The verb to have · Conjugation
Past Simple of have
The answer: had
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to have is had.
Example: We had a great time.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form | Contraction |
|---|---|---|
| I | had | I'd |
| You | had | You'd |
| He / She / It | had | He'd / She'd / It'd |
| We | had | We'd |
| You (pl.) | had | You'd |
| They | had | They'd |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Didn't had ❌
When did already shows the past, the main verb goes back to its base form. Say I didn't have, not I didn't had. It is the same in questions: Did you have…?, not Did you had…?
2. I had got a pen ❌
For things you owned in the past, just say I had a pen, not I had got a pen. Had got is the Past Perfect of get (to receive or obtain): I had got a new bike before the summer.
3. I'd saw ❌
The short form 'd can mean had or would. A simple tip: 'd + past participle = had (I'd seen = I had seen). 'd + base form = would (I'd see = I would see). 'd + Past Simple (I'd saw) is always wrong.
Practice quiz
Going further
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of have?+
The Past Simple of have is had, for every person: I had, you had, he had, she had, we had, they had. The past participle is also had: it is the same word.
How do you use had in a sentence?+
Use had for something you owned or did at a time in the past: I had a dog when I was little. We had pizza for dinner last night. The same form can describe a long situation or a single event.
What is the past of have to?+
Use had to + verb: I had to leave early. It is the past of have to. The negative is didn't have to: I didn't have to go to school (it was not necessary).
Is it didn't have or didn't had?+
Say didn't have. When have is the main verb, use did + the base form: Did you have a good time? I didn't have any money. When had is an auxiliary (Past Perfect: had + past participle), put it before the subject: Had you finished your homework?
What is the short form of had?+
Had becomes 'd: I had = I'd, he had = he'd, they had = they'd. Be careful: 'd can also be the short form of would (I'd like a sandwich = I would like a sandwich). The rest of the sentence tells you which one it is.
Related pages: have Past Simple
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/have/past-simple
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.
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More forms of the verb to have are coming soon.