Have Had

Question

Are these correct? What do they mean? 1. I need to have had my car for 30 days for approval. (What does this mean compared to #2?) 2. I need to have my car for 30 days for approval. Thanks.

Julielai · Accepted Answer

Hi Jack112,

Do you mind telling us what you are trying to say?

Thanks

MrPedantic · Answer

1. I need to have had my car for 30 days for approval (i.e. to get approval).
2. I need to have my car for 30 days for approval.

I would say that both are fine.

When you say #1, it implies that you haven't yet got approval. It relates the 'needing to have' to the time of approval. You may or may not have had the car for 30 days.

When you say #2, it implies that you think the 30-day period is not yet complete. It relates the 'needing to have' to the 30 days.

('Have had' looks at the 30 days in terms of approval: the 30 days precede approval, so you use the perfect infinitive.)

I'd be interested in other people's opinions, though.

MrP

CalifJim · Answer

Aside from the apparent nonsense of an approval (of whom? about what?) being dependent upon having a car for 30 days, the difference between these (correct) sentences is as follows.

The first sentence contains a suggestion that the 30-day period is yet to be completed, by way of explaining why approval has not yet been forthcoming.

Why haven't you got approval yet?
Ah, well. Um. You see it's like this. I need to have had my car for 30 days for approval, and the waiting period has only just begun.

The second sentence suggests that the 30-day period may not yet have begun.

Why are you in such a hurry to buy that car?
I want approval as soon as possible, and I need to have my car for 30 days for approval, so I've got to buy it as soon as possible.

Nothing definitive here. Just some comments.

CJ

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