When you haven't had dinner yet,
do you say "I haven't had dinner yet"?
Can you say "I didn't have dinner yet", "I don't have dinner yet"? or "I couldn't have dinner yet"?
2007-11-17 20:38:43 · 28 answers · asked by be_tough 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Homework Help
Well you can break this down into:
I have not had dinner yet | correct
I did not have dinner yet | correct
I do not have dinner yet | incorrect (means somebody asked you if you physically brought dinner, not if you've eaten or not)
I could not have dinner yet | incorrect (means you can't have dinner, but i'm sure you can =P)
2007-11-17 20:44:57 · answer #1 · answered by Sirey4 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All are fine (though some would be awkward in their usage), but they mean different things.
"I haven't had dinner yet" means that you have not yet had dinner at the time you made the statement.
i.e I am hungry because I haven't had dinner yet.
"I didn't have dinner yet" means that refering to some past time, you had not had dinner at that point.
i.e. When you called me this afternoon, I didn't have yet.
"I don't have dinner yet" means that you do not normally have dinner that early.
i.e. There is nothing on the stove because I don't have dinner yet; I always eat late.
"I couldn't have dinner yet" means that it was impossible for you to have dinner before that point, though you would have to say "couldn't have had"
i.e. I can't eat anthing until 2 hours after I take my medication. I just took my medication an hour ago, so I couldn't have had dinner yet.
2007-11-17 21:04:58 · answer #2 · answered by Kev 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In N Z you no doubt have a couple of expressions which don't seem to be heard in different places, now not even in Australia. I am southern English, however was once in Oz for 3 years within the early Nineteen Seventies. Visited N Z round Auckland for a couple of hours at the approach residence from Oz through sea. But then, what's "English" English or British English? As a long way as I am worried the North (of England) is an extra nation for language!
2016-09-05 08:08:30 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all, "I don't have dinner yet" is totally wrong. You can say, "I haven't had dinner yet" if you really haven't had dinner yet. You can say, "I couldn't have dinner yet" if you were physically unable to eat dinner.
2007-11-17 20:45:15 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
"I haven't" means you wanted to have dinner recently and there was some reason you did not.
"I didn't" means you just thought about it.
"I couldn't have dinner yet" means there was a physical or medical reason you did not have dinner.
"I don't have dinner yet" indicates you were the one either cooking or getting dinner for the person you are speaking to.
2007-11-17 20:43:58 · answer #5 · answered by Your Uncle Dodge! 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
'I haven't had dinner yet' is most likely, at least in British English. It's present perfect, because the time is open ended - it's still possible for me to have dinner soon. Using simple past 'I didn't have dinner yet' is possible too but more common in varieties of US English.
'I don't have dinner yet' is simple present. Simple present refers to habitual actions, things that are always true. Like every other English verb form it is possible in the right context, but not in the situation you are describing.
'I couldn't have dinner yet' - couldn't means 'it has not been possible'. As in the last example, it is just possible in the right context but not inthe one you are thinking about.
2007-11-17 20:48:56 · answer #6 · answered by vilgessuola 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I haven't had dinner yet
2007-11-17 20:43:16 · answer #7 · answered by stonyleaf3 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
*I haven't had dinner yet.
*I didn't have dinner yet.
not don't (that is plural and present and doesn't fit.
you could say couldn't have dinner yet, if you are explaining that you could not at the moment because of a situation.
2007-11-17 20:43:05 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
"I haven't had dinner yet." is preferable. It's present perfect tense and indicates that the action (negated in this case) hasn't taken place in the past, including right up to the present point in time that you're speaking.
"I didn't have dinner yet" is simple past (negated in this case). There's no emphasis on not having taken place even up to the present time.
"I don't have dinner yet." is grammatically incorrect if you want it to mean you haven't eaten yet because of the lack of subject-verb agreement. The correct subject-verb agreement to say you haven't eaten yet is "I didn't have dinner yet." However, if you want to say that you haven't prepared/cooked dinner yet, you can say "I don't have dinner yet.", meaning "I don't have dinner ready to serve to you." or something like that.
You'd have to correct the last option to say "I couldn't have had dinner yet." It emphasizes the impossibility of the action in the past.
2007-11-17 20:56:21 · answer #9 · answered by addressing_you 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends.
Haven't would just mean, that you have not done that yet, but you are implying that you might in the future.
Didn't, means the same
Don't, would imply that you are waiting on a delivery, or waiting to get it.
Couldn't, you wouldn't use, because it mixes tenses. You would only use it if you were saying "I couldn't have dinnner last night." It's hard to explain and easy to mix up, because you would you use "I could have dinner" and that would be future tense, whilst "I couldn't have dinner" would be past.
....
I'd just stick with haven't.
2007-11-17 21:00:13 · answer #10 · answered by Sierra 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋