Had he a dog? vs. Did he have a dog?

"Had he a dog?" is an old kind of English that is not used much today, as far as I know.

"Did he have a dog?" is very common. Of the two expressions, it is the one that most people are likely to understand quickly. I recommend that you use it.

Is it possible to write a question like this instead of Did he have a dog when he ..?

Not in American English. I believe it is possible in British English, but I don't know how commonly it would be used.

CJ

I agree with the previous posters. Had he a dog? is grammatically correct but not much used. On my travels in Britain I have noticed that people prefer to say: Had he got a dog?

CB

Cool BreezeI agree with the previous posters. Had he a dog? is grammatically correct but not much used. On my travels in Britain I have noticed that people prefer to say: Had he got a dog?

CB

That must be very regional.

Has (not had) he got a dog? is ok for present tense.

If you want to talk about the past you need 'Did he have a dog?'

Had he a dog is an old and very poetic way of phrasing the question. It would certainly be used in some areas (the Irish, for example, often speak very poetically) and it would be seen in literature, children's rhymes and so on, but most English speakers would consider it a little too poetic for daily use.

<"Had he a dog?" is an old kind of English that is not used much today, as far as I know. >

But it can be used in conditional structures:

"Had he a dog, he would feed it on sirloin."

"Had he a dog, he would feed it on sirloin."

But with have the main verb (i.e., not an auxiliary), it can't be American usage, of course.

CJ

CalifJim

"Had he a dog, he would feed it on sirloin."

But with have the main verb (i.e., not an auxiliary), it can't be American usage, of course.

CJ

Hi Jim

With respect, I think there has been a lapse in your concentration. To my knowledge, the above structure is widely used by distinguished Americ

In that case, they have earned the title of distinguished by imitating British usage.

I am well aware that the sample sentence is not a question and what the meaning is, and though my concentration often lapses, I don't believe it has done so on this particular occasion.