Questions about tenses

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1

Mark and Louise are apartment hunting. There are two different conversations below:
Part 1
Mark: So, how did you like the apartment?
Louise: Well, I liked some things. The kitchen “has” lots of room. I hate small kitchens!

Part 2
Louise: Well that one “had” a huge living room.
Mark: Yeah. But it’s pretty dark. I guess it doesn’t get a lot of light because it’s on the ground floor.

The two sentences: 1) The kitchen HAS lots of room. 2) That one HAD a huge living room.
I don’t know why sometimes they use the present tense, sometimes they use the past tense. The situation sounds like they are discussing the apartments they’ve looked at. They used the present tense because it is a fact? They used the past tense because they are talking about the one they’ve looked at?

In the situations above, can I say: 1) The kitchen had lots of room. 2) That one has a huge living room?

2

You’re asking whether Louise could say:

“Well, I liked some things. The kitchen had lots of room. I hate small kitchens!”

Indeed she could.

and whether she could say:

“Well that one has a huge living room.”

Again, indeed she could.

The difference between the two is very subtle.

By using “has” Louise reveals that she is somewhat in favour of this option. She actually likes the fact that the kitchen has lots of room.

By using “had” Louise reveals that she has dismissed this option in her mind. Perhaps the huge living room was the only thing in its favour, perhaps it was too expensive.

Whatever the reason, at that moment in time, it’s no longer an option that she is considering hence the use of “had”.

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3

Ｗow! I’m impressed. Thanks so much!!

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