Top Differences Between Had And Has 2024 Update

Have you ever hesitated while writing an email or a report, unsure whether to use “has” or “had” to accurately depict something?

Have you ever pondered over the correct usage of “has” and “had” in English grammar? 

If so, you’re not alone! These two small hold significant importance in English. 

Whether you’re writing a formal essay, chatting with friends, or simply expressing yourself, knowing when to use “has” or “had” correctly can make a huge difference in conveying your thoughts accurately. 

And throughout this article, we’ll break down the rules and guidelines for using “has” and “had” effectively with examples. By the end, you’ll have a solid grasp of the distinctions between these words which will enable you to express yourself more precisely.

So, are you ready to embark on this grammatical expedition? Let’s begin – 

Top Differences Between Had And Has 2024 Update

To comprehend these distinctions, let’s start with the basics. “Has” and “had” belong to the family of verbs called “auxiliary verbs” or “helping verbs.” 

Has

This helping verb is used to refer to the present or the immediate past.It indicates actions that happened in the past but have a connection to the present.

 It pairs up with the third person singular subject (he, she, it, or any singular noun) to create the present perfect tense. 

Example 1 – 

She has completed her assignment.

In this sentence, “has” denotes an action that happened in the recent past, and it emphasises the connection between the past action (completing the assignment) and the present moment.

Example 2 – 

She has seen that movie ten times.

The action of watching the movie occurred multiple times in the past, but the emphasis is on the connection to the present moment. 

Some situations where has can be used are – 

• Use of “Has” in Possession

“Has” is often used to indicate possession or ownership.

Examples:

• She has a new car

This sentence means that the subject (she) is the owner of a new car. The word “has” indicates her ownership or possession of the car.

• He has three siblings

This sentence means that the subject (he) possesses or has three siblings. The word “has” indicates his ownership or possession of the siblings, emphasising the familial relationship.

2. Use of “Has” in Causative Constructions

“Has” is used in causative constructions to indicate that someone or something causes another person to do an action.

Examples:

• She has her assistant prepare the reports.

In this sentence, the subject (she) is causing her assistant to prepare the reports. The word “has” indicates that the action of preparing the reports is being carried out by the assistant under her instruction or direction.

• He has the mechanic fix his car

This sentence implies that the subject (he) is causing the mechanic to fix his car. The word “has” suggests that the subject has instructed or arranged for the mechanic to perform the action of fixing his car.

Had

Had is used to refer to the past. It indicates actions that occurred before another past event. It can be used with both singular and plural subjects (I, you, we, they, he, she, it).

Here are examples:

• They had already eaten dinner when I arrived.

In this case, “had” highlights that the dinner had taken place before the speaker’s arrival, setting the sequence of events in the past.

•  I had already started cooking when they arrived.

The action of starting cooking happened before the arrival of “they.” 

Some situations where had can be used are – 

1. Use of “Had” in Conditional Sentences

“Had” is used in the past unreal conditional sentences (also known as the third conditional).

It expresses imaginary or unreal situations that did not happen in the past.

Examples:

• If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam.

This sentence expresses a situation in the past where the speaker did not study hard enough, resulting in not passing the exam. The use of “had” emphasizes that the action of studying harder did not occur in reality.

• She would have bought the dress if she had enough money.

This sentence presents a condition in the past that was not fulfilled. The subject (she) did not have enough money, so the action of buying the dress did not happen. 

2. Use of “Had” in Reported Speech

“Had” is used when reporting someone’s words or thoughts about a past event.

It changes the verb tense to match the past context.

Examples:

• She said she had already finished her work.

This sentence reports someone’s past statement. The original statement was “I have already finished my work,” but when reporting it in the past, “had” is used to reflect the past tense of the verb “have.”

• He wondered if they had received his email

This sentence reports someone’s past thoughts or speculation. The person originally wondered, “Have they received my email?” When shifting the reported speech to the past, “had” is used to indicate the past tense of the verb “have.”

3. Use of “Had” in Hypothetical Situations

“Had” can be used in hypothetical or unreal situations in the past.

Examples:

• If I had known, I would have helped you. 

This sentence presents a situation in the past where the speaker did not have knowledge of something. The use of “had” indicates the unrealized knowledge, leading to the hypothetical action of helping.

• They would have come to the party if they had been invited.

This sentence describes a hypothetical scenario in the past where the subject (they) did not receive an invitation. If they had received it, they would have come. 

4.  Use of Had in possession

Had can also be used to indicate possession or ownership, but it is typically used in the past tense. 

Here’s an example – 

• When I was younger, I had a pet dog named Max.

 In this example, “had” is used to convey the ownership and past possession of a pet dog. It indicates that the speaker was the owner of the dog named Max at a specific point in the past.

5. Use of Had in Causative Constructions

Had can be used in the past tense to indicate that the causative action has already been completed. 

Here’s an example – 

• John had his car repaired by a professional mechanic.

In this example, John caused the repair of his car by arranging for a professional mechanic to perform the task. The use of “had” indicates that the action of having his car repaired took place in the past.

End Note

The major difference between ‘has’ and ‘had’ is that ‘has’ is used to refer to actions that happen in the present, while ‘had’ is used to refer to actions that happened in the past. I hope this article has helped you understand the difference between these two words.

But if you still have any questions, do let us know in the comment section. We would love to clear all the doubts and answer all your questions.