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Anonymous Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
Question on using "have" and "has" in questions
Hi, I am confused about the gramatical rules of using "have" and "has" in questions. Please look at these examples:
1) How many books does she have?
2) How many cars do they have?
3) Does she have any money?
4) Do they have any money?
In questions (1) and (2), whether the pronoun is "she" or "they", "have" is used in the sentences. Compared to the following questions:
5) Has she any idea what to do?
6) Have they any money to spend?
In questions (5), "has" is used with "she". In question (6), "have" is used with "they"
Can someone kindly explain why there is a difference in the usage of "have" and "has" in the questions above? Which grammatical rules apply?
Thank you very much.....Mike
1) How many books does she have?
2) How many cars do they have?
3) Does she have any money?
4) Do they have any money?
In questions (1) and (2), whether the pronoun is "she" or "they", "have" is used in the sentences. Compared to the following questions:
5) Has she any idea what to do?
6) Have they any money to spend?
In questions (5), "has" is used with "she". In question (6), "have" is used with "they"
Can someone kindly explain why there is a difference in the usage of "have" and "has" in the questions above? Which grammatical rules apply?
Thank you very much.....Mike
Top answer
In sentences 1, 2, 3 and 4 have is an infinitive without to, in other words a so-called plain or bare infinitive. The plain infinitive is used because of the auxiliary do, does or did: Does he speak Chinese? Do they know it?
- In sentences 1, 2, 3 and 4 have is an infinitive without to, in other words a so-called plain or bare infinitive.
- The plain infinitive is used because of the auxiliary do, does or did: Does he speak Chinese?
- Do they know it?
- Did he have money?
- In sentences 5 and 6 has and have are used grammatically differently, without the auxiliary do.
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1 Answers
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In sentences 1, 2, 3 and 4 have is an infinitive without to, in other words a so-called plain or bare infinitive. The plain infinitive is used because of the auxiliary do, does or did:
Does he speak Chinese?
Do they know it?
Did he have money?
Does he speak Chinese?
Do they know it?
Did he have money?
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