15/12/2022
I’VE = I HAVE
but be careful!
Present simple:
I have got a car. ✅
I’ve got a car. ✅
I have a car. ✅
I’ve a car. ❌
Present perfect:
I have been to Paris. ✅
I’ve been to Paris. ✅
WHY?
You CAN’T shorten “I have” to “I’ve” when “have” is the main (the only) verb, so “I have a car” not “I’ve a car.”
You CAN shorten “I have” to “I’ve” when “have” is the auxiliary verb.
The auxiliary verb = the helping/secondary verb.
In “I’ve been to Paris”, “have” is the auxiliary verb and “been” is the main verb.
(British people use “have got” more than Americans. It looks like the present perfect but it isn’t really. It has a present simple meaning. have got = have)
To make it easier, you CAN use “I’ve” in the present perfect.
You CAN’T use “I’ve” in the present simple (except “I’ve got”).
