The difference between having and having had can be confusing because both expressions contain the word having, but they perform different grammatical functions. Having is the present participle or -ing form of have, while having had is a perfect participial construction. In simple terms, having can describe possession, experience or an ongoing situation, whereas having had usually refers to something that happened or was completed before another action or point in time. Understanding this difference can make your sentences more precise and natural.
The key is to look at the relationship between the two actions or situations in the sentence. For example “Having lunch, I watched television” presents having lunch as an action occurring around the same time as another action. By contrast, “Having had lunch I watched television” means that the lunch happened first, and watching television came afterward. This article explains the difference between having and having had, their grammatical structures, common mistakes and when to use each.
Quick Answer
Having is the -ing form of have and can describe an ongoing action, possession, experience, or situation. Having had is a perfect participial construction meaning that the action or experience of having something occurred before another action or event. Compare: Having lunch, I watched TV vs Having had lunch, I watched TV.
Why People Confuse Having and Having Had
The confusion comes from the fact that both expressions contain having.
However, the word had changes the grammatical meaning.
Compare:
- Having lunch, I watched television.
- Having had lunch, I watched television.
In the first sentence, having lunch is presented as an action happening at approximately the same time as watching television.
In the second, having had lunch tells us that lunch was already finished before the person watched television.
The difference is mainly about time and sequence.
Having: Meaning and Grammar
Having is the present participle of have.
It can be used in several ways.
1. Having as an Ongoing Activity
Have can describe an activity or event:
- having lunch
- having dinner
- having a shower
- having a conversation
- having a meeting
- having a rest
Examples:
I am having lunch.
She is having a meeting.
They are having dinner.
Here, having describes something happening at the relevant time.
2. Having in a Participial Phrase
Having can introduce a participial phrase:
Having lunch, I read the newspaper.
This suggests that the two activities overlap or occur around the same period.
3. Having for Possession or Experience
The verb have can also express possession or experience:
Having a car makes traveling easier.
Having enough money is important.
Having experience in marketing can help you get the job.
Here, having does not necessarily describe a temporary action.
Having Had: Meaning and Grammar
Having had is a perfect participial construction.
Its basic structure is:
having + past participle
For the verb have, the past participle is had.
Therefore:
having + had = having had
It usually indicates that one event or experience occurred before another event.
Example:
Having had breakfast, I left for work.
This means:
- I had breakfast.
- Breakfast was completed.
- I left for work.
The construction emphasizes the earlier event.
The Main Difference: Time
The easiest way to understand the difference is to focus on sequence.
Having
Having dinner, I watched television.
The dinner activity is presented as occurring around the same time as watching television.
Having Had
Having had dinner, I watched television.
The dinner happened before I watched television.
So:
having = simultaneous/ongoing relationship
having had = earlier completed experience or action
This is a useful general guideline, although context can affect the precise interpretation.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Having | Having had |
|---|---|---|
| Basic form | Present participle | Perfect participle |
| Structure | having + complement | having + past participle |
| Main idea | Action, state, possession, or experience | Earlier completed action or experience |
| Time relationship | Often simultaneous or general | Usually earlier than another event |
| Example | Having lunch, I read. | Having had lunch, I left. |
| Focus | Current/related situation | Prior situation |
| Common use | Activities, states, possession | Completed experiences/actions |
When to Use Having
Use having when you want to describe an action, activity, experience, or state without specifically marking it as completed before another action.
Example 1: Activity
She is having lunch.
Example 2: General experience
Having a good education can open many doors.
Example 3: Simultaneous activities
Having dinner, we discussed the project.
The dinner and discussion are presented as overlapping activities.
Example 4: Possession
Having enough time, I decided to stay.
Here, having enough time describes a circumstance that led to the decision.
When to Use Having Had
Use having had when you want to emphasize that an earlier experience or action was completed before another event.
Example 1
Having had breakfast, I went to work.
Breakfast came first.
Example 2
Having had enough sleep, she felt energetic.
The sleeping occurred before the feeling of energy.
Example 3
Having had several conversations with him, I understood his position.
The conversations happened before the later understanding.
Example 4
Having had no previous experience, he found the task difficult.
The earlier lack of experience existed before the later difficulty.
Having vs Having Had in Simple Examples
Compare these pairs carefully.
1. Lunch
Having lunch, I watched television.
The lunch and television watching overlap.
Having had lunch, I watched television.
Lunch happened first.
2. Experience
Having experience in sales, she applied for the position.
Her experience is a relevant existing qualification.
Having had experience in sales, she understood the challenges.
The previous sales experience is being viewed as something that occurred before her later understanding.
3. A Conversation
Having a conversation with him, I learned more about the issue.
The learning occurred during the conversation.
Having had a conversation with him, I understood the issue better.
The conversation happened first, and the understanding came afterward.
15 Examples With Having
- I am having breakfast now.
- She is having a meeting with her manager.
- They are having dinner together.
- Having enough money makes the trip easier.
- Having a clear goal can improve your focus.
- We were having a conversation when he arrived.
- He is having trouble understanding the instructions.
- Having good friends can make difficult times easier.
- She enjoys having conversations about literature.
- Having a backup plan is always useful.
- They are having difficulty finding the address.
- I was having a great time at the party.
- Having patience is important when learning.
- He is having lunch with his colleagues.
- Having enough information, we can make a better decision.
15 Examples With Having Had
- Having had breakfast, I left for work.
- Having had lunch, she returned to the office.
- Having had enough sleep, he felt refreshed.
- Having had several meetings, they finally reached an agreement.
- Having had previous experience, she knew what to expect.
- Having had a long conversation, we understood each other better.
- Having had no warning, they were surprised by the announcement.
- Having had enough practice, he performed confidently.
- Having had several opportunities, she decided to accept one.
- Having had a difficult morning, he needed some rest.
- Having had dinner, we went for a walk.
- Having had time to think, I changed my decision.
- Having had little preparation, the team struggled.
- Having had many years of experience, he handled the situation calmly.
- Having had enough evidence, the investigators continued their inquiry.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Using “Having Had” Without a Reason
Not every sentence needs the perfect participle.
Wordy:
Having had breakfast, I went to work.
If the sequence is obvious or unimportant, you can simply say:
After breakfast, I went to work.
Having had is useful when you specifically want to connect a prior experience or action to the following one.
Mistake 2: Using “Having” When the Earlier Action Needs Emphasis
Consider:
Having lunch, I went to the meeting.
This can sound as though the lunch and going to the meeting were overlapping.
If lunch was completed first, use:
Having had lunch, I went to the meeting.
Or, more naturally:
After having lunch, I went to the meeting.
Mistake 3: Confusing “Had” With “Having Had”
Had can be a simple past form or past participle of have.
Having had specifically creates a perfect participial construction.
Compare:
I had lunch before work.
Having had lunch, I went to work.
The second structure connects the earlier action directly to the later action.
Mistake 4: Using “Having Had” for a Current Situation
If you mean that something is happening now, having had may be inappropriate.
For example:
I am having lunch now.
Not:
I am having had lunch now.
If you mean the lunch is already finished:
I have had lunch.
Having Had vs Had
These expressions are related but grammatically different.
Had
I had lunch at noon.
This is a finite verb phrase in the simple past.
Having had
Having had lunch, I returned to work.
This is a nonfinite perfect participial construction.
The second structure cannot normally stand alone as a complete sentence.
Incorrect:
Having had lunch.
Correct:
Having had lunch, I returned to work.
Having Had vs. Having
Another easy comparison:
Having dinner, we discussed the problem.
= The dinner and discussion occurred at roughly the same time.
Having had dinner, we discussed the problem.
= Dinner came before the discussion.
For a clearer everyday style, you could also write:
While having dinner, we discussed the problem.
or:
After having dinner, we discussed the problem.
These alternatives can sometimes be easier for readers to understand.
The Dangling Modifier Problem
When using having or having had at the beginning of a sentence, make sure the person performing the first action is the same person associated with the main clause.
Correct:
Having had breakfast, I went to work.
The person who had breakfast is I, and the person who went to work is also I.
Incorrect:
Having had breakfast, the bus arrived.
This grammatically suggests that the bus had breakfast, which is nonsensical.
Better:
Having had breakfast, I waited for the bus.
Or:
After I had breakfast, the bus arrived.
American vs British English
There is no major difference between American and British English in the basic grammar of having and having had.
Both varieties use these constructions to express relationships between actions and experiences.
However, everyday spoken English often prefers simpler alternatives such as:
- after
- before
- while
- because
- since
For example:
After having lunch, I went home.
may sound more straightforward in ordinary conversation than:
Having had lunch, I went home.
The latter is grammatically correct but can have a more formal or written feel.
Memory Trick
Remember:
Having = happening or existing
Having lunch, I watched TV.
Think:
having = action/situation in progress or generally relevant
Having had = happened before
Having had lunch, I watched TV.
Think:
having had = already experienced/completed
A simple memory formula is:
Having = during/with
Having had = after
This is not an absolute rule for every sentence, but it is a useful guide for understanding the most common contrast.
Similar Expressions
Instead of having, you can sometimes use:
- while having
- during
- with
- because of
- since
Instead of having had, you can often use:
- after having
- after
- once
- because
- since
Examples:
Having finished the work, she left.
= After finishing the work, she left.
Having had dinner, we went outside.
= After having dinner, we went outside.
Final Verdict
Having and having had are both correct, but they communicate different relationships between actions. Having is the -ing form of have and can describe an ongoing activity, a general situation, possession or an experience. Having had is a perfect participial construction that normally places an earlier completed action or experience before another action.
The easiest distinction is to ask whether you want to emphasize what is happening or existing versus what had already happened. If two actions overlap, having may be appropriate. If one action was completed before another, having had can make that sequence clear. In everyday writing, however, expressions such as while having and after having can sometimes sound more natural and easier to understand.
Remember This
Having = an action or situation happening/being relevant.
Having lunch, I watched television.
Having had = an earlier completed action or experience.
Having had lunch, I watched television.
Think:
Having → during
Having had → after
FAQs
Is “having had” grammatically correct?
Yes. Having had is a grammatically correct perfect participial construction used to indicate an earlier action or experience.
What is the difference between having and having had?
Having usually describes an activity, state, possession, or experience, while having had generally emphasizes that something happened or was completed before another event.
Does “having had” mean “after having”?
Often, yes, especially when it introduces a participial phrase. For example, Having had dinner, we left is similar in meaning to After having dinner, we left.
Is “having had” formal?
It can sound somewhat more formal or literary than simpler alternatives such as after having or after. However, it is completely grammatical and common in formal writing.
Can I use “having” for past actions?
Yes, depending on the construction. For example, Having finished the work, she left refers to a completed earlier action. The important point is that the precise construction and context determine the time relationship.
Is “having lunch” different from “having had lunch”?
Yes. Having lunch generally refers to the lunch activity, while having had lunch indicates that lunch has already happened or been completed before another event.
Which is more natural: “having had” or “after having”?
Both can be correct. After having is often more straightforward in everyday English, while having had can provide a concise formal connection between an earlier event and a later one.
Conclusion
The difference between having and having had becomes much easier once you focus on the sequence of events. Having can describe an activity or situation, while having had normally looks backward to something that was already experienced or completed before another action. For example, Having lunch, I watched television presents the activities as overlapping, whereas Having had lunch, I watched television places lunch first.
When clarity is your main goal, you do not always need the more complex construction. Depending on the sentence, while having, after having or simply after may communicate the same idea more naturally. Still, understanding having vs having had gives you greater control over participial phrases and helps you express the timing and relationship between actions accurately.
