Learn English – I have had the opportunity / I have the opportunity

differencetense

Any difference between the following two sentences:

"I have the opportunity to hold an important conference."

"I have had the opportunity to hold an important conference."

Best Answer

The first sentence is in the simple present; it indicates that you have that opportunity now, which means that you will, if you seize the opportunity, be holding the conference in the future.

The second sentence is in the present perfect; it indicates that the opportunity took place at some point in the past, meaning that the conference also took place in the past.

When using the present perfect, there is a clear grammatical implication that the action spoken of has been completed. The opportunity is not completed until the conference has taken place.