When do you use have, had, and has?

Question

This may seem like a silly question but time and again I get them confused. I know their definitions for example has is future perfect, but I acidentally use them interchangeably in the wrong context. I wish there were just some rules of thumb that will make it a lot easier. I have ways of remembering them, but they are not very effective. For example "had" is only used when the event happened once etc..

Answer 1

Here are some easy examples to remember:

I have eaten my dinner = I ate my dinner just now.

I had eaten my dinner = I ate my dinner (in the past)

She has eaten her dinner = She ate her dinner just now (recently)

She had eaten her dinner = She ate her dinner (in the past)

"Has" is only used with she, he, it, a person's name, a singular noun or proper noun (3rd person singular).

"Have" is used with all persons (singular and plural) except the 3rd person singular.

"Had" is used with all persons (singular and plural)

"Had" does NOT mean the event happened once! It means it happened in the past.

"I had a bike" means I had a bike (in the past).

"She had several encounters with aliens" means she had several encounters with aliens (in the past)

Answer 2

had is when you once 'had' it.... past

Have is when you do 'have' it.... present (now)

or will 'have' it... future

has it 'has' been done... past...

hope that helped...