When will we use "have had" and "had had" in sentences?

1 Answer
Bob K.
May 8, 2016

"Have had" implies that the person continues to have something up to the present, but "had had" implies that the arrangement is strictly in the past.

Explanation:

I drink, but no longer smoke. When I say "I have had martinis before my meals," here is an implication (present possessive) that I continue this practice, at least up until the present. But when I say "I had had cigarettes with my lunch," the implication (past possessive) is that I no longer do this and have no plans to return to such a practice.

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