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James Abari Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

has had vs had

What`s the difference between these two sentences? Thank you. Emotion: smile

John works in a store, but he has had a lot of different jobs.

John works in a store, but he had a lot of different jobs.
  

Top answer

James Abari difference John works in a store (now), but he has had a lot of different jobs (throughout his life until now). John works in a store (now), but he had a lot of different jobs (at some other time in the past: last year? when he was in college?

— CalifJim

  • James Abari difference John works in a store (now), but he has had a lot of different jobs (throughout his life until now).
  • John works in a store (now), but he had a lot of different jobs (at some other time in the past: last year?
  • when he was in college?
  • ).
  • The second one seems a little incomplete because you haven't said when he had those jobs.
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3 Answers
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James Abaridifference
John works in a store (now), but he has had a lot of different jobs (throughout his life until now).

John works in a store (now), but he had a lot of different jobs (at some other time in the past: last year? when he was in college? between 2003 and 2007?).

The second one seems a little incomplete because you haven't sa
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Thanks. That helps. I follow what you are saying and I came to the same conclusions. But I can`t think of the English grammar rule it demonstrates. In other words, why is the second sentence wrong?
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Don't confuse 'wrong' with 'not idiomatic'. The second sentence, strictly speaking, is not wrong. It's just less effective than it could be.

CJ
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