[Grammar] Regarding "Had" and will

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Starz92

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Hi all,i am new to this forum and this would be my first post.
I am quite confused with the word "had".
From what i gathered from my teacher last time,he said that "had" can only be used when there was two actions in a sentence and "had" indicate the action that comes first.
Can the word "had" be used in other ways?For example past tense for has/have?
Can someone help me clear my confusion with has/have and had?

One more things i am confused with is will and would.When do we use will and would?
Thanks in advance.

Your anticipation would be greatly appreciated.
 

mmasny

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Hi all,i am new to this forum and this would be my first post.
I am quite confused with the word "had".
From what i gathered from my teacher last time,he said that "had" can only be used when there was two actions in a sentence and "had" indicate the action that comes first.
This is true. It's called the past perfect tense or the plusperfect tense. Here's an explanation: Pluperfect tense - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Can the word "had" be used in other ways?For example past tense for has/have?
Can someone help me clear my confusion with has/have and had?
Yes. 'Had' is the past form of 'have'. For example:
I have a fever. - It means now.
I had a fever. - In the past.​
One more things i am confused with is will and would.When do we use will and would?
This is a difficult question. There are many different rules regarding this matter. Generally, 'will' denotes future actions and states.
I will be back tomorrow.
'Will' also introduces repeated actions in the present, see here: https://www.usingenglish.com/forum/ask-teacher/45814-will-express-repeated-actions-present.html

'Would' can mean different things. It can mean the future in the past:
He said he would be back next day.
We don't say:
*He said he will be back next day.
It's incorrect, because he said that in the past. 'Will' cannot be used. We use 'would'.

'Would' can mean past repeated actions.
When I was a child I would go to school everyday.
That's not all, but I think it's enough :)

I am not a teacher and can be wrong somewhere.
 
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Starz92

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Yes. 'Had' is the past form of 'have'. For example:
I have a fever. - It means now.
I had a fever. - In the past.​

I am not a teacher and can be wrong somewhere.

Thanks a lot.how about past tense for has?Is it still Had?
 

cubezero3

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Hello, Starz92. I've recently come across a setence which may be of help to you. It's from Lesson 37, The Westhaven Express, New Concept English Book 3.

...It suddenly dawned on me that this express was not roaring down the line at nighty miles an hour, but barely chugging along at thirty. One hour and seventeen minutes passed and we had not even covered half the distance.

As clearly shown here, had is used like have, only in the past tense. This usage is not mentioned in any grammar books I've read, both in Chinese and English language. However, it seems people, at least, wouldn't say it's not grammatial.

;-)
 
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