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#2 (permalink) Wed Oct 11, 2006 7:45 am I have experience: preposition again, Present Simple/Perfect |
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. Using experience countably here is not the usual approach, Tamara. It sounds odd to me. I have (had) experience riding a horse is the expected. It seems to require a more forceful enumeration: I have only one experience riding a horse-- and it was an unpleasant one. . _________________ Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's |
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Mister Micawber Language Coach
Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 13015
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#3 (permalink) Wed Oct 11, 2006 8:36 am Experience |
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Hi Tamara,
I would say: I have had the experience of riding a horse or I have experienced riding a horse. That would cover the one off experience.
Your other sentence I would put:
I have (had) experience in riding a horse That covers the idea of knowing about riding horses.
Alan _________________ English as a Second Language You can read my ESL story Present Simple |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 13891 Location: UK
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#4 (permalink) Wed Oct 11, 2006 8:44 am Experience |
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Hi
Thanks a lot, Mister Micawber and Alan.
'I have had' - yes, sorry, that's my fault, I actually intended to write had, not got.
| Alan wrote: |
| I have experienced riding a horse |
Alan, to me (with my Russian background) in riding horse would sound more natural. Will it be an error if I use preposition in with experienced or it's also acceptable?
Also, can I say something like 'numerous experiences' (or how to say that I have had lot's of cases (countably) to become experienced (in) doing something? _________________ It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water… |
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Tamara I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 25 May 2006 Posts: 1577 Location: UK
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#5 (permalink) Wed Oct 11, 2006 9:04 am Experience |
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Hi Tamara,
I think it's important to distinguish between experience meaning acquired knowledge, which is uncountable and experience meaning encounter with (not the best word but I hope you know what I mean), which is countable.
So, you would use experience (uncountable) as in a job application: I have had a lot of experience in the field of public relations.
You would also use experience (countable):
It was a unique experience for me when I first saw the leaning tower of Pisa
Alan _________________ English as a Foreign Language You can read my EFL story Progressive Forms |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 13891 Location: UK
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#6 (permalink) Wed Oct 11, 2006 19:10 pm Experience |
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Yes, Alan, thank you for the explanation. Now I've read several dozens of examples from BNC given for experiences to understand it better.
For example,
I just tried to imagine what it would have felt like, but couldn't draw on any past experiences.
I think, I've got it. Thank you! _________________ It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water… |
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Tamara I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 25 May 2006 Posts: 1577 Location: UK
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| "How are you?" "I am good." | Receptive VERSUS Approachable |