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English Pronunciation Tip of the Day

Tip 14

Category: Weak forms
Author: JAM

Have, has, had

The verb have can be used in a number of different ways:

  1. as an auxiliary verb: I have already done it.
  2. as a main verb: We always have a rest after lunch.
  3. as part of the compound verb have to: I have to leave soon.

In usage 1 the verb may be used in its weak form if it is unstressed:

I have already done it  
/aI h@v "O:lredi "dVn It/

In usages 2 and 3 the verb is not used in a weak form - it is pronounced /h{v/ both when it is stressed and when it is unstressed.

We always have a rest after lunch  
/wi "OlweIz h{v @ "rest A:ft@ "lVntS/
   
I have to leave soon  
/"aI h{v t@ "li:v su:n/

The same applies to other parts of the verb:

  Usage 1 Usage 2 Usage 3
has (unstressed) h@z or @z h{z h{z
has (stressed) h{z h{z h{z
had (unstressed) h@d or @d h{d h{d
had (stressed) h{d h{d h{d

Remember too that the negative forms haven't, hasn't and hadn't do not have weak forms.