Meaning & use
having
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“having” is a form of “have”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive
Possessing, holding, or owning something at a given moment; present participle of 'have'.
Grammar: Used in progressive tenses or as a gerund; takes an object.
Patterns
- having something
- having a good time
She is having a lot of fun at the party.
Having a car makes commuting easier.
They are having difficulty finding the address.
verbtransitive
Experiencing or undergoing something, such as an emotion or event.
Grammar: Often used in progressive tenses to describe ongoing experiences.
Patterns
- having a problem
- having a baby
He is having second thoughts about the decision.
They are having a baby next month.
I was having a nightmare when the alarm rang.
Common combinations
- having a good time
- They were having a good time at the beach.
- having difficulty
- She is having difficulty understanding the instructions.
- having a baby
- My sister is having a baby in July.
Synonyms and how they differ
- possessing
- More formal and often implies ownership; 'having' is more general and can mean experiencing.
- owning
- Specifically means having as property; 'having' is broader.
Word family
Commonly confused: having or havin'?
having vs havin'
Informal contraction of 'having', often used in dialect or song lyrics.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
Choose one answer.
The correct present simple form for 'she' is 'has'. 'Having' is not used in simple present; it appears in progressive tenses like 'is having'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “having”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.