“I am having experience” or “I have experience”?
Say “I have three years of experience”. When have means own or possess, English uses the simple form, not the -ing form. The same goes for know, like, want and understand.
I am having three years experience in Java.
I have three years of experience in Java.
Why Indian speakers say it
The Hindi present tense is a verb form plus हूँ/है: “मैं उसे जानता हूँ” is, word for word, “I him knowing am”. Mapped onto English, that becomes “I am knowing him”, and in the same way “I am having experience”. But English treats having (owning), knowing and liking as states, not actions in progress, so they stay in the simple form: “I know him”, “I have experience”. Add of too: “three years of experience”.
Three more examples
| Instead of | Say |
|---|---|
| I am knowing Python and SQL. | I know Python and SQL. |
| I am having two brothers. | I have two brothers. |
| She is understanding the problem. | She understands the problem. |
Quick self-check
Answer in your head, then open the answer.
Which sentence is correct for an interview?
- I am having five years of experience in sales.
- I have five years of experience in sales.
- I am have five years experience in sales.
Show answer
b) I have five years of experience in sales. Have (possess) stays simple, and experience needs of.
Which one is correct English?
- I am having lunch with the team.
- I am having a car.
- I am having two children.
Show answer
a) I am having lunch with the team. Having lunch is an action happening now, so -ing is fine. Owning a car or having children is a state: “I have a car”.
Pick the correct sentence.
- I am knowing the manager.
- I know the manager.
- I knowing the manager.
Show answer
b) I know the manager. Know is a state verb: no -ing.
Practise it out loud
Knowing the rule is not the same as saying it right under pressure. In WordSlick you practise sentences like these out loud with AskSlick, the AI tutor, and get corrections explained in Hindi. Mistakes you keep making come back in later sessions until they stop.
Questions
Is “I am having experience” acceptable in India?
It is common in Indian English and most Indian recruiters will understand it. In standard English it is a well-known error, and in international interviews or written applications it stands out. “I have … of experience” is correct everywhere.
When can I say “I am having”?
When have is an action rather than possession: having lunch, having a meeting, having a good time, having trouble with my laptop. If you could replace it with own or possess, use “I have”.