Have Been Having vs. Have Had – Which is Correct?

“Have been having” and “have had” are both grammatically correct English phrases, but they convey different aspects of time and completion. “Have been having” uses the present perfect continuous tense, emphasizing an ongoing action that started in the past and continues to the present. “Have had” uses the present perfect simple tense, focusing on an action completed at some point before now, or an experience.

Have Been Having or Have Had – Which is Correct?

Both “have been having” and “have had” are correct and serve distinct grammatical purposes in English. The choice between them depends entirely on the nuance of time and aspect you wish to convey.

The core difference lies in their tenses:

• Have been having: This is the present perfect continuous tense. It describes an action that started in the past, has continued up to the present moment, and may still be ongoing or has just finished with a visible result. It emphasizes the duration or the continuous nature of the action.
• Have had: This is the present perfect simple tense. It describes an action that was completed at an unspecified time in the past, or an experience that occurred before now. It focuses on the result or the fact of the action, rather than its duration. It can also describe a state that began in the past and continues to the present, especially with verbs like “have” (to possess).

The Best Trick to Remember the Difference

Think of it this way: the “been having” implies an ongoing “movie” of an action, while “had” implies a “snapshot” or a completed event.

Similarly, understanding the distinction between Has Been vs. Have Been is crucial for correct subject-verb agreement in the present perfect tense.

• “Been having” (Ongoing Movie): If you can imagine the action still playing out or having just concluded with immediate effects, use “have been having.” It’s about the process.
  
  Mental check: “Is it still happening, or did it just stop, and I’m feeling the effects?”
• “Had” (Completed Snapshot): If you’re talking about an action that finished at some point before now, or an experience that is now a part of your history, use “have had.” It’s about the result or the experience.
  
  Mental check: “Is the action done and dusted, or am I referring to a past experience?”

Phrase	Grammatical Structure	Meaning/Emphasis	Example
Have been having	Present Perfect Continuous	Action started in the past, continuing to the present, or recently finished with present relevance; emphasizes duration/process.	“I have been having trouble with my internet for a week.” (Ongoing issue)
Have had	Present Perfect Simple	Action completed at an unspecified time in the past; an experience; a state that began in the past and continues. Emphasizes result/fact.	“I have had three meetings today.” (Completed actions)

How to Use Have Been Having

“Have been having” is used to talk about actions or situations that began in the past and are still continuing up to the present moment, or have just stopped but their effects are still felt. It stresses the duration and ongoing nature of the activity. It often implies a temporary situation or one that is expected to change. This phrase is generally suitable for both formal and casual contexts.

Example 1: “She has been having headaches every afternoon this week.” (The headaches started in the past and are still occurring.)

Example 2: “We have been having really good weather lately, so we’ve been spending a lot of time outdoors.” (The good weather started recently and continues.)

Example 3: “I’m exhausted because I have been having trouble sleeping.” (The trouble started in the past and continues, leading to current exhaustion.)

What are the different forms of Have Been Having?

“Have been having” is itself a specific grammatical structure: the present perfect continuous tense. Its form is constructed using:

Subject + have/has + been + verb (present participle -ing form)

• I/You/We/They have been having
• He/She/It has been having

The main verb “have” (meaning to possess, experience, or consume) is in its present participle form (“having”), indicating the continuous aspect. The auxiliary “have” (or “has” for third person singular) marks the perfect aspect, and “been” (the past participle of “be”) connects the two.

Etymology of the word Have Been Having

The phrase “have been having” combines elements with deep roots in English grammar. The auxiliary verb “have” traces back to Old English habban, meaning to possess or hold. “Been” is the past participle of “be,” derived from Old English bēon (to be, exist) and wesan (to remain). The “-ing” ending for the present participle comes from Old English -ende, which later evolved into -inge and then -ing, signifying ongoing action. The combination of “have” + “been” + “-ing” verb developed over centuries to form the progressive (continuous) aspect within the perfect tense, allowing speakers to emphasize duration and ongoing relevance of actions.

How to Use Have Had

“Have had” is the present perfect simple tense and is used in several ways. It can describe experiences that occurred at some point in the past without specifying when, actions completed in the past with a result that is relevant now, or a state that began in the past and continues into the present. It often focuses on the completion or the fact of an action. Like “have been having,” it is suitable for both formal and informal communication.

Example 1: “I have had a busy morning, so I’m ready for lunch.” (The busy morning is over, but the consequence, being ready for lunch, is current.)

Example 2: “They have had their car for ten years.” (A state of possession that started in the past and continues to the present.)

Example 3: “She has had several interesting job offers since she graduated.” (Experiences that occurred at various points in the past.)

What are the different forms of Have Had?

“Have had” is the present perfect simple tense, constructed with:

Subject + have/has + past participle of the main verb (in this case, “had”)

• I/You/We/They have had
• He/She/It has had

Here, “have” (or “has”) functions as the auxiliary verb for the perfect tense, and “had” is the past participle of the main verb “to have” (meaning to possess, experience, or consume).

Etymology of the word Have Had

The auxiliary “have” in “have had” originates from Old English habban, as discussed previously. The main verb “had” is the past participle of “have.” The use of “have” as an auxiliary verb to form perfect tenses (e.g., “I have eaten”) emerged in Old English and became more established in Middle English. This construction allows English speakers to link past actions or states to the present, emphasizing the current relevance of a past event or the duration of a state that continues.

Related Concepts

Understanding broader grammatical concepts helps clarify the distinction between “have been having” and “have had.” These phrases exemplify different aspects of how verbs describe time.

• Present Perfect Continuous Tense: This tense emphasizes the duration of an action that started in the past and continues up to the present, or has just finished with a clear connection to the present. It highlights the ongoing nature of the activity.
• Present Perfect Simple Tense: This tense connects a past action or state to the present, focusing on the result, completion, or experience rather than the duration. It often implies that the action is finished, or describes a state that began in the past and is still true.
• Verb Aspect: Aspect describes the way a verb’s action unfolds over time, such as whether it is completed, ongoing, or habitual. The “continuous” aspect (as in “been having”) focuses on the action in progress, while the “simple” aspect (as in “had”) presents the action as a whole or completed unit.

Examples from Media and Literature

• “For some time, I have been having an affair with my best friend’s husband.” – The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins (emphasizes the ongoing nature of the affair)
• “He has had a rough life, but he never complains.” – Fictional dialogue (describes a completed experience over a lifetime, leading to a present state)
• “I have been having the most wonderful dream,” she said, stretching languidly. – Fictional narrative (the dream was ongoing until recently, with a lingering feeling)
• “We have had reports of heavy snowfall in the mountains overnight.” – News report (completed action with current relevance)
• “The company has been having financial difficulties for the past two quarters.” – Business article (ongoing struggle over a period)

Practice Exercises

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence.

1. I’m so tired because I _____ sleepless nights all week. (have been having / have had)
2. She _____ a really interesting conversation with her professor about her research. (has been having / has had)
3. For years, they _____ their summer vacations at the same beach house. (have been having / have had)
4. My car broke down again. I _____ so many problems with it lately. (have been having / have had)
5. Since moving to the city, we _____ dinner at that new Italian restaurant twice. (have been having / have had)

Answer Key

1. have been having
2. has had
3. have had
4. have been having
5. have had

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: Can “have been having” be used for possession?
Generally, no. The verb “have” when it means “to possess” (e.g., “I have a car”) is a stative verb and is not typically used in continuous tenses. You would say “I have had this car for five years,” not “I have been having this car for five years.” However, when “have” means “to experience” or “to receive,” it can be used in the continuous form, as in “I have been having a great time.”

Question 2: Is “have had” always about a completed action?
Not always in the sense of a single, finished event. “Have had” can also describe a state that began in the past and continues up to the present (e.g., “I have had this cold for three days”). In this context, the state of having the cold is ongoing, but the present perfect simple structure is used for states, not the continuous.

Question 3: Which phrase is more common in everyday speech?
Both phrases are common, but their usage depends on the context. “Have had” is arguably more versatile as it covers completed experiences, results, and ongoing states. “Have been having” is used specifically when emphasizing the duration or continuous nature of an action up to the present.

Conclusion

Mastering the difference between “have been having” and “have had” is key to conveying precise meaning in English. While both are grammatically sound, “have been having” emphasizes an ongoing action or experience that started in the past and continues to the present, focusing on duration. In contrast, “have had” refers to completed actions or experiences with present relevance, or states that began in the past and persist. Choosing correctly allows you to articulate the temporal nuances of your message with clarity.

Pro Tip: Using the correct perfect tense demonstrates a sophisticated grasp of English grammar, enhancing your professional credibility in written and spoken communication.