Timeline for Why can't we say "I have been having a dog"?
Current License: CC BY-SA 4.0
6 events
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| Apr 2, 2019 at 22:02 | history | migrated | from english.stackexchange.com (revisions) | ||
| Apr 2, 2019 at 8:40 | comment | added | Ruadhan2300 | The first part is definitely something I agree with, not so sure about the "outside of your control" part. "Having is definitely an experiential term. You don't experience the dog, you experience owning the dog. Which is why the usual way to express what OP is saying is "I have owned a dog" | |
| Apr 1, 2019 at 23:08 | comment | added | TonyK | I'm having a sandwich, a think, a quick drink, a party,... All of these are under my control. | |
| Apr 1, 2019 at 22:38 | comment | added | Philip Wood | On the contrary, I think it's clear and relevant. For example it would be fine to say "I've been having kittens ever since I heard the news." ['Having kittens is, in the UK, a colloquial way of talking about a state of panic.] The point being made by user 342390 is that what makes it OK here, but not in the case of the dog, is that one has no control over it; the state is thrust upon one. | |
| Apr 1, 2019 at 20:34 | comment | added | TonyK | I'm afraid this makes no sense at all. | |
| Apr 1, 2019 at 20:34 | history | answered | user342390 | CC BY-SA 4.0 |