0
Mpgrewal Posted 22 years ago
Grammar

Had & have

I just know that had is used for past events while have for present ones..
suppose i gave someone 2 dollars yesterday and want to tell someone else this today!
Will I use:
"I had given him 2 dollars y'day"
or
"I have given him 2 dollars y'day"

Is there any rule that determines where to use had and where have?
thx
  

Top answer

I dunno the "rule", exactly, but this is how I use these: Using "had" suggests a time further back in the sequence of events than the normal past "gave". In your example the use of "yesterday" is not enough reason to NEED the "had" bit. You could just say "I gave him two dollars y'st" we use "had" to show sequencing - so - "I had given him 2 dollars to buy a toy but he spent it on candy, so I got mad at him".

— Suzi

  • I dunno the "rule", exactly, but this is how I use these: Using "had" suggests a time further back in the sequence of events than the normal past "gave".
  • In your example the use of "yesterday" is not enough reason to NEED the "had" bit.
  • You could just say "I gave him two dollars y'st" we use "had" to show sequencing - so - "I had given him 2 dollars to buy a toy but he spent it on candy, so I got mad at him".
  • re.
  • "I have given him $2" the "have" is used for emphasis.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

2 Answers
0
I dunno the "rule", exactly, but this is how I use these:

Using "had" suggests a time further back in the sequence of events than the normal past "gave". In your example the use of "yesterday" is not enough reason to NEED the "had" bit. You could just say "I gave him two dollars y'st"

we use "had" to show sequencing - so - "I had given him 2 dollars to buy a toy but he sp
0
0
thx for ur help suzi
0

Related Questions