It sounds like you got it all correct. The contraction of "have" is possible when "have" is used as an auxiliary verb ("helping verb") in certain tenses (e.g., present perfect, past perfect), but not when "have" is a main verb or part of a modal phrase like "have to". Just a small note, it could be more common or less common depending on the dialect, but you can say "I've got to get a dog" or "I've got to sleep". Answer from megan9990 on reddit.com
Stack Exchange
ell.stackexchange.com › questions › 347122 › contractions-i-have-been-vs-i-have-a
contractions: "I have been" vs "I have a" - English Language Learners Stack Exchange
January 29, 2024 - It's not idiomatic to contract if you are using "have" in the sense of "to possess".
Reddit
reddit.com › r/grammar › when is it appropraite to use the contraction of "have"?
r/grammar on Reddit: When is it appropraite to use the contraction of "have"?
June 12, 2023 -
My understanding is that it is inappropriate to use the contraction of "have" when "have" is being used as the main verb in a sentence. For example, "I have a dog" cannot be transformed to "I've a dog".
However, in the sentence "I have to sleep" or "I have to get a dog", I believe "sleep" and "get" are, respectively, the main verbs in these sentences yet it still seems inappropraite to use the contraction.
Could someone help clarify what I am missing here? Any help would be most appreciated!
Top answer 1 of 2
10
It sounds like you got it all correct. The contraction of "have" is possible when "have" is used as an auxiliary verb ("helping verb") in certain tenses (e.g., present perfect, past perfect), but not when "have" is a main verb or part of a modal phrase like "have to". Just a small note, it could be more common or less common depending on the dialect, but you can say "I've got to get a dog" or "I've got to sleep".
2 of 2
2
For example, "I have a dog" cannot be transformed to "I've a dog". . But if you have a cat, some could, or do, say "I've a cat. How about you?" Though, in response to "Do you have a cat?", a person could say "Yes, I have", but not "Yes, I've." There's more to this topic, and there might be some old threads about that might have more related info.
Contractions, Braxton Hicks and Tight Tummy - I can't tell which is which!
I'm one day away from my due date and finding that our uteruses (uteri?) do a lot of strange practice exercises. For me, there are 1) BH- tightening that lasts for a few seconds across the surface of my stomach. Feels very hard, then goes away. Uncomfortable. 2) Cramps- feel like period cramps to me, except they seem to last for hours at a time, and are very low, near my pelvis. Achy. Not timetable and no related hardening. My doctor thinks these are practice/helping my cervix dilate & efface. 3) Lightning crotch- sharp, electrical pains in my vagina/cervix. No related uterine activity or hardening. 4) Contractions- have only had a handful of these. Typically they start much higher (towards the top of my bump) and wrap around to my back. Feel much deeper than BH (muscular instead of skin level), more painful, and tight. 5) Hard stomach with no tightening or pain- had a lot of this when he was stretching or dropping lower. More based on baby than my body preparing for labor. More on reddit.com
8
17
September 28, 2014When is it appropraite to use the contraction of "have"?
It sounds like you got it all correct. The contraction of "have" is possible when "have" is used as an auxiliary verb ("helping verb") in certain tenses (e.g., present perfect, past perfect), but not when "have" is a main verb or part of a modal phrase like "have to". Just a small note, it could be more common or less common depending on the dialect, but you can say "I've got to get a dog" or "I've got to sleep". More on reddit.com
7
7
June 12, 2023Why do I never hear people using the contraction I'n or Ic'n (For I can)
Afaik, the only auxiliary verbs that can be contracted in that way are "to do", "to be", and "to have". In the case of "Ic'n", this provides no actual contraction, as it reduces a two syllable phrase to a two syllable phrase (just removing the vowel and replacing it with syllabic "n"). It doesn't really help with improving the flow of a sentence, since [kn] is not a typical syllable in English (that is, it doesn't really follow English phonological rules). As for "I'n", there's no phonological reason I can think of to prevent it, but I would expect it to get easily misheard for "I'm", since both end in nasals. The contractions of this form (I.e. /aiC/) usually end in very distinctive sounds (e.g. "I'm" vs "I'd" vs "I've"). That all said, there's theoretically nothing to stop this from developing, other than the fact that no one has thought to do it before and there's no established guidance on it (so people wouldn't know what it means when first encountering it). More on reddit.com
42
0
April 27, 2024The most common contractions in English (specifically in my American dialect)
Two major ones left out: Don't and doesn't, meaning do not and does not respectively. Edit: 'Twas is a mishmash of it + was, not it + is. That is a typo. More on reddit.com
61
98
January 11, 2024Videos
12:57
What Do Labor Contractions Feel Like? Described by an OB/GYN - YouTube
07:53
What Do Real Labor Contractions Feel Like? - YouTube
01:37
Understanding Braxton Hicks contractions - Mayo Clinic Health System ...
05:35
Learn English Contractions using HAVE | Grammar and Pronunciation ...
10:13
👑 English Grammar: Contractions of HAVE | Improve your English ...
05:30
Learn English Contractions using HAVE | Could've, Would've, ...
March of Dimes
marchofdimes.org › find-support › topics › birth › contractions-and-signs-labor
Contractions and signs of labor | March of Dimes
They’re so strong that you can’t walk or talk during them. They get stronger and closer together over time. You feel pain in your belly and lower back. This pain doesn't go away when you move or change positions.
Elephango
elephango.com › index.cfm › pg › k12learning › lcid › 11877 › Contractions:_Had_and_Have
Contractions: Had and Have Educational Resources K12 Learning, Grammar, English / Language Arts Lesson Plans, Activities, Experiments, Homeschool Help
The contraction in the sentence is what've. This contraction is made up of the words "what" and "have."
Cigna Healthcare
cigna.com › home › knowledge center › wellness library › contractions during pregnancy: what to expect
Contractions During Pregnancy: What to Expect | Cigna
This means about 6 or more contractions in 1 hour, even after you've had a glass of water and are resting. You may have other symptoms, such as menstrual-like cramps or leaking or gushing of fluid from your vagina.
GCFGlobal
edu.gcfglobal.org › en › grammar › contractions › 1
Grammar: Contractions
A contraction is a word made by shortening and combining two words. Words like can't (can + not), don't (do + not), and I've (I + have) are all contractions.
Northwestern Medicine
nm.org › conditions-and-care-areas › womens-health › obgyn › obstetrics › labor-and-delivery › signs-of-labor
Signs of Labor | Northwestern Medicine
You’ll probably feel them throughout your whole uterus. Contractions are regular, about every 5 to 10 minutes, and are getting closer together. You have pink-colored or blood-streaked fluid from your vagina.
NHS inform
nhsinform.scot › home › ready steady baby › labour and birth › labour › contractions
Contractions | Ready Steady Baby!
August 14, 2025 - Contractions are a tightening feeling across your stomach and sometimes into your back and thighs. Each contraction gradually opens (dilates) your cervix and moves your baby down the birth canal to be born.
San Jose State University
sjsu.edu › writingcenter › docs › handouts › Contractions.pdf pdf
Contractions [pdf]
replacing any contractions with the groups of words they represent. 1. I can’t go with you because I’m busy that day. 2. It’s clear that the dog is frightened because he keeps placing his tail between his legs. 3. They’ve been trimming the trees at the park since this morning; I haven’t been able to
OSF HealthCare
osfhealthcare.org › blog › braxton-hicks-vs-contractions-why-am-i-cramping
Braxton Hicks vs. contractions: Why am I cramping?
“The thought is that they’re practice contractions. Your body’s just getting ready to learn how to be in labor, but nobody knows for sure.” ... “Braxton Hicks are usually isolated in one spot,” Dr. Foster said. “Some people say it happens at the bottom of their abdomen. For some it’s at the top. Some people have cramping in their back.
TriHealth
trihealth.com › home › services › women's health services › maternity › labor & delivery experience
Stages of Labor | TriHealth
Mild contractions will begin to occur at 15- to 20-minute intervals and then speed up to be fewer than five minutes apart. At first, they will be very brief and they will increase from about 30 to 50 seconds in duration. You may get a small amount of bloody show, a blood-tinged, mucus-like vaginal discharge. Your water may break in a gush or slow trickle. Lower back pain may increase. By the end of this stage, your cervix will have ...
NHS
nhs.uk › pregnancy › labour-and-birth › signs-that-labour-has-begun
Signs that labour has begun - NHS
Your contractions tend to become longer, stronger and more frequent as your labour progresses. During a contraction, your womb muscles tighten and the pain increases. If you put your hand on your abdomen, you'll feel it getting harder.
Quora
quora.com › Is-it-considered-bad-English-grammar-to-use-contractions-like-Ive-instead-of-have
Is it considered bad English grammar to use contractions like 'I've' instead of 'have'? - Quora
Answer (1 of 3): No, it is not considered bad grammar or style. The “correct” was of choosing between the contraction of the full form of a phrase depends on the rhythm, pacing and emphasis in whatever you are intending to say. The contracted form can only have a strong emphasis on I, whereas ...
HSE.ie
www2.hse.ie › pregnancy-birth › labour › signs-labour › timing-your-contractions
Timing your contractions - when to go to the hospital
When you have a contraction, your womb tightens and then relaxes. For some people, contractions may feel like extreme period pains. As labour gets going, your contractions usually become longer, stronger and more frequent.
Baylor Scott & White Health
bswhealth.com › blog › is-it-real-labor-contractions-or-braxton-hicks
Braxton Hicks vs. real contractions: How to tell them apart
Your due date is close, but you still have a few weeks. Yet you keep feeling this weird sensation in your abdomen, almost like menstrual cramps, and you’re wondering if this could be a sign that you're in labor. Pregnancy is full of new feelings and changes, and one of the most confusing can be contractions...
Tommy's
tommys.org › pregnancy-information › giving-birth › braxton-hicks
Braxton Hicks Contractions | Tommy's
Braxton Hicks contractions are the body’s way of preparing for labour, but if you have them it doesn’t mean your labour has started.
Flo
flo.health › pregnancy › giving birth › labor and delivery › what does a contraction feel like? how to recognize the main sign of labor
Contractions: What they feel like and how to recognize them - Flo
To be honest, it is painful but manageable (I felt I could ‘breathe through it’). The contractions felt like being crushed between two waves. I, for the life of me, cannot remember how they felt in my body. It was truly awesome.” · “For any expecting mama out there worried about labor: I have a very, very low pain tolerance, and I made it through a natural birth.
HealthDirect
healthdirect.gov.au › giving-birth-contractions
Giving birth - contractions | healthdirect
Speak to your doctor or midwife during a prenatal visit about what you should do when you start to feel contractions. If you think you are in labour and have any questions or concerns, you call your midwife or doctor.
Kaiser Permanente
healthy.kaiserpermanente.org › health-wellness › maternity › labor-delivery › when-to-go
Labor: When to Go to the Hospital | Kaiser Permanente
Getting from point A to point B isn’t fun during any stage of labor, so call us before you come so we can help you avoid multiple trips. Counting your contractions can help you figure out when it’s really time to go. You might have Braxton Hicks contractions — also called false labor ...
Medical News Today
medicalnewstoday.com › articles › 322308
Types of labor contractions: What do they feel like?
July 18, 2025 - Prodromal contractions do not contract so much that they thin or dilate the cervix. This is how doctors can usually tell the difference between active labor and prodromal labor. Early labor is the stage during where a person’s cervix begins dilating or enlarging, usually between 0 and 6 centimeters (cm). Full dilation of the cervix is at around 10 cm, which is usually enough for the baby to pass through. People can have ...