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English 1b3 Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Deletion of auxilaries

Is it common do delete the auxiliary do with negated verbs in interrogative and declarative sentences? Is it a Bre/Ame difference or perhaps an archaic usage?

"...yet for all your subtleties, you have not wisdom (you don't have wisdom)



"Have you a cigarette I can have?"



"Have you know self-control?"

Are there any rules I need to know about when using this inversion + deletion?

Thanks
  

Top answer

The first one is somewhere between old fashioned and archaic, and also has a negative version. The other two are quite common, but perhaps a bit formal. ( know = no ) In sitfan's fish thread, CJ opined that the third type worked best in the abstract.

— Avangi

  • The first one is somewhere between old fashioned and archaic, and also has a negative version.
  • The other two are quite common, but perhaps a bit formal.
  • ( know = no ) In sitfan's fish thread, CJ opined that the third type worked best in the abstract.
  • I'm not sure about the past tense.
  • " seems okay.
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1 Answers
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The first one is somewhere between old fashioned and archaic, and also has a negative version.

The other two are quite common, but perhaps a bit formal. (know = no)

In sitfan's fish thread, CJ opined that the third type worked best in the abstract.

I'm not sure about the past tense.

I wouldn't use, "Had you a flat tire?"

But "Had you no jack?"
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