##  [got, gotten](/writing-tips-plus/got-gotten-)

##  Avertissement

Ce contenu est offert en anglais seulement.

*Got* is the simple past tense of the verb *get*:

- Megan got a bad sunburn yesterday.
- Luc got to work at 8:45 and opened the store at 9:00.

*Got* is also used as the past participle of *get* in both British and North American English:

- We had got most of the work done by the time Hal arrived.

Although *gotten* is now obsolete in Britain, it is correct in North American English as an alternative past participle:

- We had gotten most of the work done by the time Hal arrived.

In informal contexts, *has, have* and *had* are often contracted to *’s*, *’ve*, and *’d* before *got* or *gotten*:

- I’ve got an idea.
- He’d gotten away with his crimes until Ms. Drew caught him.

## Special uses of *got*

*Have got* may be used to express the idea of possessing something:

- Amrita has got (*or* Amrita’s got) a beautiful blue silk sari.
- They have got (*or* They’ve got) a whole hour to wait.

*Have got to* may be used to mean “must” or “have to”:

- I have got (*or* I’ve got) to send a thank-you note to my aunt.
- You have got (*or* You’ve got) to be kidding!

The use of *got* by itself (i.e. without *have*) with a present tense meaning is colloquial and should be avoided in formal writing and speaking:

- **Colloquial**: I got something to tell you.
**Formal**: I have got (*or* I’ve got) something to tell you.
- **Colloquial**: You got to hurry!
**Formal**: You have got (*or* you’ve got) to hurry!

## Special uses of *gotten*

North Americans tend to use the past participle *gotten* instead of *got* to express the idea of *obtaining* (rather than possessing) something. Compare the following sentences:

- Tara has *got* a science degree. (= She has a degree.)
- Tara has *gotten* a science degree. (= She has obtained a degree.)

*Gotten* also tends to be used more often than *got* to mean “become” or “grown”:

- It has gotten very dark; a storm must be brewing.
- Raul has gotten to like vegetables after visiting his vegan uncle.

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