Anonymous  +  688796 Fri, 20 Mar 09 03:14 AM  I'm confusing with using have or having in all tenses. Is there a ruls for have or having? example I have been having my car since I came to Montreal I have had my car since I came to Montreal. I know the first isn't good but I don't understand why the next is good I have been Having problems with my car since I came to Montreal. Thanks for some advice   Anonymous Tenses

	Grammar Geek  +  688803 Fri, 20 Mar 09 03:53 AM Hi, Use the -ing for something that is temporary, or new and hopefully will not continue. Use the regular form for something that is constant, permanent, or not likely to change. I've been having car problems -- this situation is (we hope) temporary. The problems will be resolved. It's not a situation that describes your car usually. I'm trying to think of sentence where we use "I am having [a noun] outside of a meal or something to eat or drink. I am having lunch, I'm having a quick bite... but I can't think of a situation where "I'm having a car" would ever work.     Grammar Geek Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006 Veteran Member 19,652 Barbara, who answers in American English. My housekeeping skills attest to the truth of the second law of thermodynamics: Left to themselves, things get more and more random! Nouns, Sentences