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If "you are" can be shortened to "you're", can "you have" be shortened to "you've"? Is it acceptable? If yes, what are the situations where it can be used?

Parvathi
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1 Answers1

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Yes, I suppose you can shorten you have to you've. The possible situations are as follows:

  1. You've been to that place.
  2. You've got to go there.
  3. You've got a car.
  4. You've a car.
  5. You've to go there.
Tom
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    Actually, in many literary works "You've to go there" would be perfectly acceptable. – Hot Licks Mar 28 '15 at 12:38
  • And when transcribing dialog "You've a car?" would not be at all unusual. – Hot Licks Mar 28 '15 at 12:39
  • I would distinguish between "formal writing" and "formal speaking" when talking about this issue. For example, many formal writing styles call for reduced or eliminated contractions. But in formal speaking contexts, there's no special reason to avoid contractions. "I am very pleased to meet you, Dr. Smith. I have read nearly all of your research papers." does not sound any more formal than "I'm very pleased to meet you... I've read nearly all of your research". – Brandin Mar 28 '15 at 12:43
  • The reason you may not replace "You have a car" with "You've a car" has to do with what words you're emphasizing. If you emphasize have then the contraction doesn't make any sense (There's no way to emphasize "'ve"). On the other hand, if you're asking "You've a car??" then it would make sense when you hear it. – Brandin Mar 28 '15 at 12:46
  • Thank you for correction Hot Licks and Brandin. I am still learing. – Tom Mar 28 '15 at 13:00
  • I came up with another situation: ''do you've a pen?'' I am not sure about this. – Tom Mar 29 '15 at 02:34
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    If "have" is used as a helping verb, it can be contracted. However, if it is the main verb, it should not. https://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verbs-classification-helping.htm – Mike Mar 29 '15 at 04:02
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    "You've a car" and "do you've a pen" are only grammatical in British English, but not in (Standard) American English. In American English, have cannot be contracted when it's the main verb. – RegDwigнt May 20 '15 at 10:10