've

See also: Appendix:Variations of "ve"

English

Alternative forms

-a (slang)

Etymology

Contraction of have.

Pronunciation

(postvocalic) IPA^(key): /v/
(postconsonantal) IPA^(key): /əv/, /ə/
Audio (US): (file)
Homophone: of (postconsonantal 've only, unstressed of only)

Verb

've (clitic)

Have (in its sense marking the perfect or retrospective aspect).
- 2015 November 30, Shane O'Mara, Why Torture Doesn’t Work: The Neuroscience of Interrogation‎^[1], Harvard University Press, →ISBN, page 12:
  Santorum, in a comment regarding Senator John McCain's repudiation of torture, stated, "He doesn't understand how enhanced interrogation works. I mean, you break somebody, and after they've broken they become cooperative" (Summers 2011).
Have (in its other uses).
- 1845 March, “Editor’s Table”, in The Knickerbocker, or New-York Monthly Magazine, volume XXV, New York, N.Y.: […] John Allen, […], page 267, columns 1–2:
  Do n’t tell me you ‘have n’t got time,’ / That other things claim your attention; / There ’s not the least reason or rhyme / In the wisest excuse you can mention: / Do n’t tell me about ‘other fish,’ / Your duty is done when you buy ’em; / And you never will relish the dish, / Unless you ’ve a woman to ‘fry ’em.’
- 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.

Anagrams

E.V., EV, Ev, eV, μeV