Verbs are an indispensable part of sentences and communication of everyday use. Did and had are two such irregular verbs that perform the function of indicating a course of action.
While the two may appear to mean the same, they have considerable differences.
Key Takeaways
- “Did” is the past tense of the verb “to do” and is used to form questions and negative statements in the past tense.
- “Had” is the past tense of the verb “to have” and is used as an auxiliary verb to indicate past perfect tense or to show possession.
- “Did” is used to indicate actions, while “had” indicates ownership or past experiences.
Did vs Had
The difference between did and had is that did is used to indicate a task that has already been completed. For example, Ryan did his homework well on time.
On the other hand, had has been used to indicate the possession of a thing in the past. For instance, Robert had owned a Macbook for twelve years before switching to Windows.
By definition, did refers to a state of action that is complete. The verb did have use in sentences containing first persons, second persons, and third persons.
Examples include Riya did all her class assignments in just two weeks, and Ramesh did not complete his projects.
By definition, had is the past tense of the word have. Had has is used to refer to a previously possessed item or an anticipated outcome.
There are several instances of use in everyday life. For example, had I woken up late today, I would have missed the entrance to my board exams.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Did | Had |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Did refers to an irregular verb which is the simple past tense of the word do. | Had is an irregular verb which is the simple past tense of the word have. |
| Origin | The word did has its origin in the Latin word abdere. Abdere means to put away. | The origin of the word had is from the Latin word Habere. Habere means to own or to possess. |
| Main Use | Did has a practical application for the indication of a task that has already been completed. | In clear terms, the word had is used to indicate the possession of something a person no longer owns. |
| Alternate Use | Another prominent use of did is to avoid repetition in sentences. | Had may sometimes be used in the place of if. |
| Example | Siya did all the household chores by herself as her family was gone on a vacation. | I had ten pairs of shoes in the last one year. |
What is Did?
Did refers to an irregular verb, the simple past tense of the word do. Did has a practical application for the indication of a task that has already been completed.
For example, Ramesh did his school homework a week before the commencement of school. Another example is Siya did all the household chores by herself.
The word did has its origin in the Latin word abdere. Abdere means to put away. In practical terms, the verb did can be put to use in sentences containing first persons, second persons, and third persons.
When the word did is combined with the word not, it conveys a negative connotation. For example, Rehaan did not attend school for the last two days.
Another prominent use of did is to avoid repetition in sentences. In this case, did replaces a phrase or a verb phrase. For example, Seema told me to submit her class assignment today, which I did, though I was late for class.
Another example is Raven requested me to email him my gpay id, which I already did yesterday.
Did has a relevant use in question formation as well. For example, Did you check your messages today? Another example is Did you go to Raman’s party yesterday? Thus, did has use in interrogative sentences.
To conclude did has multifaceted uses in several sentence types.
What is Had?
Had is an irregular verb, the simple past tense of the word have. Like any other verb, it performs the function of indicating the state of action. For example, Rahul had a considerable amount of wealth, but he was no longer rich.
Another example is that I had ten chocolates yesterday, but I gave all of them to my niece.
Had may sometimes be put to use in the place of if. For example, I wouldn’t have failed the exams if I had studied hard. Another example is that had Sham spoken the truth, and he wouldn’t have been punished with life imprisonment.
The origin of word had is from the Latin word Habere. Habere means to own or to possess.
There are several visible uses of had in everyday sentences. For example, had I taken admission to an average university, I would have regretted it my entire life.
Suman had all the qualities of an ideal psychologist, but her fame took a toll on her talents and skills. Thus, had has been used in multi-facet sentences.
The word had is used to indicate the possession of something a person no longer owns. For instance, Reema had owned a doll set during her childhood years.
Another example is that I had ten pairs of shoes last year. Had has been used to refer to a previously possessed item or an anticipated outcome.
Main Differences Between Did and Had
- Did refers to an irregular verb which is the simple past tense of the word do. In contrast, had is an irregular verb which is the simple past tense of the word have.
- The word did has its origin in the Latin word abdere. Abdere means to put away. On the other hand, the origin of the word had is from the Latin word Habere. Habere means to own or to possess.
- Did has a practical application for the indication of a task that has already been completed. In contrast, the word had is used to indicate the possession of something a person no longer owns.
- Another prominent use of did is to avoid repetition in sentences. On the other hand, had may sometimes be used in place of if.
- Examples of did include Riya did all her class assignments in just two weeks. In contrast, an example of had includes had I taken admission to an average university, I would have regretted it my entire life.
- https://www.really-learn-english.com/when-should-i-use-have-has-had-do-did-and-does.html
- https://www.myenglishteacher.eu/blog/what-is-the-difference-between-did-and-had/
Last Updated : 13 July, 2023
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Emma Smith holds an MA degree in English from Irvine Valley College. She has been a Journalist since 2002, writing articles on the English language, Sports, and Law. Read more about me on her bio page.
This article provides an in-depth insight into the correct usage of the English irregular verbs ‘did’ and ‘had’. Very well researched.
A highly informative article. The examples of the correct usage of ‘did’ and ‘had’ make the explanation very clear and comprehensible.
This article is a testament to the comprehensive understanding of the English language. The comparison table and the detailed explanations provide a thorough understanding.
I appreciate the comparative analysis presented here. The origin and alternate use of ‘did’ and ‘had’ is an interesting point of discussion.
An enlightening exposition on the nuances of the English language, particularly in the correct usage of the irregular verbs ‘did’ and ‘had’.
The clarity of the explanations and the extensive use of examples greatly contribute to the lucidity of this article.
The real-life examples are indeed very helpful in understanding the application of ‘did’ and ‘had’ in different sentence structures and contexts.
This article is a commendable resource for learners seeking to improve their grasp of the English language grammar.
An astute piece of writing, elucidating the key differences between the verbs ‘did’ and ‘had’. The distinction between the two verbs is clearly explained.