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T2e Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

Usage of "Have"

If use "have" in my sentence, is it present simple tense or is it present perfect tense? I know I can write present perfect tense sentence by using the word "have", but my doubt is whether I can write any simple present tense sentence using the word "have" ? I got confused because of the following situation. My friend fall from a tree, nothing worst happened but when I tried to describe what has happened to him and how does he look now (on the spot when the incident just happened), I got a problem. I want to tell it present simple tense, but the sentence I thought has "have" and also "are". So I'm super confused with tense. My sentence is below. "His veins have become thicker, muscles have tightened, the teeth are bleeding, and his face has become rough."

The reason I put are is I can't say "the teeth have bleeding". Because currently the teeth are bleeding and I want to say what I see. At the same time, my first two parts of the sentence are having "have" which I think in present perfect tense.
  

Top answer

Hello, t2e—and welcome to English Forums. t2e If use "have" in my sentence, is it present simple tense or is it present perfect tense? It depends on whether you use it as a main verb or as a helping verb: I have a sandwich.

— Mister Micawber

  • Hello, t2e—and welcome to English Forums.
  • t2e If use "have" in my sentence, is it present simple tense or is it present perfect tense?
  • It depends on whether you use it as a main verb or as a helping verb: I have a sandwich.
  • Simple present.
  • 'Have' = 'possess'.
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12 Answers
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Hello, t2e—and welcome to English Forums.
t2eIf use "have" in my sentence, is it present simple tense or is it present perfect tense?
It depends on whether you use it as a main verb or as a helping verb:

I have a sandwich. Simple present. 'Have' = 'possess'.
I have eaten my sandwich. Present perfect. 'Have' is an auxiliary to the ma
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In the following sentence, you also mixed present tense and present perfect tense. Is that acceptable in a single sentence?

His veins have become distended, his muscles have contracted, his gums are bleeding, and his face has been lacerated.

Also, when you say "His veins are distended", how does it qualify for present simple tense? You used a past tense verb "distend
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t2eIn the following sentence, you also mixed present tense and present perfect tense. Is that acceptable in a single sentence?
Yes, it is fine.
t2eWhen you say "His veins are distended" which one the following it means?
  1. His veins become distended in the past, but I see it now. It's still distended as I see i
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Sorry to ask another question, it's really related.
Instead of writing
"His veins have become thicker, muscles have tightened, the teeth are bleeding, and his face has become rough."
Can I write
"His veins become thicker, muscles tightened, the teeth bleeds, and his face become rough."
?
Basically, I'm dropping the "have", "has", and "are". Is this kind of writing accept
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t2eSorry to ask another question, it's really related.
Don't be sorry—that's what we are here for. We would just like you to continue the same thread if your question is related but start a new thread if your question is on a new topic.
t2eInstead of writing "His veins have become thicker, muscles have tightened, the teeth are bleeding
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Okay. Can I write "His veins become distended, his muscles contracted, his gums bleeding, and his face lacerated." instead of "His veins have become distended, his muscles have contracted, his gums are bleeding, and his face has been lacerated."? Basically, I'm dropping the "have", "has", and "are". Is this kind of writing acceptable anywhere?
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t2eBasically, I'm dropping the "have", "has", and "are". Is this kind of writing acceptable anywhere? Do writers write like this? The reason I ask this is my native language, things like this is possible. When you write, you don't have absolutely follow the rules. Sometimes writers write like this to give some kind of effect or flow. Is this acceptable in English? Can you
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t2e Can I write "His veins become distended, his muscles contracted, his gums bleeding, and his face lacerated." instead of "His veins have become distended, his muscles have contracted, his gums are bleeding, and his face has been lacerated."? Basically, I'm dropping the "have", "has", and "are". Is this kind of writing acceptable anywhere?
No, you cannot omi
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What do you mean by "you cannot omit the others unless they are all the same word in the sentence—which they are not here" ? I'm getting it.
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Why should I have to repeat "his" again and again?
Why can't I write "His veins have become distended, muscles contracted, face lacerated, and gums are bleeding." instead of writing "His veins have become distended, his muscles contracted and his face lacerated, and his gums are bleeding." ?
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