've
See also: Appendix:Variations of "ve"
English
Alternative forms
Etymology
Contraction of have.
Pronunciation
- (postvocalic) IPA(key): /v/
- (postconsonantal) IPA(key): /əv/
- Homophone: of (postconsonantal 've only, unstressed of only)
Verb
've
- Have in its sense marking the perfect or retrospective tense.
- (dialectal) Have in its other uses.
- 1996, Deirdre Purcell, Roses After Rain, page 335:
- "...Where's the ladies' in this joint? I've to powder me nose."
-
Usage notes
In many dialects, -'ve is only used to mark the perfect aspect ("I've done something" = "I have done something"), not to signify possession ("I have something"), necessity ("I have to do something"), etc. In others, -'ve is used more broadly; this is sometimes proscribed.
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