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Why can't we say “I have been having a dog”?



The Next CEO of Stack OverflowWhy can't I say “I have a brown hair”?“How long have you [had/been having] this?” - Cont. or Simple?Is it correct to say “ have been not” in English?have been + V ing vs have been + V edWhat is the grammatically correct way to say “Have you ever been shot at?”“Should never have been” or “should have never been”?Can't have (been) V.S. couldn't have (been)One of the main reasons I picked up a guitar(English Grammar ) reason why my answer is wrong why it is not has been visiting , why is answer is have been visitedIs it correct to say “proud of having met you”, or should it be “proud to have met”?










3















So I can say "I have been playing the guitar since I was 6" but "I have been having a dog since I was 6" sounds incorrect. Why?










share|improve this question









New contributor




Hannah is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.















  • 3





    "Having", in that sense, implies repeated actions rather than a continuous action. "I have been having a hot dog for breakfast since I was 6."

    – Hot Licks
    5 hours ago











  • [Why can't we say or why don't we say]

    – Lambie
    5 hours ago






  • 1





    The right question is not "Why can't we say" etc. because you can say anything you like. The question is what does it mean when I say A or B.

    – Lambie
    5 hours ago











  • @TonyK enough. I will bring this to moderator attention and see this through. You do not go around putting people down and using language some would consider bullying. Delete the comment now or I will raise this.

    – Lordology
    4 hours ago












  • @TonyK I have. I have alerted the moderators and flagged this as abuse. Who do you think you are? This is unacceptable!

    – Lordology
    4 hours ago















3















So I can say "I have been playing the guitar since I was 6" but "I have been having a dog since I was 6" sounds incorrect. Why?










share|improve this question









New contributor




Hannah is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.















  • 3





    "Having", in that sense, implies repeated actions rather than a continuous action. "I have been having a hot dog for breakfast since I was 6."

    – Hot Licks
    5 hours ago











  • [Why can't we say or why don't we say]

    – Lambie
    5 hours ago






  • 1





    The right question is not "Why can't we say" etc. because you can say anything you like. The question is what does it mean when I say A or B.

    – Lambie
    5 hours ago











  • @TonyK enough. I will bring this to moderator attention and see this through. You do not go around putting people down and using language some would consider bullying. Delete the comment now or I will raise this.

    – Lordology
    4 hours ago












  • @TonyK I have. I have alerted the moderators and flagged this as abuse. Who do you think you are? This is unacceptable!

    – Lordology
    4 hours ago













3












3








3








So I can say "I have been playing the guitar since I was 6" but "I have been having a dog since I was 6" sounds incorrect. Why?










share|improve this question









New contributor




Hannah is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.












So I can say "I have been playing the guitar since I was 6" but "I have been having a dog since I was 6" sounds incorrect. Why?







grammar






share|improve this question









New contributor




Hannah is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











share|improve this question









New contributor




Hannah is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 2 hours ago









W.E.

1057




1057






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asked 6 hours ago









HannahHannah

191




191




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New contributor





Hannah is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






Hannah is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.







  • 3





    "Having", in that sense, implies repeated actions rather than a continuous action. "I have been having a hot dog for breakfast since I was 6."

    – Hot Licks
    5 hours ago











  • [Why can't we say or why don't we say]

    – Lambie
    5 hours ago






  • 1





    The right question is not "Why can't we say" etc. because you can say anything you like. The question is what does it mean when I say A or B.

    – Lambie
    5 hours ago











  • @TonyK enough. I will bring this to moderator attention and see this through. You do not go around putting people down and using language some would consider bullying. Delete the comment now or I will raise this.

    – Lordology
    4 hours ago












  • @TonyK I have. I have alerted the moderators and flagged this as abuse. Who do you think you are? This is unacceptable!

    – Lordology
    4 hours ago












  • 3





    "Having", in that sense, implies repeated actions rather than a continuous action. "I have been having a hot dog for breakfast since I was 6."

    – Hot Licks
    5 hours ago











  • [Why can't we say or why don't we say]

    – Lambie
    5 hours ago






  • 1





    The right question is not "Why can't we say" etc. because you can say anything you like. The question is what does it mean when I say A or B.

    – Lambie
    5 hours ago











  • @TonyK enough. I will bring this to moderator attention and see this through. You do not go around putting people down and using language some would consider bullying. Delete the comment now or I will raise this.

    – Lordology
    4 hours ago












  • @TonyK I have. I have alerted the moderators and flagged this as abuse. Who do you think you are? This is unacceptable!

    – Lordology
    4 hours ago







3




3





"Having", in that sense, implies repeated actions rather than a continuous action. "I have been having a hot dog for breakfast since I was 6."

– Hot Licks
5 hours ago





"Having", in that sense, implies repeated actions rather than a continuous action. "I have been having a hot dog for breakfast since I was 6."

– Hot Licks
5 hours ago













[Why can't we say or why don't we say]

– Lambie
5 hours ago





[Why can't we say or why don't we say]

– Lambie
5 hours ago




1




1





The right question is not "Why can't we say" etc. because you can say anything you like. The question is what does it mean when I say A or B.

– Lambie
5 hours ago





The right question is not "Why can't we say" etc. because you can say anything you like. The question is what does it mean when I say A or B.

– Lambie
5 hours ago













@TonyK enough. I will bring this to moderator attention and see this through. You do not go around putting people down and using language some would consider bullying. Delete the comment now or I will raise this.

– Lordology
4 hours ago






@TonyK enough. I will bring this to moderator attention and see this through. You do not go around putting people down and using language some would consider bullying. Delete the comment now or I will raise this.

– Lordology
4 hours ago














@TonyK I have. I have alerted the moderators and flagged this as abuse. Who do you think you are? This is unacceptable!

– Lordology
4 hours ago





@TonyK I have. I have alerted the moderators and flagged this as abuse. Who do you think you are? This is unacceptable!

– Lordology
4 hours ago










4 Answers
4






active

oldest

votes


















7














Question: So I can say "I have been playing the guitar since I was 6" but "I have been having a dog since I was 6" sounds incorrect. Why?



Answer:




To play a guitar is an activity. It can have started in the past and
be going on until now. Active verbs can be used progressively (with to
be and ing).




To have a dog means to own a dog. The verb to "have" in the sense of possess is not usually used in the progressive tenses. It is not an active verb like play and does not take a direct object. (Though in some circumstances it is used progressively, let's ignore that for now.) If you want to show the fact your owning a dog began when you were six and is still part of your life, you have to say:




I have had a dog since I was six. You have to use the present perfect.




That's the formal answer for you.



(please note: there is an idiom in the English language which is: to have a cow, which means to express the fact you are upset. That can be used progressively: She's pretty angry. She's having a cow.]






share|improve this answer























  • You can also say things like "I'm having a bit of a problem with this task," although I'm struggling to think of a context where you can would use progressive "have" with a non-abstract object

    – Azor Ahai
    2 hours ago











  • @AzorAhai I'm having chicken for dinner.

    – Lambie
    2 hours ago












  • Mary had a little lamb ... with mint jelly and red potatoes in a dill and butter sauce.

    – IconDaemon
    7 mins ago


















4














The present continuous is not normally used with stative verbs such as "be", "have" (possession), "want", "cost" etc.




  1. He has a wife and two children. YES

  2. He is having a wife and two children. NO

  3. He has been married since 2015 YES

  4. He has been being married since 2015 NO

  5. She has played the guitar since she was six. YES

  6. She has been playing the guitar since she was six. YES

  7. I have had a dog since I was six [years old] YES

  8. I have been having a dog since I was six [years old] NO






share|improve this answer























  • "He is having a wife and two children. NO" -- Hmm. But you can say "he is having a child," can't you? Why is that different?

    – JoL
    1 min ago



















1














The verb "having" implies that you are experiancing, enduring, or undergoing something.



The sentence is gramatically correct, however, the present perfect tense usage coupled with the verb "having" implies that something isnt right. I believe its because the verb "having" implies that there are factors outside of your control or that you are experiancing . Like: having a heart attack, having a baby, having a bad day, having an epiphany...






share|improve this answer










New contributor




user342390 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.















  • 1





    I'm afraid this makes no sense at all.

    – TonyK
    4 hours ago











  • 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.

    – Philip Wood
    2 hours ago











  • I'm having a sandwich, a think, a quick drink, a party,... All of these are under my control.

    – TonyK
    1 hour ago



















-3














Because you can say "I am playing guitar", but you can't say "I am having a dog". (Please, no irrelevant comments about eating hot dogs.)






share|improve this answer























  • You can't say "I am playing guitar" and you can say "I am having a dog". While it may be a localism to some places, countable singular nouns need determiners. As for "I am having a dog", having refers to eating, so it's grammatical, much like I am having a milkshake is.

    – Lordology
    5 hours ago







  • 1





    @Lordology: "I am playing guitar" is perfectly acceptable, as Google Ngram Viewer attests. As for "I am having a dog": I did ask you to leave hot dogs out of this, but you seem to have ignored my request. Oh well.

    – TonyK
    5 hours ago












  • I don't care. Whether you are or aren't "allowed" to mention hot dogs, you can't avoid the fact it's grammatical.

    – Lordology
    5 hours ago






  • 1





    @Lordology how many people do you know have been eating only one type of food, continuously or intermittently since they were six years of age? This has nothing to do with dietary preferences. The OP is clearly asking about owning a pet dog.

    – Mari-Lou A
    5 hours ago






  • 3





    @Lordology - Please explain why You can't say "I am playing guitar"!!!

    – Hot Licks
    4 hours ago











Your Answer








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4 Answers
4






active

oldest

votes








4 Answers
4






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes









7














Question: So I can say "I have been playing the guitar since I was 6" but "I have been having a dog since I was 6" sounds incorrect. Why?



Answer:




To play a guitar is an activity. It can have started in the past and
be going on until now. Active verbs can be used progressively (with to
be and ing).




To have a dog means to own a dog. The verb to "have" in the sense of possess is not usually used in the progressive tenses. It is not an active verb like play and does not take a direct object. (Though in some circumstances it is used progressively, let's ignore that for now.) If you want to show the fact your owning a dog began when you were six and is still part of your life, you have to say:




I have had a dog since I was six. You have to use the present perfect.




That's the formal answer for you.



(please note: there is an idiom in the English language which is: to have a cow, which means to express the fact you are upset. That can be used progressively: She's pretty angry. She's having a cow.]






share|improve this answer























  • You can also say things like "I'm having a bit of a problem with this task," although I'm struggling to think of a context where you can would use progressive "have" with a non-abstract object

    – Azor Ahai
    2 hours ago











  • @AzorAhai I'm having chicken for dinner.

    – Lambie
    2 hours ago












  • Mary had a little lamb ... with mint jelly and red potatoes in a dill and butter sauce.

    – IconDaemon
    7 mins ago















7














Question: So I can say "I have been playing the guitar since I was 6" but "I have been having a dog since I was 6" sounds incorrect. Why?



Answer:




To play a guitar is an activity. It can have started in the past and
be going on until now. Active verbs can be used progressively (with to
be and ing).




To have a dog means to own a dog. The verb to "have" in the sense of possess is not usually used in the progressive tenses. It is not an active verb like play and does not take a direct object. (Though in some circumstances it is used progressively, let's ignore that for now.) If you want to show the fact your owning a dog began when you were six and is still part of your life, you have to say:




I have had a dog since I was six. You have to use the present perfect.




That's the formal answer for you.



(please note: there is an idiom in the English language which is: to have a cow, which means to express the fact you are upset. That can be used progressively: She's pretty angry. She's having a cow.]






share|improve this answer























  • You can also say things like "I'm having a bit of a problem with this task," although I'm struggling to think of a context where you can would use progressive "have" with a non-abstract object

    – Azor Ahai
    2 hours ago











  • @AzorAhai I'm having chicken for dinner.

    – Lambie
    2 hours ago












  • Mary had a little lamb ... with mint jelly and red potatoes in a dill and butter sauce.

    – IconDaemon
    7 mins ago













7












7








7







Question: So I can say "I have been playing the guitar since I was 6" but "I have been having a dog since I was 6" sounds incorrect. Why?



Answer:




To play a guitar is an activity. It can have started in the past and
be going on until now. Active verbs can be used progressively (with to
be and ing).




To have a dog means to own a dog. The verb to "have" in the sense of possess is not usually used in the progressive tenses. It is not an active verb like play and does not take a direct object. (Though in some circumstances it is used progressively, let's ignore that for now.) If you want to show the fact your owning a dog began when you were six and is still part of your life, you have to say:




I have had a dog since I was six. You have to use the present perfect.




That's the formal answer for you.



(please note: there is an idiom in the English language which is: to have a cow, which means to express the fact you are upset. That can be used progressively: She's pretty angry. She's having a cow.]






share|improve this answer













Question: So I can say "I have been playing the guitar since I was 6" but "I have been having a dog since I was 6" sounds incorrect. Why?



Answer:




To play a guitar is an activity. It can have started in the past and
be going on until now. Active verbs can be used progressively (with to
be and ing).




To have a dog means to own a dog. The verb to "have" in the sense of possess is not usually used in the progressive tenses. It is not an active verb like play and does not take a direct object. (Though in some circumstances it is used progressively, let's ignore that for now.) If you want to show the fact your owning a dog began when you were six and is still part of your life, you have to say:




I have had a dog since I was six. You have to use the present perfect.




That's the formal answer for you.



(please note: there is an idiom in the English language which is: to have a cow, which means to express the fact you are upset. That can be used progressively: She's pretty angry. She's having a cow.]







share|improve this answer












share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer










answered 4 hours ago









LambieLambie

7,6361933




7,6361933












  • You can also say things like "I'm having a bit of a problem with this task," although I'm struggling to think of a context where you can would use progressive "have" with a non-abstract object

    – Azor Ahai
    2 hours ago











  • @AzorAhai I'm having chicken for dinner.

    – Lambie
    2 hours ago












  • Mary had a little lamb ... with mint jelly and red potatoes in a dill and butter sauce.

    – IconDaemon
    7 mins ago

















  • You can also say things like "I'm having a bit of a problem with this task," although I'm struggling to think of a context where you can would use progressive "have" with a non-abstract object

    – Azor Ahai
    2 hours ago











  • @AzorAhai I'm having chicken for dinner.

    – Lambie
    2 hours ago












  • Mary had a little lamb ... with mint jelly and red potatoes in a dill and butter sauce.

    – IconDaemon
    7 mins ago
















You can also say things like "I'm having a bit of a problem with this task," although I'm struggling to think of a context where you can would use progressive "have" with a non-abstract object

– Azor Ahai
2 hours ago





You can also say things like "I'm having a bit of a problem with this task," although I'm struggling to think of a context where you can would use progressive "have" with a non-abstract object

– Azor Ahai
2 hours ago













@AzorAhai I'm having chicken for dinner.

– Lambie
2 hours ago






@AzorAhai I'm having chicken for dinner.

– Lambie
2 hours ago














Mary had a little lamb ... with mint jelly and red potatoes in a dill and butter sauce.

– IconDaemon
7 mins ago





Mary had a little lamb ... with mint jelly and red potatoes in a dill and butter sauce.

– IconDaemon
7 mins ago













4














The present continuous is not normally used with stative verbs such as "be", "have" (possession), "want", "cost" etc.




  1. He has a wife and two children. YES

  2. He is having a wife and two children. NO

  3. He has been married since 2015 YES

  4. He has been being married since 2015 NO

  5. She has played the guitar since she was six. YES

  6. She has been playing the guitar since she was six. YES

  7. I have had a dog since I was six [years old] YES

  8. I have been having a dog since I was six [years old] NO






share|improve this answer























  • "He is having a wife and two children. NO" -- Hmm. But you can say "he is having a child," can't you? Why is that different?

    – JoL
    1 min ago
















4














The present continuous is not normally used with stative verbs such as "be", "have" (possession), "want", "cost" etc.




  1. He has a wife and two children. YES

  2. He is having a wife and two children. NO

  3. He has been married since 2015 YES

  4. He has been being married since 2015 NO

  5. She has played the guitar since she was six. YES

  6. She has been playing the guitar since she was six. YES

  7. I have had a dog since I was six [years old] YES

  8. I have been having a dog since I was six [years old] NO






share|improve this answer























  • "He is having a wife and two children. NO" -- Hmm. But you can say "he is having a child," can't you? Why is that different?

    – JoL
    1 min ago














4












4








4







The present continuous is not normally used with stative verbs such as "be", "have" (possession), "want", "cost" etc.




  1. He has a wife and two children. YES

  2. He is having a wife and two children. NO

  3. He has been married since 2015 YES

  4. He has been being married since 2015 NO

  5. She has played the guitar since she was six. YES

  6. She has been playing the guitar since she was six. YES

  7. I have had a dog since I was six [years old] YES

  8. I have been having a dog since I was six [years old] NO






share|improve this answer













The present continuous is not normally used with stative verbs such as "be", "have" (possession), "want", "cost" etc.




  1. He has a wife and two children. YES

  2. He is having a wife and two children. NO

  3. He has been married since 2015 YES

  4. He has been being married since 2015 NO

  5. She has played the guitar since she was six. YES

  6. She has been playing the guitar since she was six. YES

  7. I have had a dog since I was six [years old] YES

  8. I have been having a dog since I was six [years old] NO







share|improve this answer












share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer










answered 4 hours ago









Mari-Lou AMari-Lou A

62.5k57224462




62.5k57224462












  • "He is having a wife and two children. NO" -- Hmm. But you can say "he is having a child," can't you? Why is that different?

    – JoL
    1 min ago


















  • "He is having a wife and two children. NO" -- Hmm. But you can say "he is having a child," can't you? Why is that different?

    – JoL
    1 min ago

















"He is having a wife and two children. NO" -- Hmm. But you can say "he is having a child," can't you? Why is that different?

– JoL
1 min ago






"He is having a wife and two children. NO" -- Hmm. But you can say "he is having a child," can't you? Why is that different?

– JoL
1 min ago












1














The verb "having" implies that you are experiancing, enduring, or undergoing something.



The sentence is gramatically correct, however, the present perfect tense usage coupled with the verb "having" implies that something isnt right. I believe its because the verb "having" implies that there are factors outside of your control or that you are experiancing . Like: having a heart attack, having a baby, having a bad day, having an epiphany...






share|improve this answer










New contributor




user342390 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.















  • 1





    I'm afraid this makes no sense at all.

    – TonyK
    4 hours ago











  • 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.

    – Philip Wood
    2 hours ago











  • I'm having a sandwich, a think, a quick drink, a party,... All of these are under my control.

    – TonyK
    1 hour ago
















1














The verb "having" implies that you are experiancing, enduring, or undergoing something.



The sentence is gramatically correct, however, the present perfect tense usage coupled with the verb "having" implies that something isnt right. I believe its because the verb "having" implies that there are factors outside of your control or that you are experiancing . Like: having a heart attack, having a baby, having a bad day, having an epiphany...






share|improve this answer










New contributor




user342390 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.















  • 1





    I'm afraid this makes no sense at all.

    – TonyK
    4 hours ago











  • 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.

    – Philip Wood
    2 hours ago











  • I'm having a sandwich, a think, a quick drink, a party,... All of these are under my control.

    – TonyK
    1 hour ago














1












1








1







The verb "having" implies that you are experiancing, enduring, or undergoing something.



The sentence is gramatically correct, however, the present perfect tense usage coupled with the verb "having" implies that something isnt right. I believe its because the verb "having" implies that there are factors outside of your control or that you are experiancing . Like: having a heart attack, having a baby, having a bad day, having an epiphany...






share|improve this answer










New contributor




user342390 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.










The verb "having" implies that you are experiancing, enduring, or undergoing something.



The sentence is gramatically correct, however, the present perfect tense usage coupled with the verb "having" implies that something isnt right. I believe its because the verb "having" implies that there are factors outside of your control or that you are experiancing . Like: having a heart attack, having a baby, having a bad day, having an epiphany...







share|improve this answer










New contributor




user342390 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer








edited 4 hours ago





















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user342390 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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answered 4 hours ago









user342390user342390

212




212




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user342390 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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New contributor





user342390 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






user342390 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.







  • 1





    I'm afraid this makes no sense at all.

    – TonyK
    4 hours ago











  • 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.

    – Philip Wood
    2 hours ago











  • I'm having a sandwich, a think, a quick drink, a party,... All of these are under my control.

    – TonyK
    1 hour ago













  • 1





    I'm afraid this makes no sense at all.

    – TonyK
    4 hours ago











  • 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.

    – Philip Wood
    2 hours ago











  • I'm having a sandwich, a think, a quick drink, a party,... All of these are under my control.

    – TonyK
    1 hour ago








1




1





I'm afraid this makes no sense at all.

– TonyK
4 hours ago





I'm afraid this makes no sense at all.

– TonyK
4 hours ago













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.

– Philip Wood
2 hours ago





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.

– Philip Wood
2 hours ago













I'm having a sandwich, a think, a quick drink, a party,... All of these are under my control.

– TonyK
1 hour ago






I'm having a sandwich, a think, a quick drink, a party,... All of these are under my control.

– TonyK
1 hour ago












-3














Because you can say "I am playing guitar", but you can't say "I am having a dog". (Please, no irrelevant comments about eating hot dogs.)






share|improve this answer























  • You can't say "I am playing guitar" and you can say "I am having a dog". While it may be a localism to some places, countable singular nouns need determiners. As for "I am having a dog", having refers to eating, so it's grammatical, much like I am having a milkshake is.

    – Lordology
    5 hours ago







  • 1





    @Lordology: "I am playing guitar" is perfectly acceptable, as Google Ngram Viewer attests. As for "I am having a dog": I did ask you to leave hot dogs out of this, but you seem to have ignored my request. Oh well.

    – TonyK
    5 hours ago












  • I don't care. Whether you are or aren't "allowed" to mention hot dogs, you can't avoid the fact it's grammatical.

    – Lordology
    5 hours ago






  • 1





    @Lordology how many people do you know have been eating only one type of food, continuously or intermittently since they were six years of age? This has nothing to do with dietary preferences. The OP is clearly asking about owning a pet dog.

    – Mari-Lou A
    5 hours ago






  • 3





    @Lordology - Please explain why You can't say "I am playing guitar"!!!

    – Hot Licks
    4 hours ago















-3














Because you can say "I am playing guitar", but you can't say "I am having a dog". (Please, no irrelevant comments about eating hot dogs.)






share|improve this answer























  • You can't say "I am playing guitar" and you can say "I am having a dog". While it may be a localism to some places, countable singular nouns need determiners. As for "I am having a dog", having refers to eating, so it's grammatical, much like I am having a milkshake is.

    – Lordology
    5 hours ago







  • 1





    @Lordology: "I am playing guitar" is perfectly acceptable, as Google Ngram Viewer attests. As for "I am having a dog": I did ask you to leave hot dogs out of this, but you seem to have ignored my request. Oh well.

    – TonyK
    5 hours ago












  • I don't care. Whether you are or aren't "allowed" to mention hot dogs, you can't avoid the fact it's grammatical.

    – Lordology
    5 hours ago






  • 1





    @Lordology how many people do you know have been eating only one type of food, continuously or intermittently since they were six years of age? This has nothing to do with dietary preferences. The OP is clearly asking about owning a pet dog.

    – Mari-Lou A
    5 hours ago






  • 3





    @Lordology - Please explain why You can't say "I am playing guitar"!!!

    – Hot Licks
    4 hours ago













-3












-3








-3







Because you can say "I am playing guitar", but you can't say "I am having a dog". (Please, no irrelevant comments about eating hot dogs.)






share|improve this answer













Because you can say "I am playing guitar", but you can't say "I am having a dog". (Please, no irrelevant comments about eating hot dogs.)







share|improve this answer












share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer










answered 5 hours ago









TonyKTonyK

1,984310




1,984310












  • You can't say "I am playing guitar" and you can say "I am having a dog". While it may be a localism to some places, countable singular nouns need determiners. As for "I am having a dog", having refers to eating, so it's grammatical, much like I am having a milkshake is.

    – Lordology
    5 hours ago







  • 1





    @Lordology: "I am playing guitar" is perfectly acceptable, as Google Ngram Viewer attests. As for "I am having a dog": I did ask you to leave hot dogs out of this, but you seem to have ignored my request. Oh well.

    – TonyK
    5 hours ago












  • I don't care. Whether you are or aren't "allowed" to mention hot dogs, you can't avoid the fact it's grammatical.

    – Lordology
    5 hours ago






  • 1





    @Lordology how many people do you know have been eating only one type of food, continuously or intermittently since they were six years of age? This has nothing to do with dietary preferences. The OP is clearly asking about owning a pet dog.

    – Mari-Lou A
    5 hours ago






  • 3





    @Lordology - Please explain why You can't say "I am playing guitar"!!!

    – Hot Licks
    4 hours ago

















  • You can't say "I am playing guitar" and you can say "I am having a dog". While it may be a localism to some places, countable singular nouns need determiners. As for "I am having a dog", having refers to eating, so it's grammatical, much like I am having a milkshake is.

    – Lordology
    5 hours ago







  • 1





    @Lordology: "I am playing guitar" is perfectly acceptable, as Google Ngram Viewer attests. As for "I am having a dog": I did ask you to leave hot dogs out of this, but you seem to have ignored my request. Oh well.

    – TonyK
    5 hours ago












  • I don't care. Whether you are or aren't "allowed" to mention hot dogs, you can't avoid the fact it's grammatical.

    – Lordology
    5 hours ago






  • 1





    @Lordology how many people do you know have been eating only one type of food, continuously or intermittently since they were six years of age? This has nothing to do with dietary preferences. The OP is clearly asking about owning a pet dog.

    – Mari-Lou A
    5 hours ago






  • 3





    @Lordology - Please explain why You can't say "I am playing guitar"!!!

    – Hot Licks
    4 hours ago
















You can't say "I am playing guitar" and you can say "I am having a dog". While it may be a localism to some places, countable singular nouns need determiners. As for "I am having a dog", having refers to eating, so it's grammatical, much like I am having a milkshake is.

– Lordology
5 hours ago






You can't say "I am playing guitar" and you can say "I am having a dog". While it may be a localism to some places, countable singular nouns need determiners. As for "I am having a dog", having refers to eating, so it's grammatical, much like I am having a milkshake is.

– Lordology
5 hours ago





1




1





@Lordology: "I am playing guitar" is perfectly acceptable, as Google Ngram Viewer attests. As for "I am having a dog": I did ask you to leave hot dogs out of this, but you seem to have ignored my request. Oh well.

– TonyK
5 hours ago






@Lordology: "I am playing guitar" is perfectly acceptable, as Google Ngram Viewer attests. As for "I am having a dog": I did ask you to leave hot dogs out of this, but you seem to have ignored my request. Oh well.

– TonyK
5 hours ago














I don't care. Whether you are or aren't "allowed" to mention hot dogs, you can't avoid the fact it's grammatical.

– Lordology
5 hours ago





I don't care. Whether you are or aren't "allowed" to mention hot dogs, you can't avoid the fact it's grammatical.

– Lordology
5 hours ago




1




1





@Lordology how many people do you know have been eating only one type of food, continuously or intermittently since they were six years of age? This has nothing to do with dietary preferences. The OP is clearly asking about owning a pet dog.

– Mari-Lou A
5 hours ago





@Lordology how many people do you know have been eating only one type of food, continuously or intermittently since they were six years of age? This has nothing to do with dietary preferences. The OP is clearly asking about owning a pet dog.

– Mari-Lou A
5 hours ago




3




3





@Lordology - Please explain why You can't say "I am playing guitar"!!!

– Hot Licks
4 hours ago





@Lordology - Please explain why You can't say "I am playing guitar"!!!

– Hot Licks
4 hours ago










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