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i had watched vs i have watched

"I had watched" and "I have watched" are both correct phrases, but they wouldn't be used in the exact same contexts. "I had watched" is used in the past perfect tense to indicate an action that occurred before another past action, while "I have watched" is used in the present perfect tense to indicate an action that was completed at some point in the past with relevance to the present.
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Explained by Gregg
Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: September 07, 2024 • 20652 views

i had watched

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English in the past perfect tense.

Use "I had watched" in the past perfect tense to describe an action that happened before another past action. It shows the sequence of events in the past.

Examples:

  • By the time I arrived, she had watched the movie.
  • I had watched the show before it was canceled.
  • He had watched the game before he went to bed.
  • Oct 9, 2021 ... e.g. I have watched these videos and you should watch them because they are brilliant. “I had watched these videos before (past perfect) but I ...
  • Mar 11, 2024 ... In this case the only correct way of saying it is "I wish I had watched it" (or "I wish I'd watched it"). But, because a lot of us English ...
  • May 20, 2024 ... The past perfect makes sense in dialog 2, but not dialog 1. Dialog 2. When I had watched TV, I did my homework.
  • Oct 6, 2023 ... What's a film that makes you go "God I wish I had watched that sooner"? Discussion. So I just watched Past Lives and I've been meaning to see ...
  • Feb 14, 2021 ... Context #2: I watched Shrek again last night. I had watched it many times when I was a child. – FumbleFingers. Commented Feb 14, 2021 at 13:18.
  • Dec 19, 2008 ... It does sound weird. I/d say: I did my homework after I had watched TV. Before I did my homework, I had watched TV. However, I have seen this ...
  • Feb 23, 2017 ... I had watched 6 episodes of Kuzu no Honkai. Since the action "watch" was done in the past and I didn't repeatedly watch from time to time ...
  • Oct 23, 2016 ... I had watched it seems odd by itself. However, the natural thing is to use the same form of words (i.e. the past simple) as in the question ...
  • Jul 29, 2011 ... "I had watched both movies before he arrived late night yesterday." Here the completion of the action is a past one ,that took place before ...
  • Jun 17, 2024 ... The year before, I had watched a friend suffer through her kid's freshman year of college. She received daily texts about the worst roommate ...

Alternatives:

  • I had seen
  • I had viewed
  • I had observed
  • I had witnessed
  • I had looked at

i have watched

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English in the present perfect tense.

Use "I have watched" in the present perfect tense to indicate an action that was completed at some point in the past with relevance to the present. It emphasizes the experience of watching.

Examples:

  • I have watched that movie three times already.
  • She has watched all the episodes of the series.
  • Have you watched the new documentary?
  • He has watched the game, so he knows the outcome.
  • They have watched the performance and loved it.
  • Jun 14, 2017 ... I've watched is I HAVE watched. I used to perform that action in the past: I have watched (whatever, but I no longer watch it). I've watched ...
  • May 17, 2022 ... ... i have watched all the good kdramas nothing interests me anymore. i tried watching on going dramas but i couldn't finish them they finish so ...
  • View the full text of Winston Churchill's "I Have Watched This Famous Island..." speech, also known as the Danube Basin speech given in the House of Commons ...
  • Oct 22, 2024 ... After finishing Ghost of tsushima, I have watched SHOGUN. Discussion. I want to point out that after watching this TV SERIES I got amazed by ...
  • Oct 9, 2024 ... 50K likes, 672 comments - iamjamiefoxx on October 9, 2024: "I have watched you grow. It has been nothing short of extraordinary.
  • Jan 11, 2016 ... 12 votes, 24 comments. Where can I see how many videos i have watched? I used this funktion several times in the past, but I cant find it on ...
  • Feb 7, 2020 ... I Have Watched “The Two Popes” Nine Times. It Should Win No Oscars on Sunday. Sorry to each of my two popes. Jacob Rosenberg.
  • Feb 21, 2023 ... I have several shows that I record to watch later, I have the series set to record Only New episodes. After I have watched an episode, ...
  • Jan 29, 2019 ... I have watched this Zoo grow from a “small zoo in Ohio” when I was a kid, into the sensational, world-renowned facility and staff that we ...

Alternatives:

  • I have seen
  • I have viewed
  • I have observed
  • I have witnessed
  • I have looked at

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