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Thread: a stupid question

  1. #1
    Старший оракул
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    a stupid question

    Could you choose the right variant:

    ----------1--------------------
    a. Have you a pencil
    b. do you have a pencil
    ---------2----------
    a. I havent a pencil
    b. I don't have a pencil


    thx !!!

    (Because I saw both of them on the internet....though the grammar says that always "b" is correct... maybe "a" is kinda slang....)

  2. #2
    Завсегдатай Ramil's Avatar
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    Re: a stupid question

    Quote Originally Posted by Chuvak
    Could you choose the right variant:

    ----------1--------------------
    a. Have you a pencil
    b. do you have a pencil
    ---------2----------
    a. I havent a pencil
    b. I don't have a pencil


    thx !!!

    (Because I saw both of them on the internet....though the grammar says that always "b" is correct... maybe "a" is kinda slang....)
    Когда ты встречаешь по-русски "памагите, самы ми не месные", это не сленг, это простая неграмотность.
    ЗЫ. Помимо англичан в интернете на английском языке пишут индусы, китайцы, корейцы, русские, немцы, итальянцы и многие другие. Среди них бывают люди с довольно посредственным знанием английского языка (как я, например ). Так что не стоит считать, что всё, что ты встречаешь в интернете - есть грамотный английский язык.
    Кстати, с русским у русских же, тоже весьма большие проблемы.

    К ответу на твой вопрос - ответ b в обоих случаях (хотя я тоже не раз слышал альтернативу a для первого вопроса и гораздо реже - для второго).
    Send me a PM if you need me.

  3. #3
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    The first versions are not incorrect. They sound old fashioned though. I can imagine some old pompous Englishman saying something like that.

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    Старший оракул
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    Quote Originally Posted by basurero
    The first versions are not incorrect. They sound old fashioned though. I can imagine some old pompous Englishman saying something like that.
    like me

  5. #5
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    Or Shakespeare.

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    Quote Originally Posted by basurero
    The first versions are not incorrect. They sound old fashioned though. I can imagine some old pompous Englishman saying something like that.
    Seconded. I typically think of Brits saying it -- not so much an age thing, as a nationality thing, but that may just be my own misperception. You'd never hear that in the US afaik.
    Заранее благодарю всех за исправление ошибок в моём русском.

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    id say give me a damn pencil!

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    "Pardon me sir, but have you any Grey Poupon?"

    This line is from an old TV commercial. Grey Poupon is a type of mustard (I may have spelled it wrong). When americans hear things like that they usually picture ancient brits in powdered wigs speaking. I'm not sure if its something a modern british person would say.

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    I haven't a clue about the grammatical definitions of which is right or wrong. But I have never heard the A answers except in old movies.

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    Quote Originally Posted by chaika
    I haven't a clue about the grammatical definitions of which is right or wrong. But I have never heard the A answers except in old movies.
    You haven't the foggiest, eh? Crikey!
    Заранее благодарю всех за исправление ошибок в моём русском.

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    mooreply

    a. Have you a pencil
    b. do you have a pencil
    ---------2----------
    a. I havent a pencil
    b. I don't have a pencil

    well a. needs to be directed at a person for example have you a pencil amongst your person sir , this is an old form but more polite i think for english grammer was first based upon these laws of grammer and becomes a far better language to understand once you realise the old complexities. Otherwise do you have a pencil is correct but depends who you are asking and how you are asking for it gathering by your second statement you are asking someone for a pencil right in which case , do u have a pencil that i may .....enter doing word here eg. borrow , buy , use. for you could be saying Do you have a pencil and if someone says yes then you will need to say may I use it . the first one is correct i think in the old days for my friends are cheeky buggers and they play the fool and if i asked them do u have a pencil they would say yes . Then when I asked if I could use it they would say oh i have a pencil but its at home can you see what im getting at by all this or have i confused you completely. i tend to get carried away.
    its my opinion - but its flexible

  12. #12
    007
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    Re: mooreply

    To mooman

    Sorry about ; I want to ask you about your signature "its my opinion - but its flexible". Shouldn't it be "it's ... - but it's..."?
    Correct my English, please.

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    Re: mooreply

    Quote Originally Posted by 007
    Sorry about ; I want to ask you about your signature "its my opinion - but its flexible". Shouldn't it be "it's ... - but it's..."?
    Of course it should be. It's a very common error though, even for native speakers. Refresher:
    its -- shows possession (e.g: The dog wagged ITS tail)
    it's -- contraction of "it" + the verb "to be" (conjugated here as "is") (IT'S a nice day.)
    Заранее благодарю всех за исправление ошибок в моём русском.

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    lol im a poet normal rules dont apply lol it is is prehaps correct. Otherwise its my opinion lol hahahahaa
    its my opinion - but its flexible

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    simple grammatical mistakes are a poet's worst enemy.
    Hei, rett norsken min og du er død.
    I am a notourriouse misspeller. Be easy on me.
    Пожалуйста! Исправляйте мои глупые ошибки (но оставьте умные)!
    Yo hablo español mejor que tú.
    Trusnse kal'rt eturule sikay!!! ))

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    007
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    Quote Originally Posted by mooman
    lol im a poet normal rules dont apply lol it is is prehaps correct. Otherwise its my opinion lol hahahahaa
    Point taken Don't be surprised then if I will ask you again and again if sholdn't be that or this - I only study English and when you deliberitely make mistakes (because you are a poet ), it confuses me.
    Correct my English, please.

  17. #17
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    His keyborad is just lacking for some keys.
    «И всё, что сейчас происходит внутре — тоже является частью вселенной».

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    the correct statement in all context would be it's my opinion but its flexible
    its my opinion - but its flexible

  19. #19
    Почтенный гражданин Volk's Avatar
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    Just say:

    Formal - Do you have a pencil?
    Informal - You got a pencil?

    Formal - No, I do not have a pencil.
    Informal - No, I haven't got one.

    Or don't even say pencil if it's obvious what the object of the sentence is.



    ...

    I want to start a petition about getting rid of that awful edit line...
    Please correct any Russian language mistakes I make.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Rtyom
    His keyborad is just lacking for some keys.
    Well, that's his problem, right there! He's using a keyborad and not a keyboard! Silly backwards Russians!
    Заранее благодарю всех за исправление ошибок в моём русском.

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