Usage of Having

Hi,

I would like to know where and in which situations we can use the work "Having" and why?

Has it to do with stative and dynamic verbs.

I have been told having can only be used in a few senarios, rest all are incorrect.

I am having fun/nice time/sex.
I am having food.
Having said that...
I am having a baby.

I cant recall the other sentences.

I have been told that "I am having a headache or I am having a conversation" is incorrect.

It has been explain that having either means eating or consumption or possesion nothing else.

Is it true? What are your views on this?

Thanks a bundle

Some verbs called “state” describe a continuing state, so don’t usually have a continuous form. Typical examples are:

be, believe, belong, consist, contain, cost, doubt, fit, have, know, like, love, matter, mean, own, prefer, understand, seem, suppose, suspect, want, wish

Some of these verbs can be used in continuous form with a change of meaning.
Tim is being rather difficult at the moment. (behave)
I’m having breakfast. ( eat)
I’m tasting the soup, to check if it needs more salt. (sample)
I’m thinking of bying a new car. (consider)

Some verbs have a stative meaning and a different active meaning. e.g.

be, depend, feel, have, measure, see, taste, think, weigh

Jack is noisy. (state) Jack is being noisy. (event)
She has a Porsche. / We are having an interesting conversation.
I think I like you! / David is thinking about getting a new job.
This fish tastes awful! / I’m just tasting the soup.
I feel that your wrong. / I’m feeling terrible.
This bag weighs a ton! / We are weighing the baby.
It depends what you mean. / I’m depending on you.

Have can’t be used in the continuous form when it means possession.
I have a flat. NOT I’m having a flat.

Hope that helps. :-)

Thanks a bundle mate