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lsecondarioyesterday at 8:32 PM4 repliesview on HN

Another one I've noticed is using "I've" as a contraction in e.g. "I've a meeting to attend". Seems totally reasonable but for some reason native speakers just don't use it that way.


Replies

rottencupcakesyesterday at 8:37 PM

I’ve is only used when there is a verb to follow and the have is part of the verb’s construction.

As in “I’ve done it” or “I’ve seen it”

It would not be used before a noun, in the context of ownership, as in “I have a meeting”

darrenfyesterday at 10:11 PM

Wait, what? Englishman in my 50s here and I use phrases like that all the time — “I’ll be missing standup cos I’ve a GP appointment”, “leaving at lunchtime as I’ve a train to catch”, “gotta dash, I’ve chores to do”. No one’s ever said I sound German!

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jamiek88today at 12:22 AM

Nah that’s just Americans. Brits and Aussies say it all the time. Not sure about Canadians.