kirei.rain

[analog whale]

Please be patient

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[opaque shore]

Both mean "I had", but "j'avais" is imparfait and has a nuance of time

[wooden wigeon]

The first one is conjugated in passé composé and the second one is conjugated in imparfait.
To learn more about their differences: https://www.lawlessfrench.com/grammar/passe-compose-vs-imparfait/

[opaque shore]

so "j'avais" means you had it for quite some time from the point of reference

[wooden wigeon]

If you've got any questions after reading the article, feel free.

[opaque shore]

"j'ai eu" means you had it but it bears a meaning that you had it more briefly