Pronunciation insight 10

Pronunciation of have in present perfect

1Play the recording, listen and choose the sentence you hear. Then listen and repeat. Pay attention to the pronunciation of have/haven’t. 

• 1I've never won a competition.I never won a competition.

• 2She's swum 25 metres.She swam 25 metres.

• 3We've had a great day.We had a great day.

• 4Harry's climbed Mount Everest.Harry climbed Mount Everest.

• 5Grandad has enjoyed dancing all his life.Grandad enjoyed dancing all his life.

• 6Mum's broken her mobile phone.Mum broke her mobile phone.

 

Pronunciation of have in present perfect

■ When we use the present perfect we usually use contractions.
I've = /aɪv/ haven't = /hævənt/
He's = /hi:z/ hasn't = /hæzənt/
■ In questions, the weak form is used. In short answers, have and has are strong.
/həv/
Have you seen the new Bond film?
/hæv//hævənt/
Yes, I have. No, I haven't.
■ ever /evə/ and never /nevə/ end with the sound /ə/

2Play the recording and listen to the questions and answers. Underline the weak forms of have. 

• 
  
  
  

3Practise saying the questions and answers in exercise 2. Pay attention to the weak forms. 

4Match questions 1–6 to answers a–f. Then listen and check. 

• 1Have you ever been to the USA?

• 2Has David ever worked abroad?

• 3Have they ever cycled in France?

• 4Has Maria ever visited Canada?

• 5Have you ever seen the Parthenon?

• 6Have we ever met him before?

• aYes, they have. They took their bikes there last June.

  bNo, we haven't. We've never been to Greece.

  cYes, I have. I went to New York last year.

  dNo, we haven't. We've never seen him before.

  eNo, he hasn't. He's never had a job outside this country.

  fYes, she has. She stayed with her friend in Toronto.

5Underline the weak forms of have. Play the recording, listen, check and repeat.