[General] I had my dinner

[suniljain]

I had my dinner.

I have had my dinner.

What is the difference between these sentences.

 

[Rover_KE]

What is the difference between these sentences?

End every question with a question mark.

'Had' is the past tense of 'have', and 'have had' is the present perfect.

Click here to read many earlier threads on the difference between these tenses. Ask again if you have any specific problems.

 

[suniljain]

End every question with a question mark.

'Had' is the past tense of 'have', and 'have had' is the present perfect.

Thanks, the links were very useful. May I conclude as below:

I had my dinner- This sentence means that I finished my dinner long time ago

I have had my dinner- This implies that I just finished my dinner.

Please correct if I am wrong.

 

[teechar]

The present perfect connects the past to the present. The example you gave describes one such possible context. Another would be a present result of a past action:
e.g.,
A: Would you care for a sandwich?
B: No, thanks. I've (already) had my dinner.

 

[suniljain]

The present perfect connects the past to the present. The example you gave describes one such possible context. Another would be a present result of a past action:
e.g.,
A: Would you care for a sandwich?
B: No, thanks. I've (already) had my dinner.

Doesn't it also mean that I have finished my dinner recently?

 

[teechar]

Doesn't it also mean that I have finished my dinner recently?

Not necessarily. You could have finished your dinner quite a bit earlier.

 

[Tarheel]

Doesn't it also mean that I have finished my dinner recently?

It could mean that. In fact, if you tell somebody you're not hungry because you have already eaten that in itself indicates how recently you might have eaten.

(You shouldn't put too much on one sentence.)

 

[Tdol]

It means that there is a connection to now. With the example of dinner, it is likely to be fairly recent because we have dinner every day. However, if you say that you have eaten in a restaurant, it does not necessarily mean that it was very recent.