has and have

Question

when we ask a question DOES SHE HAVE A RED BASKET?, the answer can be YES, SHE HAS A RED BASKET OR NO, SHE DOESN'T HAVE A RED BASKET. Another eg- DOES HE HAVE A PAIR OF BLUE SHOES? The answer can be YES, HE HAS A PAIR OF BLUE SHOES. In the question we used HAVE, then why in the answer we use HAS....

Please help me to resolve this confusion....

Philip · Accepted Answer

The base form of the verb is the starting point (keep in mind that the 3rd person singularl is has.) The base form is always used in conjunction with the negative, and interrogative. The auxiliary verb (do/does/did) shows the person and the tense.

He has blue eyes. > Does he have blue eyes? He doesn't have blue eyes.
They went to the market. > Did they go to the market? They didn't go to the market.

Grammarfreak · Answer

AnonymousDOES SHE HAVE A RED BASKET?, YES, SHE HAS A RED BASKET

In natural English, the underlined is not neccessary or required. You can simply say " Yes she does" to respond to the question which is " Does she ....?" For a negation response, just say " No she doesn't..."

Sometimes, when we answer a question with affirmation, we would say " She does have a red basket (or whatever)".

Odessa Dawn · Answer

PhilipThe base form of the verb is the starting point (keep in mind that the 3rd person plural is has.) The base form is always used in conjunction with the negative, and interrogative. The auxiliary verb (do/does/did) shows the person and the tense.He has blue eyes. > Does he have blue eyes? He doesn't have blue eyes.They went to the market. > Did they go to the market? They didn't go to the market.

I can't understand the underlined point, please.

Philip · Answer

Odessa DawnI can't understand the underlined point, please.

You can't understand it because it's wrong.

It should be 3rd person singular. Thanks for bringing it to my attention! Lest we confuse others new to this thread, I have corrected it in my post.

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousIn the question we used HAVE, then why in the answer we use HAS....

Because we almost always reduce "does have" to "has".

Does she have a red basket?
Yes, she does have a red basket. > Yes, she has a red basket.

But we don't reduce "doesn't have".

No, she doesn't have a red basket.

We almost always reduce "do have" to "have" as well, but not "don't have".

Do they have enough money?
Yes, they do have enough money. > Yes, they have enough money.
No, they don't have enough money.
______________

The same is true of all verbs (with very few exceptions).

Does he like peanuts? / Yes, he does like peanuts. > Yes, he likes peanuts. / No, he doesn't like peanuts.
Do they take the bus? / Yes, they do take the bus. > Yes, they take the bus. / No, they don't take the bus.
Does George agree? / Yes, he does agree. > Yes, he agrees. / No, he doesn't agree.
______________

If you do not make these reductions, it emphasizes what you say. You can use the unreduced form to contradict a negative claim.

— They don't take the bus.
— Yes, they do take the bus!

CJ

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