| |
In speech, contractions (especially
unusual ones) are much
more common than they are in written English.
Because of
this,
it is often difficult to understand may have
when it is
spoken
at normal speed in conversational English. Why?
--
Because may have is often contracted to may've
(MAY-uhv) or even to *maya (MAY-uh).
This explains
why you will sometimes see
*"may of" in
writing by
native
speakers. ( It is not appropriate to use *may in
writing,
but it shows the sound of the informal, "relaxed"
pronunciation
of may've and people often write what
they
hear, not conventional forms.)
Examples:
correct written form:
may have |
|
sound of may have in
"relaxed"
speech |
| |
|
|
She may
have been
at the party. |
|
She *may've been
at the party. /
She **maya been
at the party.
|
| |
|
|
| He may
have gone home. |
|
He *may've gone
home. /
He **maya gone
home.
|
| |
|
|
They may
have had
a disagreement. |
|
They *may've had
a disagreement. /
They **maya had
a disagreement.
|
| |
|
|
I may
have met him.
I'm
not sure. |
|
I *may've met him.
I'm not sure. /
I **maya met him,
I'm not sure.
|
| |
|
|
| I may
have made
a mistake. |
|
I *may've made
a mistake. /
I **maya made
a mistake.
|
__________________________________________________
Special
Notes:
| 1. |
* |
may've
This contraction is very common
in spoken
American English, but it is not common
in
written English.
The contraction for have, 've, sounds like "of,"
but it doesn't mean "of."
|
| |
|
|
| 2. |
** |
maya
This form is very common in
spoken American
English, but it is not appropriate for use in
most written
English.
|
|
