(Do you have-Have you)the ability to swim well?

[abo.omar]

.............................the ability to swim well?
a- Did you
b-Have you
c-Are you
d- Do you have
I think d is fine. What about b?
What do you think?

 

[emsr2d2]

Both b) and d) result in grammatically correct sentences. Neither of them results in a natural sentence because native speakers would say "Can you swim well?" or "Are you a good swimmer?" No native speaker would open a natural question with "Do you have/Have you the ability to ...?" when "Can you ...?" suffices.

Where did you find this exercise? What grammar/vocabulary point was it trying to test?

 

[jutfrank]

I'd question whether b is right. It's unnatural for the vast majority of speakers, I think.

 

[emsr2d2]

It's certainly old-fashioned for many of us. However, even on this forum, where I would ask "Do you have a question for us?", some of my esteemed colleagues ask "Have you a question for us?"

 

[5jj]

some of my esteemed colleagues ask "Have you a question for us?"

Guilty as charged.

It's not impossible that I might come out with a 'Has he the ability to ...?'

 

[Tarheel]

@abo.omar
Try:

Are you a good swimmer?

(I would say (and have said) "Do you have any questions?" )

 

[emsr2d2]

Try:

Are you a good swimmer?

As I suggested in post #2.

 

[abo.omar]

Do you have the ability to fly ?​

May I use this form to show

Both b) and d) result in grammatically correct sentences. Neither of them results in a natural sentence because native speakers would say "Can you swim well?" or "Are you a good swimmer?" No native speaker would open a natural question with "Do you have/Have you the ability to ...?" when "Can you ...?" suffices.

Where did you find this exercise? What grammar/vocabulary point was it trying to test?

It is a question made by a non native speaker in a monthly test in Egypt.

 

[tedmc]

"Do you have the ability..." is a roundabout way of asking "can you...".

 

[Tarheel]

As I suggested in post #2.

I'm getting old and forgetful.

 

[Amigos4]

I'm getting old and forgetful.

You may be getting old and forgetful but you haven’t lost your sense of humor, Tarheel.

 

[5jj]

"Do you have the ability..." is a roundabout way of asking "can you...".

As emsr2d2 suggested in post #2.

 

[emsr2d2]

Are you a good swimmer?

As I suggested in post #2.

"Do you have the ability..." is a roundabout way of asking "can you...".

As emsr2d2 suggested in post #2.

Sometimes I think my responses are invisible!

Just a reminder to all users: please make sure you read all previous responses immediately before writing your own. We end up with threads that are far longer than they need to be simply due to repetition.