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Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

that didn't have
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

Table of contents

Usage summary

Human-verified examples

Expert writing tips

Linguistic context

Ludwig's wrap-up

Alternative expressions

FAQs

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

— that didn't have its own section.

News & Media

The New York Times

Would he sign a bill that didn't have one?

News & Media

The New Yorker

There are some headstones that didn't have anything on it.

News & Media

The New York Times

We played clubs that didn't have any security.

News & Media

The Guardian - Music

But those that didn't have conquered the world.

News & Media

The New York Times - Books

He's come from a family that didn't have much money.

News & Media

The Guardian - Sport

There was no place in the room that didn't have people in it.

Academia

Stanford University

The reason being that's the only one that didn't have a full octet yet.

Academia

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

"I've never seen a company that didn't have talent trapped somewhere in its ecosystem," Green said.

Academia

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

"I wanted evergreen content that didn't have to be updated constantly in order to hunt traffic.

News & Media

The New York Times

"We were forced to write narratives that didn't have a lot of edits.

News & Media

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure that the noun preceding 'that' is the actual subject of the lack to maintain clear reference.

Common error

Do not use the past participle 'had' after the auxiliary 'did'. Writing "that didn't had" is a common grammatical error; always use the base form 'have' as in "that didn't have".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

90%

Authority and reliability

4.9/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

This phrase functions as a defining relative clause used to modify a preceding noun. It utilizes the relative pronoun 'that' followed by the negative past auxiliary 'did not' (contracted to 'didn't') and the base verb 'have'. According to Ludwig AI examples, it is a primary tool for distinguishing specific items within a group based on a missing attribute.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Academia

25%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

Wiki

Reference

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "that didn't have" is an essential component of English descriptive grammar. Ludwig AI provides numerous examples demonstrating its versatility across journalism, sports and scientific research. Whether used to describe a "wicket that didn't have a lot of spin" or a "family that didn't have much money", the phrase remains a reliable and grammatically correct way to identify nouns by their missing characteristics. Remember to always keep the base form 'have' after 'didn't' to maintain standard grammatical rules.

More alternative expressions(10)

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that had no

Uses a positive verb with a negative quantifier for a more direct tone

which did not have

Uses a more formal relative pronoun suitable for non-restrictive clauses

that lacked

Uses a single, stronger verb instead of a negative auxiliary construction

lacking

Uses a present participle to create a more concise descriptive phrase

without

Replaces the entire clause with a simple preposition

that was missing

Focuses on the state of absence rather than the possession

that was devoid of

A more emphatic and formal way to describe a total lack of something

that was not equipped with

Specifically refers to physical features or tools

that went without

Implies a narrative where the subject had to manage without the item

that was unprovided with

A more archaic or formal bureaucratic expression

FAQs

How to use "that didn't have" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a noun in the past, such as "I bought a car "that didn't have" a radio" or "They lived in a house "that didn't have" electricity".

What can I say instead of "that didn't have"?

Depending on your context, you could use ""that lacked"", "that had no", or simply "without".

Which is correct, "that didn't have" or "that didn't had"?

The only correct form is "that didn't have". The auxiliary verb 'did' already indicates the past tense, so the following verb must be in the base form.

What's the difference between "that didn't have" and "which didn't have"?

In American English, "that didn't have" is used for restrictive clauses (essential information), while "which didn't have" is often preferred for non-restrictive clauses (extra information) and is usually preceded by a comma.

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Table of contents

Usage summary

Human-verified examples

Expert writing tips

Linguistic context

Ludwig's wrap-up

Alternative expressions

FAQs

Source & Trust

90%

Authority and reliability

4.9/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences:

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that didn't haveGrammar usage guide and real-world examples

that didn't have
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples