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Stacyj asked in Society & CultureLanguages · 1 decade ago

Would you ever say "have him to call" (emphasis on "to")?

Hello there! I know this may seem odd, but I'm looking for folks who use "have ... to" when they speak - for instance, "I'll have him to give you a call" or "I'll have him to clean up his room tonight." If you're reading those examples and they seem fine to you, I'd love to ask a few follow up questions! Specifically:

- Is there a difference in meaning, to you, between things like "have him to call" and "have him call" (without the "to")? If there is, can you describe what that difference is? When might you use "have him TO" as opposed to just "have him"? Finally, if you don't mind, where are you from (no need for specifics, if you're in the US, a state or general region would be great)

Again, I realize this may seem odd - sorry about that - but for a project I'm working on I'm trying to nail down just how this type of construction is used. I'm pestering everyone I can find but thought I'd cast my net over here as well just to see what arises. Thanks to anyone who can help!

Update:

Hey, thanks very much for the response (this seems to be a rather elusive construction I'm trying to track down so every input helps! =) One other thing I was wondering is if you have a sense as to whether "have him to call" would sound more appropriate among friends or family, or in more formal settings - say, a receptionist answering phones for a boss? I've gotten some answers about that from some other folks about that but am still trying to nail down more conclusively just where this type of construction is more likely to be used ... well, regardless thanks very much for your answer!

5 Answers

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  • YoMera
    Lv 4
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    This won't be of much help to you, I think, but the phrase does sound acceptable to me, if not exactly "normal". I would never use this construction myself, but I've obviously heard it used enough for it to sound okay. It feels like more of a Southern style of speech to me. I've spent some time in the South and also read a lot. I'm from the U.S. west coast.

    EDIT: Having done a good deal of linguistics coursework in my graduate degrees and having taught ESL students for several years, hearing people attribute this construction to second language learning bothered me enough to get me to do an online search for more information.

    Typing in "have him to call" produced several examples of people using the form in their own Internet posts, but the only specific reference to the construction in a linguistic context was this one:

    "Also specific to Southern speech is the use of an infinitive verb in conjunction with the word 'have' to produce a sentence akin to 'Shall I have him to call you?'(93)"

    That's enough, though, to make me believe that you are on the right track with this. I honestly believe that it's part of a Southern dialect, and with library research, you should probably be able to find more information on it.

    ...

  • Ava
    Lv 5
    1 decade ago

    I have lived in the South East part .of the states for years now. I hear this quite a bit.Think of the sentence-I will ask him to call- He may call and he may not but I will ask him to. Then you have the sentence I will have him call- He will call because I WILL HAVE HIM CALL.I will have him to call is only a combination of the two.Not necessarily proper but close enough if you don't want to be real picky. Then again, this is just my opinion

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    It sounds like either

    1) learner-language / inter-language based on interference "translation" of native language of a NNS, say a Spanish speaker literally translating the infinitive

    2) archaic speech, 17th thru 19th century English (heard in songs, English or Irish-English, and helps rhythm).

    Jamaican creole may also preserve this type of thing, although "to" would be replaced with "fe": "Have him fe clean up him room"

    I'm from New England.

    Source(s): Just personal experience and brainstorming
  • 1 decade ago

    In English we usually say "have him call" (without the "to"). It sounds like you are learning English as a second language. For instance, in Spanish it would be proper to use the verb "llamar" or literally, "to call". That is very common in Spanish, however, it may be heard said in English, but it is not accepted as proper grammar.

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  • 1 decade ago

    I just wanted to chime in and say I'd never use the "have him to do something" construction. I'd always say it without the "to". I'm from the US, Pacific Northwest.

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