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Anonymous Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

Have had/had had

Hi,
I have a question whether you have to us have had or had had in the following sentence:
Is it : "I have had this car for a few years before it broke down." or "I had had this car for a few years before it broke down ."
Can you also telle me the rule?
Thanks
  

Top answer

Anonymous "I had had this car for a few years before it broke down That one is possible; the other one is not. Present perfect ( have had ) refers to a period of time between a past point and NOW. Past perfect ( had had ) refers to a period between two past points.

— Mister Micawber

  • Anonymous "I had had this car for a few years before it broke down That one is possible; the other one is not.
  • Present perfect ( have had ) refers to a period of time between a past point and NOW.
  • Past perfect ( had had ) refers to a period between two past points.
  • However, neither of your sentences is really the right choice; simple past is all that is necessary: I had this car for a few years before it broke down.
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1 Answers
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Anonymous"I had had this car for a few years before it broke down
That one is possible; the other one is not.
Present perfect (have had) refers to a period of time between a past point and NOW.
Past perfect (had had) refers to a period between two past points.

However, neither of your sentences is really the right choice;
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