I have experience: preposition again, Present Simple/Perfect

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Hi

“Repetition is the mother of learning”… :slight_smile:

Could you validate or correct me?

I have (got) an experience of riding a horse. (= just one time in my life I rode a horse. Up to now. Present perfect.)

I have () experience of riding a horse (= I am experienced in horse riding. It’s my skills/knowledge. Present Simple.)

Right?

2

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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.
.

3

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

4

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, 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?

5

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

6

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!