having

[Nightmare85]

Hello friends,
Once I learned that we cannot use having if it's meaning is owning.
I have a car. :tick:
I'm having a car. :cross:

However, is this an exception?
I'm interested in having a car.

Cheers!

 

[english-nation]

Your sentence is correct, but it could stand to be more clear. Using "getting" or "buying" would tell a better story on how you came to have the car.

The rule you cite is not absolute. If you are in the process of owning something that will not last, it is permitted.

"I'm having a bad day."
"I am having a difficult time with this math equation."

Pat

 

[chevalier]

Hello friends,
Once I learned that we cannot use having if it's meaning is owning.
I have a car. :tick:
I'm having a car. :cross:
However, is this an exception?
I'm interested in having a car.

Not a teacher.

"Having" is not a verb in this sentence. It is a gerund (a noun).
You could also say:
"Having a car is a luxury."

 

[corum]

"Having" is not a verb in this sentence. It is a gerund (a noun).
You could also say:
"Having a car is a luxury."

"having" there is a verb indeed. It functions as the verb in a non-finite clause whose subject is missing but is implied.

Once I learned that we cannot use having if it's meaning is owning.

:up:
The progressive is okay, and it implies temporariness to me.

I am having a car. :tick: :up:

However, is this an exception?
I'm interested in having a car.

It is the exception that proves the rule. ;-) No, it is not an exception, mein lieber freund, not by a long shot. I am going to tell you what I think this is. In
I'm interested in having a car.
we have two clauses, the second of which is subordinate and carries no tense. No tense, no progressive - it is as simple as that. :up: The having a car is a clause that functions nominally (object of prep in).

I hope my drivel is an answer to your prayers.
Take care, auf wiedersehen!

 

[Pedroski]

I don't think you can use 'I am having a car' in the sense of owning it. No English speaker would say that, the same as no English speaker would say 'I am knowing that'.

Do you you have a car? *Yes I am having a car. Yes I have a car.

People from India do tend to speak like that when they speak English. I think it must be something they are translating. Sounds sweet!

I agree with corum 'having a car' is a compound noun, and is the object of the preposition 'in' 'in having a car' is an adverbial pointed at 'interested'

You can't even use owning in your sentence: I'm owning a car.

This is just a guess, an attempt at an explanation. The adjective 'own' comes from the OE 'agen', related to German 'eigen'. The verb was 'agan' 'have or own' and a long way down the language road, to the PIE '*aik-' with the meaning 'to be master of, possess'. If you could be said '*to be owning a car' you would still be 'mastering' it. Thus, you would not actually be master of it yet, and there is a semantic contradiction. To avoid this contradiction, English never developed 'am owning a ...' A similar argument could be put forward for 'am having a car' in its sense of possesion.

Just my idea on this, not to be taken as the truth, the whole truth and whatever. Maybe some Hindi or other Indian language speakers could tie this in to their language.

 

[e2e4]

A learner

At length I've got that if I own a car it is not a temporary possession. (own ~ to have something legally)

Because of that I am owning a car makes no sense. So I own a car., would be quite right.


In addition I'd like to make a small digression asking your opinions of the next sentence below

I am having my car repaired.

This sentence makes not much sense to me as well.

I would say

My car is being repaired.

This could be the right using of the passive voice for me.

 

[Adam Cruge]

Not a teacher.

Did you hear about static verb? If you're not click here

We often write it:
1. I believe it.
but never write "I'm believing it."

These are example of static verb. In case of "I'm having a car.", "have" is used in its static sense, and so we don't use it this way. But as others said "having" is not prohibited.
Hope this helps.

 

[Tdol]

I am having my car repaired.

This sentence makes not much sense to me as well.

It's a perfectly natural sentence to me.

 

[e2e4]

My car is being repaired.

The possible results are as it follows

My car is repaired. or
My car is still broken.


What does I am having my car repaired. mean actually?

Does it mean that I own a car which is repaired or my car is being repaired at the moment?

Thanks

 

[Allen165]

My car is being repaired.

The possible results are as it follows

My car is repaired. or
My car is still broken.


What does I am having my car repaired. mean actually?

Does it mean that I own a car which is repaired or my car is being repaired at the moment?

Thanks

NOT A TEACHER.

It means the latter.

 

[cubezero3]

Hi, everyone.

This thread is interesting. I always thought I can't use have in the present continuous tense in the sense of possession no matter what.

Now let's suppose we have a very unfortunate person here, say John Smith, who's made some very bad judgements in his investment. He's lost all his money and is up to his neck in debts. He knows that his bank will very soon foreclose on his property. Can he say I am having a house to his friends, in the right context, to convey the idea that he knows it will belong to the bank quickly.

Many thanks

Richard

 

[e2e4]

/A learner/

Hi, everyone.

This thread is interesting. I always thought I can't use have in the present continuous tense in the sense of possession no matter what.

Now let's suppose we have a very unfortunate person here, say John Smith, who's made some very bad judgments in his investment. He's lost all his money and is up to his neck in debts. He knows that his bank will very soon foreclose on his property. Can he say I am having a house to his friends, in the right context, to convey the idea that he knows it will belong to the bank quickly.

Many thanks

Richard

I wouldn't.

I'd say that I am afraid of foreclosing on it soon.