Have and Having!

Suma: Are you having my pen?

Rama: I’m not so hungry that I would eat it


Suma: Well, I meant to ask if you have my pen


Rama: Oh yes, certainly. Here it is.. 


Wondering why Rama ridiculed Suma?



“Have” is a word that is better used in simple present tense while denoting possession.


Ex.


“I have a house”, “I have a car”, “I have job,” etc


whereas, it doesn’t really make sense to say


“I am having a house” or “I am having a car” and “I am having a job"


The best place where it makes more sense is when you are literally having (eating)


For ex.


I have a cake - I have a cake in my possession 


I’m having a cake - I am eating a cake


Is eating the only sense for having? No, there are other uses such as



  • Singular event, but happening for a certain duration (continuous)


They’re having an argument ==> one particular argument


They always have arguments ==> repeated event


Here it is not appropriate to say


They are always having arguments


  • As part of a transitional phrase


“Having done the preparations well, he was eager to take the tests”


“Having been there before, she could identify all the monuments”


“Having seen the film already, they weren’t keen to join the office outing”


Hope the information isn’t too much. Don’t tell me you’re having a heart attack!

:)


























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