why do you often have a cold? vs why did you often have a cold?

The correct phrase is "Why do you often have a cold?" This is because the present simple tense is used to talk about habits or things that are generally true. The past simple tense, as in "Why did you often have a cold?", would imply that the situation has changed or is no longer true.

Last updated: March 24, 2024 • 724 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"why do you often have a cold?"

Use the present simple tense when talking about habits or things that are generally true. In this case, the question is asking about a recurring situation of having a cold.

Show examples from the web [+]

Do you have a cold? No.
Do you often have milkshakes with strangers?
How can you have a cold?
Did we establish that you actually have a cold?
Sir Lian-Chu, do you often have nightmares?
Do you often have fantasies like that?
Do you often have a problem controlling your anger, Mr Wilkins?
Do you often have trouble telling reality from fantasy, Mrs. Collins?
No, I meant do you have a cold?
Why did you insist on babysitting him when you have a cold?
Mi Reu, you have a cold?
No, I meant do you have a cold?
Do you often have to hide marks that he put on your body?
Do you often have to give Mrs. Landis things to quiet her?
I must have a cold coming on.
A ghost would have a cold body.
Shut up and have a cold bath.
I think I'll have a cold bottle of beer.
If I have a cold, you cough.
Take this medicine when you have a cold.

This phrase is not correct in this context. The past simple tense implies that the situation has changed or is no longer true.

"why did you often have a cold?"

Avoid using the past simple tense when asking about habits or things that are generally true. Save the past tense for situations that occurred at a specific time in the past.

Show examples from the web [+]

Do you have a cold? No.
How can you have a cold?
Did we establish that you actually have a cold?
No, I meant do you have a cold?
Why did you insist on babysitting him when you have a cold?
Mi Reu, you have a cold?
No, I meant do you have a cold?
I must have a cold coming on.
A ghost would have a cold body.
Shut up and have a cold bath.
I think I'll have a cold bottle of beer.
If I have a cold, you cough.
Take this medicine when you have a cold.
You wouldn't be able to go - you'd have a cold.
I have a cold and an eye infection.
I might have a cold or... or flu.
Elsa, I'm thinking you might have a cold.
OK, I have a cold.
Peter Pan can't have a cold, Dad.
I didn't even have a cold.

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why do you often have a cold? vs why did you often have a cold?