this post was submitted on 11 Jan 2026
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[–] 667@lemmy.radio 49 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] Mac@mander.xyz 14 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

"It's" specifically is funny because you can use its alternative version "'tis" in some places that you cant use "it's".

[–] Zorcron@piefed.zip 16 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)
[–] bonenode@piefed.social 9 points 2 weeks ago

Tits what tis.

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[–] Lumidaub@feddit.org 44 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (3 children)

Monty Python: It's.

Let me teach you a thing: "have" can be "'ve" if it is an auxiliary verb. Ta-daah.

I can't help you or your fucky language with "'m" or "'s" or "'re".

[–] bearboiblake@pawb.social 15 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] Lumidaub@feddit.org 34 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

I have an apple - in this sentence, "have" is the main verb.

I have bought an apple - here, "to buy" is the main verb, the main action, while "have" is the auxiliary verb that lets you form the past tense "have bought". The word "auxiliary" means helpful or supportive, an auxiliary verb supports, as it were, the main verb.

[–] slothrop@lemmy.ca 14 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

Except you can most certainly say, "I've an apple."

[–] Lumidaub@feddit.org 14 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

You can, but would you? It sounds old-timey because it's not how modern English works.

[–] slothrop@lemmy.ca 11 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

lol, really?

I've an apple in one hand, and I've an orange in the other.
I've modernity all over me.

[–] Lumidaub@feddit.org 12 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

It seems like this usage has survived in British dialects more than elsewhere, I'll give you that.

[–] sik0fewl@piefed.ca 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] fartographer@lemmy.world 7 points 2 weeks ago

Texas, too. But having a Texan agree on language probably hurts your argument

[–] monotremata@lemmy.ca 8 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I think it might be more common in British English? Like "I've a fiver says he muffs the kick." Or "I've half a mind to go down there myself." (Curiously in American English this latter would probably still have the contraction but add a second auxiliary verb: "I've got half a mind to..." English is such a mess.)

[–] Lumidaub@feddit.org 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Yeah, it's not as uncommon the UK to hear specifically "I've [x]" instead of "I've got [x]". I won't be told though that Brits say "the [x] that I've" ;D

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[–] dream_weasel@sh.itjust.works 4 points 2 weeks ago

In murican that sounds odd.

[–] Clent@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

The contractions we say are more loose than what we write. Couldn't've is my go to example.

[–] TurtleTourParty@midwest.social 2 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Who'd've gone and done a thing like that?

[–] bearboiblake@pawb.social 7 points 2 weeks ago

that makes sense, thank you for the explanation!

[–] MyTurtleSwimsUpsideDown@fedia.io 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

So’ve you thought about this before?

[–] Lumidaub@feddit.org 11 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Unfortunately I've studied English at uni thinking it might've in some capacity become useful by now. Alas, so far I've'd no opportunity to use the nonsense I've learnt other than to shitpost about it. Woe'm'st've'd is me.

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[–] KSPAtlas@sopuli.xyz 3 points 2 weeks ago

I see "'ve" used in the possessive context, it's not super rare but it's not super common

I think it's more common in some places

"I've no idea what you two are doing" is a valid sentence

[–] MaybeNaught@lemmy.world 25 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Afaik, English grammar requires utterances with predicates to have a stressed element in those predicates. Contractions of only a subject and an auxiliary verb - ex: I am > I'm, he has > he's, they will > they'll - eliminate that independent auxiliary as a prosodic segment and violate that grammar.

A - "Who's going to the store?"

B - "I am." [ok] or "I'm going." [ok] (or "I am going."), but not "I'm." [bad, obvs].

[–] slothrop@lemmy.ca 12 points 2 weeks ago

I'm Henry VIII, I'm.

[–] mindbleach@sh.itjust.works 11 points 2 weeks ago
[–] Nooodel@lemmy.world 10 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Some times that rule applies, other times it doesn't.

Shall we find a situation that's in the grey zone?

Yeah, let's!

[–] JargonWagon@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
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[–] LodeMike@lemmy.today 6 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

The contraction literally isn't right. It only works with the adverb version of "have".

[–] bearboiblake@pawb.social 18 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] LodeMike@lemmy.today 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

This one is correct but sounds wrong because we usually say it the other way.

[–] tyler@programming.dev 5 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

Well they’re all “correct”. They just don’t sound right. Like saying “the red, big apple” instead of “the big, red apple”.

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[–] deadbeef79000@lemmy.nz 5 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

You think it do, but it don't.

[–] 18107@aussie.zone 5 points 2 weeks ago

They don't think it be like it is, but it do.

[–] LodeMike@lemmy.today 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

That's wrong. Correct would be "doesn't".

[–] deadbeef79000@lemmy.nz 5 points 2 weeks ago

Gah! Yes, quite rightn't.

[–] AllNewTypeFace@leminal.space 4 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

A contraction is a separate word, with its own accepted usages in the community. For example, “gonna” comes from “going to”, but is not the same, as “I’m gonna the shop, do you want anything?” sounds wrong

[–] JargonWagon@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Yeah, "gonna" needs to be followed by a verb for it to sound right, I think, with the exception of it being used as a response affirming they'll be doing an action.
"You gonna go to the store?"
"I'm gonna, just gettin my shoes on first."

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[–] TachyonTele@piefed.social 4 points 2 weeks ago

That "it's" is evil. It's going to be in my head for a long time

[–] bampop@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago

If I could add another contraction to that list, I'd

[–] Hupf@feddit.org 3 points 2 weeks ago
[–] JTskulk@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

Ever since I was a kid, I've had the dumb thought that if you and your friends are imprisoned, you'd ask the warden to "let's out!"

[–] scutiger@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Some folks will never eat a skunk, but then again some folk'll.

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[–] missingno@fedia.io 2 points 2 weeks ago
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