Question

When will we use "have had" and "had had" in sentences?

Answer 1

"Have had" implies that the person continues to have something up to the present, but "had had" implies that the arrangement is strictly in the past.

Explanation:

I drink, but no longer smoke. When I say "I have had martinis before my meals," here is an implication (present possessive) that I continue this practice, at least up until the present. But when I say "I had had cigarettes with my lunch," the implication (past possessive) is that I no longer do this and have no plans to return to such a practice.