Check this sentence for me

Status
Not open for further replies.

sdpegasus

Member
Joined
Jul 26, 2013
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Hindi
Home Country
India
Current Location
India
Why have you to soil our merriment?

Is this structure correct?

To my ears, it ring incorrect. I think 'why do you have to spoil our merriment?' is the correct.


Thanking you in anticipation.
 

Rover_KE

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jun 20, 2010
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
England
Why have you to spoil our merriment?

Is this structure correct? No.

To my ears, it rings incorrectly. I think 'Why do you have to spoil our merriment?' is [STRIKE]the[/STRIKE] correct.


[STRIKE]Thanking you in anticipation.[/STRIKE] Unnecessary. Just click the Like button when you get a useful answer.

Your bossy thread title needs work. A better title would have been Why have you to spoil our merriment?

Extract from the Posting Guidelines:

'Thread titles should include all or part of the word/phrase being discussed.'

 

tzfujimino

Key Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2007
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
Japanese
Home Country
Japan
Current Location
Japan
Hello.:-D
Please allow me to ask a question here.

1. I haven't got a clue.
2. I don't have a clue.
3. I haven't a clue.

4. Have you got a clue?
5. Do you have a clue?
6. Have you a clue?

I'm sure all of those examples above are grammatically correct.
I've used 1, 2, 4 and 5, but I've never used 3 and 6. (Atually I've never taught my students the interesting constructions that are used in 3 and 6.)
Do you (=native speakers) often use 3 and 6? I imagine there might be regional differences.

Thank you.
 

5jj

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 14, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
Czech Republic
Current Location
Czech Republic
1. I haven't got a clue.
2. I don't have a clue.
3. I haven't a clue.
All three are natural in BrE.
4. Have you got a clue?
5. Do you have a clue?
6. Have you a clue?
All three are grammatically correct, but none is very natural in BrE. We tend to ask:
Have you got any idea?
Do you have any idea?
Have you any idea?
 

MikeNewYork

VIP Member
Joined
Nov 13, 2002
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
Hello.:-D
Please allow me to ask a question here.

1. I haven't got a clue.
2. I don't have a clue.
3. I haven't a clue.

4. Have you got a clue?
5. Do you have a clue?
6. Have you a clue?

I'm sure all of those examples above are grammatically correct.
I've used 1, 2, 4 and 5, but I've never used 3 and 6. (Atually I've never taught my students the interesting constructions that are used in 3 and 6.)
Do you (=native speakers) often use 3 and 6? I imagine there might be regional differences.

Thank you.

You will likely hear the last three in AmE only in a sarcastic sense.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top