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Anonymous Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

Difference: have had or had

I am not sure when to use 'had' alone or 'have had', for example:

We had many problems before.
We have had many problems before.

Please advise as to when to use which and what is the difference.
  

Top answer

Anonymous We had many problems before. Simple past tense. Anonymous We have had many problems before.

— CalifJim

  • Anonymous We had many problems before.
  • Simple past tense.
  • Anonymous We have had many problems before.
  • Present perfect tense.
  • _______________ The difference is not the specific difference between "had" and "have had", because the two forms might just as well be "took" and "have taken", or "found" and "have found", or "saw" and "have seen".
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3 Answers
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AnonymousWe had many problems before.
Simple past tense.
AnonymousWe have had many problems before.
Present perfect tense.
_______________

The difference is not the specific difference between "had" and "have had", because the two forms might just as well be "took" and "have taken", or "found" and "have f
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Thank you. I think I now understand the difference. I did not know that 'have had' is present perfect and functions just as the example you have provided.

In brief, both 'we have had problems before and we had many problems before' are correct, but when using the present perfect we can not indicate a specific time in the past, such as we have had problems yesterday, instead the simple pa
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AnonymousIs what I have explained correct?
Yes. Exactly.

CJ
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