[General] He was not

[suniljain]

He didn't arrive till midnight.

He was not arrived till midnight.

I understand the 2nd sentence is incorrect. Am I right? If yes, then please let me know the reason behind it.

 

[allenman]

You are correct that the 2nd sentence is incorrect. "Arrive" is never used in the passive voice -- only the active voice.

 

[Matthew Wai]

please let me know the reason

I think the reason is that 'arrive' is an intransitive verb, but I am not a teacher.

 

[suniljain]

I understand the reason is that:

If we use verb for the negative sentences and it relates to past then we always have to use "did". Am I correct?

 

[Matthew Wai]

I think we can also use the past tenses of 'be' and 'have' depending on tenses, but I am not a teacher.

 

[suniljain]

I think we can also use the past tenses of 'be' and 'have' depending on tenses, but I am not a teacher.

Can you please give an example?

 

[teechar]

Were you at the parade yesterday?
Had they any idea about the program?

 

[emsr2d2]

Whilst "Had they any idea about the program?" is grammatically correct, you are far more likely to hear "Did they have any idea about the program?" (in BrE, at least).

 

[MikeNewYork]

That would be true in AmE also.

 

[Olympian]

**** I am not a teacher ****

The "have you any" part reminded me of the nursery rhyme - "Baa baa black sheep, have you any wool?" ;-)

I don't know if this is correct or not, but I had read somewhere that there is a slight difference between "have you got" and "do you have". If I ask the shopkeeper "have you got Parker pens?" and he says "no", it means he doesn't have them. But it is not clear if he does not have them in stock now or he does not carry that brand for sale. So, if I ask "but do you have them (usually)?" he may answer "yes" or "no".

I am not sure if the following quote is verbatim:
"Even if you do learn to speak correct English, whom are you going to speak it to?" - Clarence Darrow
;-)

 

[MikeNewYork]

Absent the word "usually" I do not see the difference that you mentioned.

 

[Matthew Wai]

negative sentences

I guess the OP was referring to negative sentences instead of questions, but I am not a teacher.

 

[Olympian]

I guess the OP was referring to negative sentences instead of questions, but I am not a teacher.

Matthew Wai, thank you. You are right.

Suniljain, do you wish to say this?

"he hadn't arrived till midnight"

 

[Olympian]

Absent the word "usually" I do not see the difference that you mentioned.

Here is another thread on similar questions (do you have / have you got). In that case, given the ambiguity of "Do you have any children?", it may be clearer to ask "Have you got any children?"

 

[MikeNewYork]

There is no real ambiguity there.

 

[emsr2d2]

I see no difference whatsoever between "Do you have any children?" and "Have you got any children?" (or, indeed, "Have you any children?")

 

[suniljain]

Matthew Wai, thank you. You are right.

Suniljain, do you wish to say this?

"he hadn't arrived till midnight"

Yes, and I want to understand why can't we write: He was not arrived till midnight.

 

[Matthew Wai]

why can't we write: He was not arrived till midnight.

I think the reason was already in post#3, but I am not a teacher.

"he hadn't arrived till midnight"

Would it be better if there was an act in the past, e.g. 'He hadn't arrived till midnight when I was going to leave'?

Matthew Wai, thank you.

You are welcome.