Grammar Bite: To Have and to Had

As a freelance editor, I am often asked by clients, readers, and friends about my personal take on grammar rules or the common usage of words or phrases. Once, I was asked to share my thoughts on the use of the phrase “to have” and its past participle “had”:

Q. I should like to read your take on the following quizzical use of the verb “to have” and its past participle form “had:”

It seems common and proper for American English speakers to say, “I had my carpets cleaned, I had my car tuned, I had m...