built a new house. | Corrected the subject-verb agreement and past participle of “build.” |
Advanced Topics: Perfect Progressive Tenses
For advanced learners, understanding perfect progressive tenses can add further depth to your command of English grammar. These tenses combine the perfect aspect with the progressive aspect, indicating an ongoing action that has relevance to a specific point in time.
Present Perfect Progressive
The present perfect progressive describes an action that started in the past, continues to the present, and is still ongoing. It emphasizes the duration and continuity of the action.
Structure: have/has + been + verb-ing
Examples:
- I have been working on this project for three hours.
- She has been studying English since last year.
- They have been living in this city for five years.
Past Perfect Progressive
The past perfect progressive describes an action that was ongoing before another action in the past. It emphasizes the duration and continuity of the first action leading up to the second action.
Structure: had + been + verb-ing
Examples:
- I had been working on the report for hours before the computer crashed.
- She had been studying all day before she finally took a break.
- They had been living in that house for years before they decided to move.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
When should I use “have” vs. “has”?
Use “have” with the pronouns I, you, we, and they. Use “has” with the pronouns he, she, and it.
For example: “I have finished,” “She has finished.”
Can “have” be used as a main verb and an auxiliary verb in the same sentence?
Yes, “have” can be used as both a main verb and an auxiliary verb in the same sentence. For example: “I have had a good day.” Here, “have” is the auxiliary verb forming the present perfect tense, and “had” is the past participle of the main verb “have.”
How do I form negative sentences with “have” and “has”?
To form negative sentences, add “not” after “have” or “has.” For example: “I have not finished,” “She has not eaten.” Contractions are also common: “I haven’t finished,” “She hasn’t eaten.”
What’s the difference between the present perfect and the past perfect?
The present perfect connects a past action to the present, while the past perfect describes an action completed before another action in the past. For example: “I have seen that movie” (present perfect) implies a past experience relevant now.
“I had seen that movie before you recommended it” (past perfect) clarifies the sequence of events in the past.
Are there any irregular past participles I should be aware of?
Yes, many verbs have irregular past participle forms. Some common examples include: go (gone), eat (eaten), see (seen), do (done), and write (written).
It’s essential to memorize these forms for accurate usage.
How do I use “have” and “had” in questions?
To form questions, invert the subject and the auxiliary verb. For example: “Have you finished?” “Had she left before you arrived?”
When should I use the present perfect progressive instead of the present perfect?
Use the present perfect progressive to emphasize the ongoing nature and duration of an action that started in the past and continues to the present. Use the present perfect to focus on the completion or result of the action.
For example: “I have been working on this project for hours” (emphasizes the duration). “I have finished the project” (emphasizes the completion).
Conclusion
Mastering the use of “have” and “had” is essential for constructing accurate and sophisticated sentences in English. By understanding their roles in forming perfect tenses, you can effectively communicate the timing and completion of actions.
This guide has provided a comprehensive overview of “have” and “had,” covering their definitions, structural rules, usage guidelines, common mistakes, and advanced topics.
By following the explanations, examples, and practice exercises in this article, you can improve your understanding and application of these essential auxiliary verbs. Whether you are an ESL learner, a student preparing for English exams, or simply looking to refine your grammar skills, mastering “have” and “had” will significantly enhance your ability to communicate effectively in English.