The verb to have · Conjugation
Present Perfect of have
The answer: have / has had
B1
A past action with a link to the present.
Quick answer
The Present Perfect of the verb to have is have / has had.
Example: I have had this car for ten years.
Full conjugation in the Present Perfect
| Pronoun | Form | Contraction |
|---|---|---|
| I | have had | I've had |
| You | have had | You've had |
| He / She / It | has had | He's / She's / It's had |
| We | have had | We've had |
| You (pl.) | have had | You've had |
| They | have had | They've had |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. I have have ❌
Seeing have twice can be surprising, but I have had is correct: it is the normal Present Perfect of have. The second word must be the past participle had, never have: I have had a cold all week.
2. I have had a dog in 2020 ❌
I have had a dog since 2020 means I got a dog in 2020 and I still have it. I had a dog in 2020 means I had one then, but the situation is finished. With a finished time like in 2020, use the Past Simple.
3. I have a dog since 2020 ❌
This is a very common mistake. For a situation that started in the past and continues now, English uses the Present Perfect, not the Present Simple. Say I have had a dog since 2020, never I have a dog since 2020.
Practice quiz
Going further
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Frequently asked questions
What is the present perfect of have?+
It is have had or has had. The first have or has is the auxiliary. The second word, had, is the past participle of have. Example: I have had this bike since 2020.
Why is there have twice in I have had?+
The first have is the auxiliary of the Present Perfect, like in I have eaten. The second word, had, is the past participle of have. It is not a mistake: it is the normal Present Perfect of the verb have.
When do you use have had and when do you use had?+
Use have had when the situation is connected to now: I have had a headache since this morning (and I still have it). Use had (Past Simple) for a finished situation in the past: Yesterday I had a headache.
How do you use for and since with have had?+
Use for with a length of time and since with a starting point: I have had this watch for 5 years or since 2020. For a situation that started in the past and continues now, English needs the Present Perfect, not the Present Simple.
How do you make questions and negatives with have had?+
Negative: I have not had (haven't had), she has not had (hasn't had). Question: put have or has before the subject: Have you had breakfast? Has she ever had a pet? The word had does not change.
Related pages: have Present Perfect
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/present-perfect
© 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.