English grammar is like a box of chocolates: you never know what you'll end up with

[junkeyfish1]

I just stumbled upon a really weird detail in the English language.

Consider the sentence, "It has something in its mouth."

Now, add the word 'does' to that same sentence, with no other structural changes, and the verb 'to have' suddenly conjugates in the plural, "It does have something in its mouth."

Why?? The subject is the same, the direct object

Comments

[vacheestfachee]

It's not a plural. Instead of conjugating "to have," you're conjugating the helping verb "to do." "Have" is just the default form for that verb. Take a look at this:

I do have something in my mouth. / I have something in my mouth.
He does have something in his mouth. / He has something in his mouth.

The first example of each conjugates "do"; the second of each conjugates "have."

That's not the most elegant description in the world - the grammatical terms for each isn't coming immediately to mind. Sorry.

[junkeyfish1]

Ah, I see.

Darn helping verbs ... get me every time. >.