Joanne,
We use "Has he got..." too, but it's considered more informal, and idiomatic. In some places past tense and present perfect are becoming interchangeable, particularly in spoken English. In some uses, it still makes a big difference. (for example, "I've lived here ten years." vs. "I lived here ten years.")
singular or plural
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LarryLatham
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Hi again, Joanne.
Yeah, I think Americans might be comfortable with either construction you propose, but only because of the difference in point-of-view of the speaker at the moment. "Have you had..." is retrospective with reference to the present moment, whereas "Did you have..." merely asks for confirmation of a remote event, as you well know. I'm a little surprised you say a British speaker would not use the second one.
Larry Latham
Yeah, I think Americans might be comfortable with either construction you propose, but only because of the difference in point-of-view of the speaker at the moment. "Have you had..." is retrospective with reference to the present moment, whereas "Did you have..." merely asks for confirmation of a remote event, as you well know. I'm a little surprised you say a British speaker would not use the second one.
Larry Latham