Comparisons Wiki

Have vs. Having: Difference and Comparison

Edited by Muazma Batool — By Muneeza Rehman — Updated on September 9, 2023
"Have" is a verb indicating possession, while "having" is the present participle form of "have," often used to describe an ongoing action or state.
Have vs. Having

Difference Between Have and Having

"Have" is a versatile verb in the English language, primarily indicating possession. It means to own or hold something. For example, one might "have" a car, "have" a friend, or "have" a job. Its usage is vast, spanning various contexts and nuances, making it an essential verb in everyday language.
Muazma Batool
Sep 09, 2023
"Having," as the present participle of "have," extends its root verb's meaning but is often used to depict an ongoing action or state. For instance, "having" dinner suggests the act of eating dinner is currently in progress. Thus, while "have" often pinpoints possession, "having" leans towards an ongoing activity related to possessing.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 09, 2023
Both "have" and "having" can be used in various grammatical constructs. "Have" serves as an auxiliary verb in perfect tenses, as in "I have finished my work." In contrast, "having" can start a gerund phrase, like "having seen the results, I decided to change my strategy."
Muazma Batool
Sep 09, 2023
While the essence of possession remains at the heart of both terms, their usage can differ depending on context and the grammatical structure of the sentence. Recognizing these distinctions and applying them appropriately is essential for clear and effective communication.
Nolan
Sep 09, 2023

Have vs. Having Comparison Chart

Primary Form

Base verb
Present participle
Muazma Batool
Sep 09, 2023

Indicates

Possession
Ongoing action or state
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 09, 2023

Grammatical Role

Main/auxiliary verb
Gerund or continuous tense verb
Muazma Batool
Sep 09, 2023

Example Usage

I have a book.
I am having lunch.
Kaitlyn
Sep 09, 2023

Associated Tenses

Present, Past, Perfect tenses
Present Continuous, Gerund form
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 09, 2023

Have vs. Having Definitions

Have

To experience or undergo a feeling or event.
I have a feeling he's right.
Muazma Batool
Sep 09, 2023

Having

Present participle form of "have" indicating an ongoing action.
She's having a hard time.
Muazma Batool
Sep 09, 2023

Have

To receive or get something.
I'll have the check, please.
Olivia
Sep 09, 2023

Having

Engaging in or experiencing at the moment.
They are having dinner.
Henry
Sep 09, 2023

Have

To contain or hold within.
This box has shoes.
Lucas
Sep 09, 2023

Having

Holding or keeping within oneself.
She's having second thoughts about the decision.
Muazma Batool
Sep 09, 2023

Have

To be in possession of
already had a car.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Having

To be in possession of
already had a car.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To possess as a characteristic, quality, or function
has a beard.
had a great deal of energy.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Having

To possess as a characteristic, quality, or function
has a beard.
had a great deal of energy.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To possess or contain as a constituent part
a car that has air bags.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Having

To possess or contain as a constituent part
a car that has air bags.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To occupy a particular relation to
had many disciples.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Having

To occupy a particular relation to
had many disciples.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To possess knowledge of or facility in
has very little Spanish.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Having

To possess knowledge of or facility in
has very little Spanish.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To hold in the mind; entertain
had doubts about their loyalty.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Having

To hold in the mind; entertain
had doubts about their loyalty.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To use or exhibit in action
have compassion.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Having

To use or exhibit in action
have compassion.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To come into possession of; acquire
Not one copy of the book was to be had in the entire town.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Having

To come into possession of; acquire
Not one copy of the book was to be had in the entire town.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To receive; get
I had a letter from my cousin.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Having

To receive; get
I had a letter from my cousin.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To accept; take
I'll have the peas instead of the spinach.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Having

To accept; take
I'll have the peas instead of the spinach.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To suffer from
have defective vision.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Having

To suffer from
have defective vision.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To be subject to the experience of
had a difficult time last winter.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Having

To be subject to the experience of
had a difficult time last winter.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To cause to do something, as by persuasion or compulsion
had my assistant run the errand.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Having

To cause to do something, as by persuasion or compulsion
had my assistant run the errand.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To cause to be in a specified place or state
had the guests in the dining room.
had everyone fascinated.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Having

To cause to be in a specified place or state
had the guests in the dining room.
had everyone fascinated.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To permit; allow
I won't have that kind of behavior in my house.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Having

To permit; allow
I won't have that kind of behavior in my house.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To carry on, perform, or execute
have an argument.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Having

To carry on, perform, or execute
have an argument.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To place at a disadvantage
Your opponent in the debate had you on every issue.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Having

To place at a disadvantage
Your opponent in the debate had you on every issue.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

(Informal) To get the better of, especially by trickery or deception
They realized too late that they'd been had by a swindler.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Having

(Informal) To get the better of, especially by trickery or deception
They realized too late that they'd been had by a swindler.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

(Informal) To influence by dishonest means; bribe
an incorruptible official who could not be had.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Having

(Informal) To influence by dishonest means; bribe
an incorruptible official who could not be had.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To procreate (offspring)
wanted to have a child.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Having

To procreate (offspring)
wanted to have a child.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To give birth to; bear
She's going to have a baby.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Having

To give birth to; bear
She's going to have a baby.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To partake of
have lunch.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Having

To partake of
have lunch.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To be obliged to; must
We simply have to get there on time.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Having

To be obliged to; must
We simply have to get there on time.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To engage in sexual intercourse with.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Having

To engage in sexual intercourse with.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

Used with a past participle to form the present perfect, past perfect, and future perfect tenses indicating completed action
The troublemaker has gone for good. I regretted that I had lost my temper. They will have finished by the time we arrive.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Having

Used with a past participle to form the present perfect, past perfect, and future perfect tenses indicating completed action
The troublemaker has gone for good. I regretted that I had lost my temper. They will have finished by the time we arrive.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

One enjoying especially material wealth
"The gulf widens between the feast of the haves and the famine of the have-nots" (Salman Rushdie).
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Having

One enjoying especially material wealth
"The gulf widens between the feast of the haves and the famine of the have-nots" (Salman Rushdie).
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

(transitive) To possess, own.
I have a house and a car.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Having

present participle of have
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

(transitive) To hold, as something at someone's disposal.
Look what I have here—a frog I found on the street!
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Having

The act of possessing; ownership.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

(transitive) To include as a part, ingredient, or feature.
The stove has a handle. The shirt has sleeves.
The words cow and dog have three letters.
A government has three branches: the executive, legislative, and judicial.
The movie has lots of action.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Having

Something owned; possession; goods; estate.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

(transitive) Used to state the existence or presence of someone in a specified relationship with the subject.
I have two sisters.
She doesn’t have any friends.
I have a really mean boss.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Having

(obsolete) A person's behaviour.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

(transitive) To consume or use up (a particular substance or resource, especially food or drink).
I have breakfast at six o'clock.
You've already had five drinks!
She's had more than enough time already.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Having

Good manners.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

(transitive) To undertake or perform (an action or activity).
Can I have a look at that?
He's having a tantrum about it.
I’m going to have a bath now.
Let’s have a game of tiddlywinks.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Having

(obsolete) Grasping; greedy.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

(transitive) To be scheduled to attend, undertake or participate in.
What class do you have right now? I have English.
Fred won’t be able to come to the party; he has a meeting that day.
I have a lot of work to do.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Having

Possession; goods; estate.
I 'll lend you something; my having is not much.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To experience, go through, undergo.
We had a hard year last year, with the locust swarms and all that.
He had surgery on his hip yesterday.
I’m having the time of my life!
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Having

Undergoing a specific process or state.
He's having a medical check-up.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 09, 2023

Have

To be afflicted with, suffer from.
He had a cold last week.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Having

Encountering or facing a situation.
We're having trouble with the car.
Jonathan
Sep 09, 2023

Have

(auxiliary verb, taking a past participle) Used in forming the perfect aspect.
I have already eaten today.
I had already eaten.
I will have left by the time you get here.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

Used as an interrogative verb before a pronoun to form a tag question, echoing a previous use of 'have' as an auxiliary verb or, in certain cases, main verb. (For further discussion, see the appendix English tag questions.)
They haven’t eaten dinner yet, have they?
Your wife hasn’t been reading that nonsense, has she?
He has some money, hasn’t he?
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

See have to.
I have to go.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

(transitive) To give birth to.
The couple always wanted to have children.
My wife is having the baby right now!
My mother had me when she was 25.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

(usually passive) To obtain.
The substance you describe can't be had at any price.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

(transitive) To engage in sexual intercourse with.
He’s always bragging about how many women he’s had.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

(transitive) To accept as a romantic partner.
Despite my protestations of love, she would not have me.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To cause to, by a command, request or invitation.
They had me feed their dog while they were out of town.
Her very boyfriend is the person the criminal has do most of her dirty deeds.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To cause to be.
He had him arrested for trespassing.
The lecture’s ending had the entire audience in tears.
Jim has his eyes closed.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To be affected by an occurrence. (Used in supplying a topic that is not a verb argument.)
The hospital had several patients contract pneumonia last week.
I’ve had three people today tell me my hair looks nice.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To depict as being.
Their stories differed; he said he’d been at work when the incident occurred, but her statement had him at home that entire evening.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To defeat in a fight; take.
I could have him!
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To inflict punishment or retribution on.
You broke the window! Teacher’ll have you for that!
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To be able to speak (a language).
I have no German.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To feel or be (especially painfully) aware of.
Dan certainly has arms today, probably from scraping paint off four columns the day before.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To trick, to deceive.
I bought a laptop online but it never arrived. I think I've been had!
You had me alright! I never would have thought that was just a joke.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To allow; to tolerate.
The child screamed incessantly for his mother to buy him a toy, but she wasn't having any of it.
I asked my dad if I could go to the concert this Thursday, but he wouldn't have it since it's a school night.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To believe, buy, be taken in by.
I made up an excuse as to why I was out so late, but my wife wasn't having any of it.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

(transitive) To host someone; to take in as a guest.
Thank you for having me!
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

(transitive) To get a reading, measurement, or result from an instrument or calculation.
What do you have for problem two?
I have two contacts on my scope.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To consider a court proceeding that has been completed; to begin deliberations on a case.
We’ll schedule closing arguments for Thursday, and the jury will have the case by that afternoon.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To make an observation of (a bird species).
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

A wealthy or privileged person.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

(uncommon) One who has some (contextually specified) thing.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

A fraud or deception; something misleading.
They advertise it as a great deal, but I think it's a bit of a have.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To hold in possession or control; to own; as, he has a farm.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To possess, as something which appertains to, is connected with, or affects, one.
The earth hath bubbles, as the water has.
He had a fever late.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To accept possession of; to take or accept.
Break thy mind to me in broken English; wilt thou have me?
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To get possession of; to obtain; to get.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To cause or procure to be; to effect; to exact; to desire; to require.
I had the church accurately described to me.
Wouldst thou have me turn traitor also?
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To bear, as young; as, she has just had a child.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To hold, regard, or esteem.
Of them shall I be had in honor.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To cause or force to go; to take.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To take or hold (one's self); to proceed promptly; - used reflexively, often with ellipsis of the pronoun; as, to have after one; to have at one or at a thing, i. e., to aim at one or at a thing; to attack; to have with a companion.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To be under necessity or obligation; to be compelled; followed by an infinitive.
Science has, and will long have, to be a divider and a separatist.
The laws of philology have to be established by external comparison and induction.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To understand.
You have me, have you not?
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To put in an awkward position; to have the advantage of; as, that is where he had him.
Myself for such a face had boldly died.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

a person who possesses great material wealth
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

have or possess, either in a concrete or an abstract sense;
She has $1,000 in the bank
He has got two beautiful daughters
She holds a Master's degree from Harvard
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

have as a feature;
This restaurant features the most famous chefs in France
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

of mental or physical states or experiences;
get an idea
experience vertigo
get nauseous
undergo a strange sensation
The chemical undergoes a sudden change
The fluid undergoes shear
receive injuries
have a feeling
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

have ownership or possession of;
He owns three houses in Florida
How many cars does she have?
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

cause to move; cause to be in a certain position or condition;
He got his squad on the ball
This let me in for a big surprise
He got a girl into trouble
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

serve oneself to, or consume regularly;
Have another bowl of chicken soup!
I don't take sugar in my coffee
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

have a personal or business relationship with someone;
have a postdoc
have an assistant
have a lover
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

organize or be responsible for;
hold a reception
have, throw, or make a party
give a course
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

have left;
I have two years left
I don't have any money left
They have two more years before they retire
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

be confronted with;
What do we have here?
Now we have a fine mess
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

undergo;
The stocks had a fast run-up
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

suffer from; be ill with;
She has arthritis
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

cause to do; cause to act in a specified manner;
The ads induced me to buy a VCR
My children finally got me to buy a computer
My wife made me buy a new sofa
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

receive willingly something given or offered;
The only girl who would have him was the miller's daughter
I won't have this dog in my house!
Please accept my present
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

get something; come into possession of;
receive payment
receive a gift
receive letters from the front
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

undergo (as of injuries and illnesses);
She suffered a fracture in the accident
He had an insulin shock after eating three candy bars
She got a bruise on her leg
He got his arm broken in the scuffle
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

achieve a point or goal;
Nicklaus had a 70
The Brazilian team got 4 goals
She made 29 points that day
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

give birth (to a newborn);
My wife had twins yesterday!
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

have sex with; archaic use;
He had taken this woman when she was most vulnerable
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023

Have

To possess or own something.
I have a new bicycle.
Elijah
Sep 09, 2023

Have

To be obligated or need to.
I have to study tonight.
Jonathan
Sep 09, 2023

Have vs. Having Frequently Asked Questions

What's the basic function of "have"?

"Have" primarily indicates possession.
Muazma Batool
Sep 09, 2023

How does "have" convey obligation?

When used with "to," as in "have to," it indicates necessity or obligation.
William
Sep 09, 2023

In which situations would you use "having"?

"Having" is used in continuous tenses or as the start of a gerund phrase.
Kaitlyn
Sep 09, 2023

Can "have" describe feelings or experiences?

Yes, phrases like "have a feeling" describe experiences or emotions.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 09, 2023

How does "having" typically portray an action?

"Having" describes an ongoing action or state.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 09, 2023

Can "have" work as an auxiliary verb?

Yes, "have" is used as an auxiliary verb in perfect tenses.
Muazma Batool
Sep 09, 2023

When is "having" used in the context of events or meals?

Phrases like "having lunch" describe ongoing events or actions.
Muazma Batool
Sep 09, 2023

Is "having" ever used to mean possession?

Not directly, but it can describe an ongoing state of possessing.
Elijah
Sep 09, 2023

Is "have" used in questions about possession?

Yes, questions like "Do you have...?" ask about possession.
William
Sep 09, 2023

Can "having" start a descriptive clause?

Yes, "having" can start gerund phrases, like "having understood the rules, he played fairly."
Kaitlyn
Sep 09, 2023

Content Creators

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At Comparisons.wiki, Muneeza skillfully navigates the vast sea of information, ensuring clarity and accuracy as the lead content editor. With a keen eye for detail, she curates every comparison to enlighten and engage readers.
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As a content editor, Muazma Batool is not just a grammar guru but a creative mastermind who breathes life into every word. With an eagle eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, she transforms bland text into engaging content that captivates audiences and drives results.

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