I'm a German and our English teacher always told us not to use the German syntax in English. So here are a few examples to illustrate :
"What means this word?" -> correct : "What does that word mean?" "Have we homework" -> correct :" "Do we have homework?"
That's how I've been taught at least.
I was reading the English version of 'Game of Thrones' today and one sentence is :
"What proof have we?"
Is this sentence correct? I assume it is, since it is a published book. However, if I apply that rule I learned, this would be the correct sentence:
"What proof do we have?"
Where lies the difference?