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Why "didn't have" is incorrect: understanding past tense

Reviewed and edited by Anwar Kareem 09/10/2024, 18:09
English.me team member

What kind of error is it?

Didn't had or didn't have. What's correct?

Verb Conjugation Error

Why do people make this mistake?

This error often occurs due to confusion about using the past tense form with auxiliary verbs. Speakers may mistakenly think both the auxiliary and main verb should be in the past tense.

What is correct?

The correct form is to use "didn't have" because "didn't" already indicates the past tense, so the main verb should be in its base form.

Examples of correct usage

  • I didn't have breakfast this morning.
  • She didn't have the time to finish the project.
  • We didn't have any problems with the software.

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