Search from various 영어 teachers...
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?
2014년 4월 9일 오전 10:36
답변 · 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.
2014년 4월 9일
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.
2014년 4월 9일
1
Bunch:
English is a flexible language. It is correct as written.
2014년 4월 9일
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...
2014년 4월 9일
아직도 답을 찾지 못하셨나요?
질문을 남겨보세요. 원어민이 도움을 줄 수 있을 거예요!
