haven't

See also: havent

English edit

Etymology edit

have +‎ -n't

Pronunciation edit

IPA^(key): /ˈhævn̩t/
Audio (US) (file)
Homophone: Havant

Verb edit

haven't

have not (negative form of have^[1])
- 1694, Titus Maccius Plautus, Plautus's comedies, Amphitryon, Epidicus, and Rudens, Made English: With Critical Remarks Upon Each Play, page 170:
  Sce.: Which I'd grant ye, if ye came at Midnight; but now I haven't the conveniency o' supplying your Wants.'

Usage notes edit

In North America, haven't is almost always used only when followed by got or as an auxiliary. Thus I haven't any money would typically be I don't have any money or occasionally I haven't got any money, but very rarely as I haven't any money, which would be more common in British English. Auxiliary use, as in I haven't seen him, is fully standard in all varieties.

Synonyms edit

hain't, han't (both dialectal, archaic)

References edit

^ Arnold M. Zwicky and Geoffrey K. Pullum, Cliticization vs. Inflection: English n’t, Language 59 (3), 1983, pp. 502-513

[1] Arnold M. Zwicky and Geoffrey K. Pullum, Cliticization vs. Inflection: English n’t, Language 59 (3), 1983, pp. 502-513

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