http://www.englishforums.com/search/pro.htm?q=tag%3aBritish+English+tag%3aSample+tag%3aVerbsSearch results for 'tag:British English tag:Sample tag:Verbs' matching tags 'British English', 'Sample', and 'Verbs'en-USCSMOD (Build: 3273.32735)http://www.englishforums.com/English/HadHeADogVsDidHeHaveADog/2/vbrvm/Post.htm#339077Wed, 14 Mar 2007 08:05:18 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:339077califjimIn that case they have earned the title of distinguished by imitating British usage I am well aware that the sample sentence is not a question and what the meaning is and though my concentration often lapses I don t believe it has done so on this particular occasion Modern American English distinguished writers aside rarely uses main verb have as an operator as in Have you any brothers Had you a problem in finishing the work Had he a second brain it would be lonely He hasn t to leave until 8 o clock These are rendered in AmE as Do you have Did you have If he had He doesn t have to respectively Otherwise they seem like nearly deliberate imitations of British English Auxiliary have is an operator in AmE however and the following structure is not uncommon Had you seen that dog you would never have forgotten it CJ