Is gotten a formal word


Asked by: Brenden Nolan I

Score: 5/5
(11 votes)

Here are a few examples of how an American speaker would use gotten in a sentence: I’ve gotten better at singing since I started taking lessons. Movie tickets have gotten so expensive! Once you’ve gotten the computer working, would you try to fix the TV?

Is have gotten correct grammar?

Have got and have gotten are different in British and American English. In American English, these two forms have separate meanings, while in British English, have gotten is not used at all.

Is gotten an English word?

One noteworthy word is gotten: standard in the US but not in the UK. In both countries, the past tense of get is got. In British English, the past participle is also got. But in American English, it’s more complex.

What is the difference between GOT and gotten?

Get is the present tense form of the verb. Got is the past tense form as well as one of the two alternatives for the past participle. The other alternative for the past participle is gotten, which is generally preferred in the United States.

Has gotten to me meaning?

(spoken) used to say that somebody has suddenly started to behave in a strange or different way: What’s got into Alex? He never used to worry like that. See also: Link to this page: <a href=»https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/what+has+gotten+into+me»>What's got(ten) into (someone)?</a>

39 related questions found

Has anyone got or gotten?

People in the United States and Canada use gotten for the past participle of got in most cases. People in English-speaking countries outside of the United States and Canada usually use got.

Is it I have got or gotten?

5 Answers. In general, «have got» is the present perfect form of «to get» in UK English, while «have gotten» is the US English version. However, even in US English, «have got» is used in certain instances, namely to mean present tense have (in the sense of possession, or to mean must):

Is haven’t gotten proper English?

If you want to say about you not getting sleep or if you haven’t slept. Also remember that: gotten is the standard past participle for American English. While got is the past participle used commonly in British English.

Why do we use gotten?

This verb form will follow “have,” “has,” or “had” in a sentence. And American English uses both “got” and “gotten” as past participles: We use “got” when referring to a state of owning or possessing something. We use “gotten” when referring to a process of “getting” something.

Can be got or gotten?

Trick to Remember the Difference

Got is your only option for a simple past tense form of get. As a past participle, however, there is a slight difference in American English usage. Gotten is used when talking about the acquisition of something. Got is used when talking the state of ownership of something.

Is I ve gotten proper English?

«I’ve got it» is not the simple past, it is the present perfect. The verb «get» has two possible past participle forms: «got» and «gotten». The second form, «gotten» is common in US English. The first form «got» is used in both the USA and Britain.

What is gotten short for?

verb. a past participle of get.

Is gotten a formal word?

According to what I was taught as school, the past tense of ‘get’ is ‘got’ and ‘gotten’ is «an American corruption and, therefore, is not a proper word».

Have gotten used to meaning?

«Have gotten used to-» means the action of being habituated with has still result in present i.e. it happened in the near past. «Got used to»- means to become used to in past. So it means the action of habituated with happened a long time ago to make it past.

Has or had meaning?

Has‘ is the third person singular present tense of ‘have’ while ‘had’ is the third person singular past tense and past participle of ‘have. … Both are transitive verbs, but ‘has’ is used in sentences that talk about the present while ‘had’ is used in sentences that talk about the past.

Is Have you gotten home correct?

«Have you got home?» could be correct usage of the present perfect, but there’s nothing in the sentence to indicate it is correct. Even «Are you home yet?» is possible.

Did you get or have you got?

“Get” is the present tense form of the verb and “got” is the past tense form, but the tenses are often used interchangeably. In informal speech, people often question each other with “Do you get it?” or just “Get it?” to check for comprehension.

When did gotten become a word?

“Just seeing the word is enough to set the hair of some British English speakers on end. Yet, despite the many claims that it is an Americanism, it is most definitely of British origin and the Oxford English Dictionary traces its first use to the 4th century.

Is haven’t had grammatically correct?

«Have had» (and it’s negative ‘haven’t had’) are used when the ‘having’ continued from some time in the past until now — the ‘time view-point’ is NOW. «I haven’t had my breakfast today.» — Between the beginning of today and NOW, I have not had a breakfast.

How do you use haven’t got?

You can’t use “haven’t got” for past possession. Use the past form of the verb “have”: “had“. Last year I had a lot more time. (Not “Last year I had got a lot more time.”)

What is worse got or gotten worse?

They are very similar, «it got worse» is what you would use to talk more solidly about a past event. «it has gotten worse» can only be used to talk about something still on-going. «Yesterday the weather was bad and it got worse.» — the events are all contained to yesterday.

What is the meaning of I’ve got?

mainly US informal. used to tell someone that you can or will deal with something: It’s OK, I got this. Go back to what you were doing.

Have got or had got?

Yes, it is. The past tense is «had got,» and it is okay to use when the context calls for it.

Whats gotten into you meaning?

«What’s got into you?» is normally addressed to a person who is behaving out of character, i.e. differently from their usual personalities. It is an exclamation of surprise at the unexpected behaviour, and can also communicate worry, dismay, annoyance, etc.

Table of Contents

  1. Is haven’t gotten proper English?
  2. Is gotten informal?
  3. Is got a slang word?
  4. Is gotten a Scrabble word?
  5. Is gotten incorrect?
  6. What does GoT mean in texting?
  7. What is the full form of got?
  8. Have got it meaning?
  9. What you got for me meaning?
  10. What does got stand for in finance?
  11. What is Bau in banking?
  12. What is a CoE in business?
  13. DO stands for in business?
  14. What is accounts in simple words?
  15. What does AMD stand for?
  16. Who is AMD owned by?
  17. What does 3 in texting mean?

It has nothing whatsoever to do with avoiding the participle. But if you use “get” at all, the ordinary participle (except in the construction “have got” when used to mean “now possess”) is gotten, as it has always been. Nobody despises it, and it is no more or less formal than the word “get” itself.

Is haven’t gotten proper English?

Both are correct in their place. Only “got” works in British English, whereas “gotten” would be usual in American English.

Is gotten informal?

Get is the present tense form of the verb. In informal contexts, many speakers use have got, ‘ve got, or simply got to mean “have” or “must.” You should avoid this usage of the verb get in your writing; instead, use have or must. …

Is got a slang word?

Many listeners, including Sigrid, have been wondering if the phrase “have got” is acceptable English. Well, you have got to check out our previous episode on that topic. It’ll tell you that the answer is yes, you can use this expression, though it is considered informal.

Is gotten a Scrabble word?

Yes, gotten is in the scrabble dictionary.

Is gotten incorrect?

Yes, ‘gotten‘ is grammatically correct. It is a variant of to get – gotgot. Alternatively, to get – gotgotten can be used. In other words, it is the past participle of to get.

What does GoT mean in texting?

Give Or Take

What is the full form of got?

Definition. GOT. Game of Thrones (TV show) GOT.

Have got it meaning?

From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English I’ve got itused to say you have suddenly thought of the solution to a problem or that you suddenly understand a situation → have. Exercises. Exercises.

What you got for me meaning?

You got me‘ Can mean a number of things. It can be as you are playing a game, whether physical or a board game, and your opponent gets a score, going against something you did perhaps. It can also mean you do not know when a person asks you a question.

What does got stand for in finance?

***** GOT. Guaranteed on Time.

What is Bau in banking?

BAU Banking Abbreviation. 1. BAU. Business As Usual. Texting, Slang, Business.

What is a CoE in business?

A Center of Excellence (CoE) is a body in an organization that works across business units (BUs) or product lines within a BU and has a leading-edge knowledge and competency in that area.

DO stands for in business?

Director of Operations

What is accounts in simple words?

Accounting is the process of recording financial transactions pertaining to a business. … The financial statements used in accounting are a concise summary of financial transactions over an accounting period, summarizing a company’s operations, financial position and cash flows.

What does AMD stand for?

AMD Advanced Micro Devices Business » Companies & Firms — and more…
AMD Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. Business » NYSE Symbols
AMD Age-related Macular Degeneration Medical » Physiology — and more…
AMD Acid Mine Drainage Academic & Science » Geology
AMD Ahmedabad, India Regional » Airport Codes

Who is AMD owned by?

Jerry Sanders

What does 3 in texting mean?

:3 is an emoticon which represents a “Coy Smile.” The emoticon :3 is used to indicate a coy smile. :3. represents the cat face made by Anime characters when they say something cute. I know all about icons.

Main Get Got Gotten Takeaways:

  • Get, got and gotten are all correct but they are not interchangeable.
  • Get is the present tense of this verb (infinitive: to get).
  • Got is the past tense of this verb. It’s also the first of two correct options for the get past participle.
  • Gotten is a word. In fact, its the second of the two past participles of get.
  • In American English, the word gotten is no more or less formal than the word getor got. Instead, it really comes down to your personal style and desired tone.

Get, got, gotten — which is it? Have you gotten better at grammar, or have you got better at grammar — or are both got and gotten acceptable? Let’s look at the difference between these three words as well as example sentences for each.

Three men labeled as get, got and gotten. Get says I'm present tense. Got says I'm both past and past participle. Gotten says I'm an alternative past participle.

Get, got, and gotten are all correct but they are not interchangeable.

Is it Correct to say Gotten?

Yes, it is correct to say gotten. In fact, gotten and got are both get past participles, but they mean slightly different things. For example, gotten means “I acquired,” whereas got means “I have.” Moreover, got is also the past tense of the verb to get. Another difference between these words is regional preference. North American English speakers tend to use gotten while British English speakers prefer the word got instead.

📝 The verb to get means “to receive” or “to come to have something.”

Which is Correct: Got or Gotten?

Both got and gotten are past participles of the word get.” Meaning, they are both correct when used in that form. However, gotten is more common in American English, while got is popularly used in British and Australian English.

It’s a different story though if we’re talking about the simple past tense of the verb get. For this, regardless of the context, it will always be “got.

What is Another Word for Gotten?

Another word for gotten is acquired. What’s more, synonyms for any form of get (including the past participle gotten) include acquire, obtain, receive, purchase, buy, earn, come in to, gain, collect, and come by. In fact, you can use any of those similar words in place of get, got or gotten in a sentence.

Get, Got, and Gotten Example Sentences

Here are examples of how to use get in a sentence:

Here are examples of how to use got in a sentence:

Here are examples of how to use gotten in a sentence:

[Correct]The Joint Chiefs of Staff felt they had gotten clear orders from the President.[/correct]

💡📝 Get Got Gotten Cheat Sheet

Get: present tense of the verb to get

Got:

  • Past tense of the verb to get
  • 1/2 correct options of the past participle of the verb to get (preferred in UK English)

Gotten: 2/2 correct options of the past participle of the verb to get (preferred in US English)

Has Got or Gotten?

Has got and has gotten are interchangeable. But people in the United States use the word gotten more often than the word got. Both gotten and got are past-tense versions of get. I got means “I have,” whereas I have gotten means I acquired.British English speakers are more likely to use the phrase has got to indicate “have in my/their possession.” Let’s see a few examples in action:

☝️ The word gotten is just as old as the word got. As a matter of fact, both gotten and got originate in Middle English.

Gotten is a past participle of the verb to get. It refers to the process of getting something.

Gotten is a word. In fact, its the second of the two past participles of get. In American English, the word gotten is no more or less formal than the word get or got. Instead, it really comes down to your personal style and desired tone.

“Could Have Gotten” Meaning?

The phrase “could have gotten” means that there was an opportunity to get something in the past, but it slipped away or wasn’t taken advantage of (e.g.,I could have gotten a perfect grade on the test if I had just studied a bit more). The phrases “could have,” “should have,” and “would have” are the three past tense modals. As such, they show what might have happened but did not actually occur. Therefore, “could get” and “could have gotten” function similarly to “get” and “have gotten.”

📝How to use the Three Past Modals:

Subject + could/should/would + have + Past Participle Verb

Is Gotten Formal?

In American English, the word gotten is no more or less formal than any other form of get. Originally a Middle English word, gotten is still used in both academic and informal writing in Canada and in the US. In the UK, Australia and New Zealand, writers use the word got rather than gotten in both formal and informal writing.

It’s important to note that got has a common colloquial use that isn’t grammatically correct. For instance, you may hear someone use the word got as a synonym for has. While you might say this in a casual conversation, you should avoid it (and never write it) in more formal or professional settings.

Is Gotten an Americanism?

Many assume that gotten is an Americanism because Americans use the word more than other English-speaking people. That isn’t true. In fact, both gotten and got date back to as early as 4th century Middle English. Therefore, gotten has been around just as long as got — and some people even consider it an antiquated form of got.

A young boy looking confused in front of his laptop. Behind him are his parents. Her mom wearing the tag "got" and his dad wearing the tag "gottent."

Has got and has gotten are interchangeable. But people in the United States use the word gotten more often than the word got. Both gotten and got are past-tense versions of get.

Get Got Gotten in Review

On one hand, get is present tense, whilegot and gotten are both past participles of get. Surprisingly, gotten isn’t an Americanism — it’s actually just as old as the word got.

Have you got (or gotten!) the get/got/gotten difference down?

Get, Got, Gotten? Do you Know Which one to use? Take the Quiz Below!

Get, Got, Gotten Question #1

Correct!
Wrong!

The answer is FALSE. “Gotten” and “got” are both past participles of “get.” However, they mean slightly different things.

Get or Gotten Question #2

A. Got

B. Gotten

C. Any of the above.

Correct!
Wrong!

The answer is B. North American English speakers tend to use gotten while British English speakers prefer got.

Got vs. Gotten Question #3

Correct!
Wrong!

The answer is FALSE. Both words originate in Middle English.

Get, Got, Gotten Question #4

A. Get

B. Got

C. Gotten

D. Any of the above.

Correct!
Wrong!

The answer is B. In this sentence, “got” serves as the past tense of the verb “to get.”

Get, Got, Gotten Question #5

A. Get

B. Got

C. Gotten

D. Any of the above

Correct!
Wrong!

The answer is C. The phrase “could have gotten” suggests that an opportunity to get something in the past slipped away.

Got Question #6

Correct!
Wrong!

The answer is FALSE. Avoid using “got” as a synonym for “has” in formal or professional settings.

Get, Got, Gotten Quiz Result

Expert!

Expert!

Not bad!

Not bad!

Almost got it! Review the article and try again.

Almost got it! Review the article and try again.

Read More: Alot Or A Lot Or Allot? Here’s The Easiest Way To Get It Right

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle


  • #1

Hi everybody,

As a non-native speaker and an academician writing in American English I’m given to use «got» as «past participle» of «get» indiscriminately. Because I believe the usage of «gotten» has been criticized in the United States and it could also be potentially confusing because in colloquial North American English they use both «have got» and «have gotten», but in completely different senses.

Merriam Webster acknowledges «got» as the first alternative for «p.p» of «get» and so do Random House and Oxford’s American English dictionaries.

I know the olden days are gone and it’s not like 19th century or early 20th century when they despised «gotten» in the States, in actual fact it’s gaining favor among American scholars more and more.

But I want to settle this once forever, is it better, considering formal writing in its strictest sense, to use «got» as «p.p.» of «get» in all instances (of course when writing in formal American English)?

By the way do you think it would be comprehensible to average American mind to read «I realize that things have got better» instead of «I realize that things have gotten better»?

Regards

A. C. D.

  • JustKate


    • #2

    An actual sentence would be helpful, Sir Arthur. But yes, gotten is perfectly acceptable in AmE under any circumstances. As for «I realize things have got better,» yes, that’s comprehensible and in fact is how many people would say say it. I would consider it an error, though, acceptable only in very informal speech.

    Sir Arthur Conan Doyle


    • #3

    An actual sentence would be helpful, Sir Arthur. But yes, gotten is perfectly acceptable in AmE under any circumstances. As for «I realize things have got better,» yes, that’s comprehensible and in fact is how many people would say say it. I would consider it an error, though, acceptable only in very informal speech.

    Thank you JustKate. As far as I am concerned in formal American English they used to criticize «gotten», specially in scholarly writings. But ever since Jespersen, sometime in 1930s I believe, things, among American academicians, changed and «gotten» gained some favor.

    This seemingly has led to many erudite North American writers to avoid «get» as much as possible so that they would not have to be worried about disputations over it versus «got».

    But now I read your write «have got», in the context I provided, is acceptable only in a very informal speech.

    While it is in stark contrast with Merriam-Webster, Random House or Oxford’s American English dictionaries. I believe Collin’s CoBuild English Usage and Betty Azar’s Grammar also point out to «got» as actually being «formal» American English.

    I have almost perused every single material on the subject from Jespersen to Schultz (2012) but neither of them I may find to help settle the issue in a conclusive manner. So I am fully aware that it’s tricky to explain.

    I need to know that scientific editors and professional commentators do agree with the lexicographers of the forenamed dictionaries or they are on the same page as you are in regard to using «got» in all instances instead of «gotten»?

    • #4

    This seemingly has led to many erudite North American writers to avoid «get» as much as possible so that they would not have to be worried about disputations over it versus «got».

    No, «get» is avoided bacause it is often vague and because it is considered a less formal synonym for «receive» or «become» (depending on the circumstances). It has nothing whatsoever to do with avoiding the participle.

    But if you use «get» at all, the ordinary participle (except in the construction «have got» when used to mean «now possess») is gotten, as it has always been. Nobody despises it, and it is no more or less formal than the word «get» itself. It’s true that at some point the British stopped saying «gotten» and started saying «got» in its place, but that doesn’t matter to us.

    • #5

    Glen’s thoughts paralleled mine but I was surprised to see the NGrams. Obviously with multiple meanings, it’s a crude tool and only reflects printed rather than spoken, but one can restrict it to «have got(ten)» followed by adjectives or adverbs. The use of «gotten» is very rare in BE, as expected, but shows a rise around 1900 and a spurt since 1970 in AE. Not sure what to make of this — or how to improve the search strings to improve the relevance but here they are:)
    AE
    BE

    Sir Arthur Conan Doyle


    • #6

    No, «get» is avoided bacause it is often vague and because it is considered a less formal synonym for «receive» or «become» (depending on the circumstances). It has nothing whatsoever to do with avoiding the participle.

    But if you use «get» at all, the ordinary participle (except in the construction «have got» when used to mean «now possess») is gotten, as it has always been. Nobody despises it, and it is no more or less formal than the word «get» itself. It’s true that at some point the British stopped saying «gotten» and started saying «got» in its place, but that doesn’t matter to us.

    Thanks for your reply Glenfarclas. From what I have read here and elsewhere, in accompaniment to the reason you pointed out, one of the main contributors to its avoidance has been the issue between «got» and «gotten».

    It was criticized, sometimes strongly, during 19th and early 20th centuries among American intelligentsia. I may refer you in this regard to the following letter that appeared in New York Times on October 11, 1902:

    «I am glad to join in the protest of your correspondent …. against the reintroduction into American speech and literature of the word «gotten». […] I have never observed that any Southern word except «gotten» traveled northward after the civil war ended. For myself I wish it had never migrated, regarding it as a step backward, not forward, in the simplification and invigoration of our common tongue. Even the sweet voices of Virgina women cannot quite justify it.» (words of Thomas W. Higginson, from New Hampshire, emphatically emboldened and italicized by me).

    But besides digression into these historical details, I need to know why is there such a disagreement between the aforementioned references and the laypeople in respect with «got» being a formal American English alternative?

    • #7

    It depends on whether you are using «got/gotten» as a real past participle, or as part of the expression «have got» = «have».

    It has never gotten / got this cold before. (real past participle)
    You’ve got no business doing that. = You have no business doing that.

    Added:
    What big teeth you have / you’ve got, Grandma!

    Last edited: Dec 12, 2016

    Sir Arthur Conan Doyle


    • #8

    Glen’s thoughts paralleled mine but I was surprised to see the NGrams. Obviously with multiple meanings, it’s a crude tool and only reflects printed rather than spoken, but one can restrict it to «have got(ten)» followed by adjectives or adverbs. The use of «gotten» is very rare in BE, as expected, but shows a rise around 1900 and a spurt since 1970 in AE. Not sure what to make of this — or how to improve the search strings to improve the relevance but here they are:)
    AE
    BE

    Thank you indeed for the NGrams, JulianStuart. They are rather telltale of shifting grounds between «got» and «gotten» in American English writings during 1970s and 1980s.

    Since the rash of «gotten» is a few decades old it makes sense why Merriam Webster, Oxford’s American Dictionary, Betty Azar and the like affirm that «got» is an alternative in formal American English.

    But I want to know does it still resonant with American academicians?

    Sir Arthur Conan Doyle


    • #9

    It depends on whether you are using «got/gotten» as a real past participle, or as part of the expression «have got» = «have».

    It has never gotten / got this cold before. (real past participle)
    You’ve got no business doing that. = You have no business doing that.

    Thank you for your reply Hildy1. Your indication corroborates the view of the aforementioned lexicography and grammar authorities in respect with «got» alternatively serving as a past participle of «get» in formal American English.

    So I may safely keep on using it in my scholarly materials written in American English?

    • #10

    So I may safely keep on using it in my scholarly materials written in American English?

    I would think either form of the past participle is acceptable in American English, though some people prefer one or the other. In general, for scholarly writing it’s best to follow the preference of the particular journal or editor, in this as in other cases (such as use of the Oxford comma).

    Sir Arthur Conan Doyle


    • #11

    I would think either form of the past participle is acceptable in American English, though some people prefer one or the other. In general, for scholarly writing it’s best to follow the preference of the particular journal or editor, in this as in other cases (such as use of the Oxford comma).

    I believe my mind is settled at last. Thank you indeed Hildy1.

    RM1(SS)


    • #12

    Thank you indeed for the NGrams, JulianStuart. They are rather telltale of shifting grounds between «got» and «gotten» in American English writings during 1970s and 1980s.

    Since the rash of «gotten» is a few decades old it makes sense why Merriam Webster, Oxford’s American Dictionary, Betty Azar and the like affirm that «got» is an alternative in formal American English.

    I went to grade school in the ’60s. We were taught that the only correct past participle of to get is gotten, and that have got is incorrect no matter how it’s used — the only correct forms are have gotten (have acquired/received) and have (possess).

    This thread is the first I’ve ever heard that the use of gotten was not approved of.

    Cagey

    post mod (English Only / Latin)


    • #13

    I agree with RM1(SS) and with JustKate and the others, who also seem to agree with each other. I have some familiarity with academic writing.

    Sir Arthur Conan Doyle


    • #14

    I went to grade school in the ’60s. We were taught that the only correct past participle of to get is gotten, and that have got is incorrect no matter how it’s used — the only correct forms are have gotten (have acquired/received) and have (possess).

    This thread is the first I’ve ever heard that the use of gotten was not approved of.

    I agree with RM1(SS) and with JustKate and the others, who also seem to agree with each other. I have some familiarity with academic writing.

    RM1(SS) and Cagey, thanks for sharing your ideas on this still extrinsically unsettled issue. I presume we are all well-versed with the substantial disagreement, during the past decades and somehow in the present time, between the American intelligentsia as respects the preferable past participle of «get», namely «got» or «gotten».

    But as for «gotten» superseding «got» in all cases, including its possessive usage is something I should assert that is totally news. Because even the most avid supporters of «gotten» find it incorrect to substitute «have got» in stative possession or a compulsory one (actually most of them recommend using «have» or «must» in the aforesaid situations, based on the conjecture that «got» in «have got» is rather a recent colloquial insertion to enhance «have»-a hypothesis refuted by Schultz 2012 in accordance to hard materials indicating historical occurrences of «haue got» and «hath got»).

    RM1(SS), to my knowledge, throughout Merriam-Webster, Collins, Oxford, Longman and other dictionaries and reference grammars, no American English authority agrees with what your pedagogues had been teaching back in the 60s.

    And Cagey since you expressed your relative familiarity with the academic writings I may ask you how would you agree with «gotten» being the «only» p.p. of «get», hence with no such an alternative as «got», while it is in the teeth of the views affirmed by the most eminent lexicographers and grammarians of contemporary American English?

    In fact, save the unequivocally rejected usage of «gotten» in possessive and compulsory senses, the bulk of the users over the Internet seem to agree with «gotten» being the only acceptable p.p. of «get», from an American English perspective. They are extremely surprised when presented by the fact that «got» is actually an alternative, sometimes cited even before «gotten»-as is the case with Merriam-Webster, for the p.p. of «get» in formal American English.

    When I could not settle the issue via English language blogs and forums, I decided to try WRF based on my previous experience with it in 2008. So I basically expected much less discordance between what I read here and what American English authorities offer.

    After «Twitter Revolution», where your verbiage is measured by characters-essentially meaningless, rather than by words, the more you read over Internet, be it on Hollywood Reporter, the Atlantic or God forbid on Twitter, the more you realize how ironically Neil Postman’s prognostication is being fulfilled in regard with «The End of Education».

    RM1(SS)


    • #15

    I presume we are all well-versed with the substantial disagreement, during the past decades and somehow in the present time, between the American intelligentsia as respects the preferable past participle of «get», namely «got» or «gotten».

    I repeat: This is the first time I’ve ever heard of such a thing.

    Sir Arthur Conan Doyle


    • #16

    I repeat: This is the first time I’ve ever heard of such a thing.

    «There is no end to education. It is not that you read a book, pass an examination, and finish with education. The whole of life, from the moment you are born to the moment you die, is a process of learning.»

    Jiddu Krishnamurti

    bennymix


    • #17

    Sir ACD,
    You might also want to look at the senses involved; I believe there are AE/BE differences. I don’t have a handy link, but two main senses are ‘obtain’ and ‘become’. My guess is the American are OK with,
    «She’d gotten ill» but less so with «She’d gotten a prize.

    Sir Arthur Conan Doyle


    • #18

    Sir ACD,
    You might also want to look at the senses involved; I believe there are AE/BE differences. I don’t have a handy link, but two main senses are ‘obtain’ and ‘become’. My guess is the American are OK with,
    «She’d gotten ill» but less so with «She’d gotten a prize.

    Thanks for your comment bennymix. Indeed what you pointed out is what makes using «gotten» in American English a little bit tricky: from the viewpoint of American English lexicographers and grammarians «gotten», as an alternative along with «got» for p.p. of «get», cannot be used in possessive or compulsory senses (while those senses are unanimously reserved for «got» and usually recommended to be supplanted by «have» or «must»-however colloquially speaking Americans seem to prefer using «have got (to)» in those cases).

    Word Choice: Got vs. Gotten

    Both “got” and “gotten” are common terms in North America, but other English dialects do not use “gotten” at all. So why is this? And what is the exact difference between “got” and “gotten”? Check out our guide below to find out how to avoid errors when using these terms.

    Present and Simple Past Tenses of “Get”

    The present tense verb “get” has several meanings, including:

    • Come to have or receive something (e.g., I hope we get a good reception)
    • Attain, achieve, or obtain something (e.g., I get a newspaper every day)
    • Reach a condition or state (e.g., He will get fat if he eats the whole cake)

    The simple past tense of this verb is always “got,” regardless of the context:

    We got a great reception from the crowd.

    I got the newspaper this morning.

    He got fat when he ate all the cake.

    This applies in all English dialects. So, if you are using the simple present or past tense in your writing, the only terms you will need are “get” and “got.”

    Past Participles: “Got” and “Gotten” in American English

    We use past participles to form the present and past perfect tenses, which both show that an action has been completed. This verb form will follow “have,” “has,” or “had” in a sentence. And American English uses both “got” and “gotten” as past participles:

    • We use “got” when referring to a state of owning or possessing something.
    • We use “gotten” when referring to a process of “getting” something.

    For example, if we were describing the process of “getting better” at something, we would use the past participle “gotten” in the perfect tenses:

    She had gotten better in the last year.

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    But if we were describing possessing enough time for something, we would use “got.” For example:

    I have got enough time for a coffee before I go out.

    The same usage applies in Canadian English. However, the term “gotten” is much rarer outside North America.

    Past Participles in Other English Dialects

    In other English dialects, the correct past participle form of “get” is always “got.” For instance, if we were to rewrite the examples above for a British audience, we would say:

    She had got better in the last year.

    I have got enough time for a cup of tea.

    Notice that both sentences use “got” as a past participle. As such, if you’re writing for a non-American audience, you will not need the word “gotten.” In fact, the only time this term is used in dialects such as British and Australian English is in old-fashioned terms like “ill-gotten.”

    Summary: Got or Gotten?

    In American English, “got” and “gotten” can both be past participles of the verb “get.” The correct term depends on what you are describing:

    • Use got when referring to a state of possessing something.
    • Use gotten when referring to a process of “getting” something.

    However, “gotten” is extremely rare outside North American (especially in formal writing). As such, you should always use “got” when you’re writing for a non-American audience. And if you want to be certain your writing is the best it can be, don’t forget to have it proofread.

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