Confusing
Words: Get
(#7)
Another use for get
is in the
idiom has / have
got.
In American English, the
preferred
past participle (third form) for get is
gotten when get is used in
the present or past perfect tenses. It's important
to know this because has got and
have
got look
like present
perfect tense, but these two forms are actually
used
like the simple present tense. Also, they use
got,
not
gotten, and they mean
has
or have.
Examples:
I've gotten
several letters
this week. ( = I've received = present perfect
)
I've
got
several letters. ( = I have = simple
present )
She's gotten
high marks ever
since she started school. ( = She's
received = present perfect )
She's got
high
marks. ( = She has = simple present )
I haven't gotten
your report yet, Theo. When are you going to turn
it in? ( = I haven't received = present perfect )
I haven't got
your report, Theo. You didn't turn it in. ( = I don't
have = simple
present )
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Special Note:
Many people think that
gotten
has an "ugly"
sound and don't
use it in present perfect tense. Instead, they replace it
with other words that have the same
meaning (for example,
received).
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