"The river has many fish." vs "The river had many fish."

Question

"The river has many fish." vs "The river had many fish."

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "The river has many fish." is in the present tense, indicating that currently, the river contains many fish. On the other hand, "The river had many fish." is in the past tense, suggesting that at some point in the past, the river had many fish.

Last Updated: March 11, 2024

This phrase is used to describe the current situation of the river having many fish. It is in the present tense.

Examples:

The river has many fish, making it a popular spot for fishing.
I love visiting the river because it has many fish swimming in its waters.

Alternatives:

The river is full of fish.
There are many fish in the river.
The river teems with fish.
Many fish inhabit the river.
Fish are abundant in the river.

This phrase is used to describe a past situation where the river had many fish. It is in the past tense.

Examples:

When I was a child, the river had many fish for us to catch.
Historical records show that the river had many fish before pollution affected its ecosystem.

Alternatives:

The river used to have many fish.
There were many fish in the river.
The river was abundant with fish.
Many fish inhabited the river in the past.
Fish were plentiful in the river.

Answer 1

The river has many fish.

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate that the river currently contains many fish.

Answer 2

The river had many fish.

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate that at some point in the past, the river had many fish.

"The river has many fish." vs "The river had many fish."

The river has many fish.

The river had many fish.

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