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Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

I haven't the foggiest

"I haven't the foggiest" - why do use use the perfect tense in this phrase?

Thanks,
  

Top answer

Thanks, We don't. Perfect tenses require a past participle. There is no past participle in that phrase.

— CalifJim

  • Thanks, We don't.
  • Perfect tenses require a past participle.
  • There is no past participle in that phrase.
  • Therefore, it is not a perfect tense.
  • The phrase contains only the present tense of "have".
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4 Answers
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Anonymous"I haven't the foggiest" - why do use use the perfect tense in this phrase?Thanks,
We don't. Perfect tenses require a past participle. There is no past participle in that phrase. Therefore, it is not a perfect tense. The phrase contains only the present tense of "have".

CJ
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Thanks CJ, but why is it "haven't" and not "don't have"?
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AnonymousThanks CJ, but why is it "haven't" and not "don't have"?
have is the only verb besides be that allows that construction, i.e., an interrogative or negative without do-support.

I don't have a clue. = I haven't a clue.
Did he have any books you wanted to read? = Had he any books you wanted to read?
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