Pronunciation: How to pronounce 'have' when it's an auxiliary

Hi. I'm Tim and this is my Pronunciation workshop. Here I'm gonna show you how English is

really spoken. Come on, let's go inside.

Phew, just made it. A little bit late today. My alarm didn't go off this morning, so, I nearly missed the bus.

Err... Tim, why do you need a bus to get to the shed at the end of your garden?

Well, you know it's a really big garden.

Really?

OK, fine. Look, I'll let you into a little secret. This actually isn't my workshop. I've

been borrowing it from a friend. Anyway, I nearly missed the bus, but I didn't. So, let's

ask some people in London what they would do if their alarms hadn't gone off this morning.

If my alarm hadn't gone off this morning, I'd've missed the bus.

I'd've stayed home. I'd've woken up anyway.

I'd've been late for work. I'd've missed the train.

I'd've stayed in bed.

In an earlier video we saw that the verb 'have' is pronounced /hæf/ when it's used in

its modal form. But this isn't the only way the pronunciation of 'have' can change. Watch

and listen again. Can you hear how they pronounce it differently?

If my alarm hadn't gone off this morning, I'd've missed the bus.

I'd've stayed home. I'd've woken up anyway.

I'd've been late for work. I'd've missed the train.

I'd've stayed in bed.

When the verb have is used as an auxiliary it's often contracted. And when it comes after

a consonant sound it's pronounced /əv/. So, 'I'd have been late' becomes 'I'd've been

late'. Now, this pronunciation is very common in conditional sentences, but it's not the only

time you'll hear it. Here are some more examples.

Your parcel should've been delivered yesterday. I would've done it differently.

We might've made a mistake. The police've arrived.

Right, so you've heard the examples, and now it's your turn. Listen and repeat.

Your parcel should've been delivered yesterday.

I would've done it differently.

We might've made a mistake.

The police've arrived.

Well done. Now remember, if you want to learn more about pronunciation, then please visit

our website, bbclearningenglish.com. And that is about it from the pronunciation workshop

for this week. I'll see you soon. Bye bye! OK, now how does this alarm work?

I guess I should've read the instructions! That was really loud!