When to use "Have" and when to use "Do"?

Question

Here's an example:

I will go with E as this is the only choice that doesn't have as many ambiguities as the other choices have.

Or

I will go with E as this is the only choice that doesn't have as many ambiguities as the other choices do.


How do you know when to use "Do" and when to use "Have".

Another example:

X has more money than I have.

Or

X has more money than I do.

Which option is better and why?

gmatmba · Answer

I would say using do ... I think I read it in mgmat sc, but cant remember. Lets see what others have to say.

mrmikec · Answer

I forgot why but I believe do is the preferred answer. The explanation is in the OG, the question about the discounted wine. I'm on the road so I don't have access to the OG. Can someone post the explanation?

alfa_beta01 · Answer

There's no "hard and fast rule". In some cases 'Have' is preferred whereas 'Do' is preferred occasionally.

The explanation wasn't provided but I do remember a couple of examples :-

1. "She has more money than I have" is preferred to "She has more money than I do".

2. Similarly, "She scores more touchdowns than I do" is preferable to "She scores more touchdowns than I have".

I don't recall the exact examples but I definitely remember seeing an example where "have" was preferred to "do" and vice-versa. Unfortunately, the explanation was missing.

alfa_beta01 · Answer

OK, ignore my earlier post post. Here's the original text I found on a website :-

In SAE, we generally use do to replace "regular" verbs, i.e., verbs that are not linking verbs, verbs that use modals, etc.

For example:
Megumi speaks Japanese better than I do.

But you already knew that, I'm sure.

Look at the following examples for something (perhaps) new:
Megumi has visited more countries than I have.

We can use have again because have is an auxiliary verb here.
Megumi has more skirts than I do.

Here, has is NOT an auxiliary verb, and in SAE, we cannot use the verb have in the second bit.


Thus, the choice of "have" and "do" depends on has being an auxillary verb. Can someone provide a detailed explanation for the same?

alfa_beta01 · Answer

I think I get it now...

1. Use "have" when "has" is auxillary, i.e. acting as a secondary verb with the main verb.

E.g., He  has scored  more runs than I  have .

2. Use "do" when "has" is the main verb or in case "has" is not present in the sentence.

E.g., He  has  more runs than I  do .

Or, He  scores  more runs than I  do .


Can someone confirm my understanding, or can someone provide a more detailed, and a better explanation for the same.

VerbalBot · Answer

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When to use "Have" and when to use "Do"?

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