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Actually all that has been said does not explain why English prefers to say

  • 1 What colour are his eyes? And not: 2 What colour have his eyes?

I think that the variant 1 was originally

  • Of what colour are his eyes?

In the course of time "of" was dropped as describing the colour of something is a frequent topic. So we actually have a shortened expression.

The drop of "of" is for me the only reason why English says: What colour is her hair? and not: What colour has her hair? as a lot of speakers of other languages would say.

It would be fine if I or others could find something that would back up my theory.

Added: In this question LinkLink we find "Every ball has a different color" and "All balls are of different color.

Actually all that has been said does not explain why English prefers to say

  • 1 What colour are his eyes? And not: 2 What colour have his eyes?

I think that the variant 1 was originally

  • Of what colour are his eyes?

In the course of time "of" was dropped as describing the colour of something is a frequent topic. So we actually have a shortened expression.

The drop of "of" is for me the only reason why English says: What colour is her hair? and not: What colour has her hair? as a lot of speakers of other languages would say.

It would be fine if I or others could find something that would back up my theory.

Added: In this question Link we find "Every ball has a different color" and "All balls are of different color.

Actually all that has been said does not explain why English prefers to say

  • 1 What colour are his eyes? And not: 2 What colour have his eyes?

I think that the variant 1 was originally

  • Of what colour are his eyes?

In the course of time "of" was dropped as describing the colour of something is a frequent topic. So we actually have a shortened expression.

The drop of "of" is for me the only reason why English says: What colour is her hair? and not: What colour has her hair? as a lot of speakers of other languages would say.

It would be fine if I or others could find something that would back up my theory.

Added: In this question Link we find "Every ball has a different color" and "All balls are of different color.

edited body
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rogermue
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Actually all whatthat has been said does not explain why English prefers to say

  • 1 What colour are his eyes? And not: 2 What colour have his eyes?

I think that the variant 1 was originally

  • Of what colour are his eyes?

In the course of time "of" was dropped as describing the colour of something is a frequent topic. So we actually have a shortened expression.

The drop of "of" is for me the only reason why English says: What colour is her hair? and not: What colour has her hair? as a lot of speakers of other languages would say.

It would be fine if I or others could find something that would back up my theory.

Added: In this question Link we find "Every ball has a different color" and "All balls are of different color.

Actually all what has been said does not explain why English prefers to say

  • 1 What colour are his eyes? And not: 2 What colour have his eyes?

I think that the variant 1 was originally

  • Of what colour are his eyes?

In the course of time "of" was dropped as describing the colour of something is a frequent topic. So we actually have a shortened expression.

The drop of "of" is for me the only reason why English says: What colour is her hair? and not: What colour has her hair? as a lot of speakers of other languages would say.

It would be fine if I or others could find something that would back up my theory.

Added: In this question Link we find "Every ball has a different color" and "All balls are of different color.

Actually all that has been said does not explain why English prefers to say

  • 1 What colour are his eyes? And not: 2 What colour have his eyes?

I think that the variant 1 was originally

  • Of what colour are his eyes?

In the course of time "of" was dropped as describing the colour of something is a frequent topic. So we actually have a shortened expression.

The drop of "of" is for me the only reason why English says: What colour is her hair? and not: What colour has her hair? as a lot of speakers of other languages would say.

It would be fine if I or others could find something that would back up my theory.

Added: In this question Link we find "Every ball has a different color" and "All balls are of different color.

added 242 characters in body
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rogermue
  • 8.6k
  • 2
  • 23
  • 24

Actually all what has been said does not explain why English prefers to say

  • 1 What colour are his eyes? And not: 2 What colour have his eyes?

I think that the variant 1 was originally

  • Of what colour are his eyes?

In the course of time "of" was dropped as describing the colour of something is a frequent topic. So we actually have a shortened expression.

The drop of "of" is for me the only reason why English says: What colour is her hair? and not: What colour has her hair? as a lot of speakers of other languages would say.

It would be fine if I or others could find something that would back up my theory.

Added: In this question LinkLink we find "Every ball has a different color" and "All balls are of different colorscolor.

Actually all what has been said does not explain why English prefers to say

  • 1 What colour are his eyes? And not: 2 What colour have his eyes?

I think that the variant 1 was originally

  • Of what colour are his eyes?

In the course of time "of" was dropped as describing the colour of something is a frequent topic. So we actually have a shortened expression.

The drop of "of" is for me the only reason why English says: What colour is her hair? and not: What colour has her hair? as a lot of speakers of other languages would say.

It would be fine if I or others could find something that would back up my theory.

Added: In this question Link we find "Every ball has a different color" and "All balls are of different colors.

Actually all what has been said does not explain why English prefers to say

  • 1 What colour are his eyes? And not: 2 What colour have his eyes?

I think that the variant 1 was originally

  • Of what colour are his eyes?

In the course of time "of" was dropped as describing the colour of something is a frequent topic. So we actually have a shortened expression.

The drop of "of" is for me the only reason why English says: What colour is her hair? and not: What colour has her hair? as a lot of speakers of other languages would say.

It would be fine if I or others could find something that would back up my theory.

Added: In this question Link we find "Every ball has a different color" and "All balls are of different color.

added 242 characters in body
Source Link
rogermue
  • 8.6k
  • 2
  • 23
  • 24
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Source Link
rogermue
  • 8.6k
  • 2
  • 23
  • 24
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