English Café: Correct: I have a cold. Incorrect: I am having a cold.

Advanced Details: Correct: I have a cold. Incorrect: I am having a cold.

For illnesses, we don’t normally use the continuous form of have “I have a cold” is correct. We use the simple present tense to describe a present state. “I’m having a cold” is incorrect. The present continuous tense may be used to describe a present continuous action but not a present state, which includes illnesses.

There is, however, is one exception – we say: I am having a heart attack, NOT I have a heart attack. It’s unclear to experts how this exception entered the English language, but for now at PTTEP, just remember that we will follow the main rule: Say I have heart disease. I have a bad back, NOT I am having heart disease, or I am having a bad back.