Use 'have' as a verb correctly

Question

I got following question from one of app which has been published by the British Council (British Council Grammar App). The question asks to select two correct sentences from four sentences.

1) How long have you had this scooter?
2) How long do you have this scooter?
3) How long have you been having this scooter?
4) How long did you have your old scooter?

It is obvious that first one is correct. However, my question is, according to the answers, the fourth one is the second correct sentence. Furthermore, it is evident that second one is incorrect. Nevertheless, please someone tell me what is the wrong with the third sentence and how come the fourth one is correct. My point is, in here, it asks about some time period, so is it possible to use questions with past tense to ask about it?

Clive · Accepted Answer

I got following question from one of app which has been published by the British Council (British Council Grammar App). The question asks to select two correct sentences from four sentences.

1) How long have you had this scooter? OK
2) How long do you have this scooter? OK, but implies that you have just rented or borrowed it, and will have to return it.
3) How long have you been having this scooter? I can't think of a context in which you'd say this.
4) How long did you have your old scooter? OK. This is common English. I suppose you could think of it as 'When you had your old scooter, how long did you have it?'

Clive

Use 'have' as a verb correctly

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