“we've” vs. “weave”

Use "we've" as the contraction for "we have"; use "weave" for interlacing material into fabric, or figuratively for moving in a winding path or combining elements into a narrative.

The real distinction

"We've" is a contraction for "we have," while "weave" describes interlacing material (or figuratively, moving in a winding path or combining elements into a narrative), and though the pronunciations overlap for many speakers, the apostrophe in "we've" clearly marks it as a contraction, distinguishing it in writing even when spoken quickly. Try expanding the word to "we have" — if the sentence still reads naturally, it's "we've" ("we've finished the project," meaning "we have finished the project"); if the word describes creating fabric, moving through a winding path, or combining story elements, it's "weave" ("she wove a beautiful tapestry," "he weaved through the crowd"). Note that "weave" has two different past-tense forms depending on meaning: "wove" (or "woven") for the literal textile sense, and "weaved" for the sense of moving through a winding path — a subtle but real distinction worth knowing, since "the driver weaved through traffic" uses "weaved," not "wove." It's also worth noting that "we've" can only expand to "we have," a reliable single test for confirming the contraction, while "weave" carries a much richer range of meanings across textile crafts, traffic description, and storytelling structure, none of which involve any sense of possession or completed action.

Examples with “we've”

• We've already booked our flights for the trip.
• We've been friends since elementary school.
• We've never seen a storm quite like that one.
• We've finished nearly all the paperwork for the move.
• We've decided to postpone the trip until next spring.
• We've heard great things about the new restaurant.
• We've saved enough for a down payment on the house.
• We've tried every possible solution to the problem.
• We've spent the whole weekend cleaning out the garage.
• We've learned so much from this experience together.
• We've considered every alternative before settling on this plan.
• We've noticed a clear improvement since the changes began.
• We've decided against the more expensive option after all.
• We've rescheduled the meeting for early next week.

Examples with “weave”

• She learned to weave intricate patterns into her rugs.
• The cyclist weaved skillfully through the busy traffic.
• He wove a fascinating tale from a handful of scattered facts.
• The artisan spent months weaving the elaborate tapestry.
• The novel weaves together several different storylines.
• The runner weaved between defenders on his way to the goal.
• They wove baskets from reeds gathered along the riverbank.
• Her essay weaves personal memory with historical research.
• The loom weaves thread into fabric with remarkable precision.
• He weaved his way carefully through the crowded market stalls.
• The weaver's loom clicked steadily as the pattern took shape.
• The tour guide wove local history into every stop along the route.

Memory trick

Remember that "we've" always carries an apostrophe standing in for the missing letters of "have." "Weave" describes threads crossing over and under one another, or a path winding back and forth, an entirely physical or narrative action with nothing contracted about it. Try reading it as "we have" — if the sentence still makes sense that way, you need the contraction "we've"; if it's really about fabric, winding movement, or storytelling, "weave" is what you're after.