Recherche parmi différents professeurs en Anglais…
Bunch
What have I to fear?
Here's a quote from The Avengers, 2012 film.
Loki : The Chitauri are coming. Nothing will change that. What have I to fear?
I am not sure "What have I to fear" is correct.
I think it should have written "What do I have to fear?" Why "do" is omitted?
Did he used correct English? or "do" can be often omitted in spoken English?
"What have I to fear" VS "What do I have to fear".
Could you please help me understand?
9 avr. 2014 10:36
Réponses · 6
2
Yes, in normal speech your version is correct.
I don't know about the grammar of your example, but it is an unusual style - sort-of poetic.
9 avril 2014
1
'Have' is usually only an auxiliary verb with a perfect tense.
Ex.
Have you done...?
Do you have a...?
'Have' used to be an auxiliary verb in all situations and it's sometimes still used like that in old-fashioned or poetic speech. I've also been told that it's still commonly used like that in some parts of England.
9 avril 2014
1
Bunch:
English is a flexible language. It is correct as written.
9 avril 2014
Doubt not, for correct it is. :)
It sounds a little poetic because it's a throwback to old Germanic grammar. You'll notice that Loki is the speaker, so it's appropriate that his style of speech sounds like something Shakespeare would have written.
There's more then one English.... many, many more...
9 avril 2014
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Bunch
Compétences linguistiques
Anglais, Coréen
Langue étudiée
Anglais
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