"Have you any.... ?" and the like

Question

Hi,I've heard native speakers (Brits) say things like...1. I've a friend.                                  instead of I have a friend. / I've got a friend.2. I haven't time.                                   instead of I don't have time. / I haven't got time.3. Have you any time?                             instead of Do you have any time? / Have you got any time?How informal and substandard are those? Do they sound weird to native speakers outside the UK?To be honest, I've never used the verb "have" in the ways shown in the left column. Thanks in advance.

Inchoateknowledge · Accepted Answer

Hi,

In stative senses have is used in rather formal style as an operator, esp in BrE.

There is also the informal have got which is preferred as an alternative to stative have.

I do not have a friend,

I haven't a friend,

I have not got a friend.

Of these, the first is formal in BrE, the second is informal BrE, the 3rd is Ame, but used in BrE as well.

Marius Hancu · Answer

Pastsimple · Answer

InchoateknowledgeHi,

In stative senses have is used in rather formal style as an operator, esp in BrE.

There is also the informal have got which is preferred as an alternative to stative have.

I do not have a friend,

I haven't a friend,

I have not got a friend.

Of these, the first is formal in BrE, the second is informal BrE, the 3rd is Ame, but used in BrE as well.

Well, I'm quite sure the first is AmE (used in BrE as well) and the third is BrE.

I do agree with your opinion on the second: informal BrE. But how do the Americans feel about it?

BarbaraPA · Answer

I've lost track of the question, between the original post and the replies. You want to know if Americans use... what exactly?

Yankee · Answer

PastsimpleHi,

I've heard native speakers (Brits) say things like...

1. I've a friend. instead of I have a friend. / I've got a friend.
2. I haven't time. instead of I don't have time. / I haven't got time.
3. Have you any time? instead of Do you have any time? / Have you got any time?

How informal and substandard are those? Do they sound weird to native speakers outside the UK?

To be honest, I've never used the verb "have" in the ways shown in the left column.

I'd say these would be the American versions:

1. I have a friend. / I've got a friend. ("standard")
I got a friend. (spoken, informal --> "have" is dropped completely)

2. I don't have time. / I haven't got time. ("standard")
I got no time. (spoken, informal --> "have" is dropped completely)

3. Do you have any time? / Have you got any time? ("standard")
Have any time? Got any time? (spoken, informal)

These would sound odd in the US:
1. I've a friend.
2. I haven't time.
3. Have you any time?

Inchoateknowledge · Answer

Pastsimple
Inchoateknowledge
Hi,

In stative senses have is used in rather formal style as an operator, esp in BrE.

There is also the informal have got which is preferred as an alternative to stative have.

I do not have a friend,

I haven't a friend,

I have not got a friend.

Of these, the first is formal in BrE, the second is informal BrE, the 3rd is Ame, but used in BrE as well.

Well, I'm quite sure the first is AmE (used in BrE as well) and the third is BrE.

I do agree with your opinion on the second: informal BrE. But how do the Americans feel about it?

HI Pastsimple

you are welcome.

BTW, I mixed up the 3rd sentence with the 1st.

Pastsimple · Answer

Yankee
These would sound odd in the US:
1. I've a friend.
2. I haven't time.
3. Have you any time?

Thanks, that's exactly what I wanted to know.

However, I'm quite sure those wouldn't sound (that) odd in the UK. On the other hand, I don't know how informal they are or how often the Brits use them. That's my question for Brits.

Marius Hancu · Answer

Yes, we need feedback from the Brits, here<img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/>

CalifJim · Answer

Yankee's remarks are exactly right, in my AmE opinion.

CJ

Tam Sadek · Answer

Although I'm aware of what many coursebooks and Swan says, being a Brit, personally, I'd say I use them in the following way:

Affirmatives

1. I have a friend (more formal) - well actually I never say this!

2. I've a friend (neutral)

3. I've got a friend (less formal)

Negatives

1. I haven't a friend (more formal) - or this!

2. I don't have a friend (neutral)

3. I haven't got a friend (less formal)

All using contractions rather than the full forms.

For what it's worth

"Have you any.... ?" and the like

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