Got / has got/ has gotten - US & UK

[Barb_D]

Hi everyone,

I know that the have/got/gotten works differently on the two sides of the pond. However, I have a mental block when it comes to understanding the UK forms.

I thought if I asked here for native British speakers to tell me what they would say for the following, I might finally get it straight. (I'm sorry learners, but I really do want to hear from native speakers on what they would naturally say.)

She's got some nerve!
Oh no! I've got a stain on my new shirt.
Uh... you've got a little smudge of something on your cheek... there, yeah, you got it.
Uh... you have a little smudge of something on your cheek... there, yeah, you got it.

Look! Seems like Mary's gotten herself a new boyfriend.
I haven't got all day.

This little quartet:
I haven't got a clue!
I don't have clue!
Brian doesn't have a clue that Mary is cheating on him.
Brian hasn't got a clue that Mary is cheating on him.

Asking what time it is:
Excuse me, do you have the time?
Excuse me, have you got the time?

Asking if they have the capacity to do something:
Have you go the time to do this project for me today?
Do you have the time to do this this project for me today?

I haven't gotten the hang of this yet.

Thanks very much. I'm looking forward to reading these responses!

[Excalibur]

She's got some nerve!
Oh no! I've got a stain on my new shirt.
Uh... you've got a little smudge of something on your cheek... there, yeah, you you've got it.
Uh... you have a little smudge [STRIKE]of[? (perhaps)/STRIKE] or something on your cheek... there, yeah, you you've got it.

or
Uh... you have a little smudge of something on your cheek... there, yeah, you you've got it.

One of the times when Brit. Eng. would use 'got' instead of 'gotten'.
I haven't got all day.
Look! Seems like Mary's gotten got herself a new boyfriend.
(Definitely, in the colloquial context, 'got' not 'gotten'.

I haven't got a clue!
I don't have clue!
Brian doesn't have a clue that Mary is cheating on him.
Brian hasn't got a clue that Mary is cheating on him.

I haven't got a clue! - the speaker of this sentence is feeling/expressing some 'distance' from what the other has said. Perhaps sceptical about what is to come.
I don't have clue! - more spontaneous, more eager to hear the gossip!.
Brian doesn't have a clue that Mary is cheating on him. - note of disdain for 'poor old Brian'.
Brian hasn't got a clue that Mary is cheating on him. - some sympathy for Brian!

(Of course, because we are British, there are times when we would use the 'sympathetic' form but the context/tone of voice/shared history of experience of Brian would indicate condemnation of the idiot. Possibly, the use of the 'disdain' form can be said in a sympathetic tone...but the message is clear!)

Excuse me, do you have the time?
Excuse me, have you got the time?


The first sentence is 'genteel English' - it merely enquires whether they have the time, and then TOTALLY leaves it up to them to share that information with you.
The second rendering is more abrupt, rough and ready - I need the time.
Which is used depends on the person! THIS person would only ever use the first phrasing.

The same applies to:
Have you go the time to do this project for me today?
Do you have the time to do this this project for me today?

As for:
I haven't gotten the hang of this yet.

This has to be colloquial. Otherwise, in semi-formal/formal, it would be ,"I'm not quite sure.../I don't quite understand..."

As such, it would be, I haven't got the bloody hang of this yet!

[bhaisahab]

Originally Posted by Barb_D

Hi everyone,

I know that the have/got/gotten works differently on the two sides of the pond. However, I have a mental block when it comes to understanding the UK forms.

I thought if I asked here for native British speakers to tell me what they would say for the following, I might finally get it straight. (I'm sorry learners, but I really do want to hear from native speakers on what they would naturally say.)

She's got some nerve!
Oh no! I've got a stain on my new shirt.
Uh... you've got a little smudge of something on your cheek... there, yeah, you got it.
Uh... you have a little smudge of something on your cheek... there, yeah, you got it.

Look! Seems like Mary's gotten herself a new boyfriend.
I haven't got all day.

This little quartet:
I haven't got a clue!
I don't have clue!
Brian doesn't have a clue that Mary is cheating on him.
Brian hasn't got a clue that Mary is cheating on him.

Asking what time it is:
Excuse me, do you have the time?
Excuse me, have you got the time?

Asking if they have the capacity to do something:
Have you go the time to do this project for me today?
Do you have the time to do this this project for me today?

I haven't gotten the hang of this yet.

Thanks very much. I'm looking forward to reading these responses!

She's got some nerve! I would say "She has some nerve".
Oh no! I've got a stain on my new shirt. "I have a stain on my new shirt".
Uh... you've got a little smudge of something on your cheek... there, yeah, you got it.
Uh... you have a little smudge of something on your cheek... there, yes, that's it. I would say this.
Look! Seems like Mary's gotten herself a new boyfriend. "...has a new boyfriend.
I haven't got all day. or "I don't have all day" depending on how irritated I was.

This little quartet:
I haven't got a clue! "I haven't a clue".
I don't have clue!
Brian doesn't have a clue that Mary is cheating on him. "...hasn't a clue".
Brian hasn't got a clue that Mary is cheating on him.

Asking what time it is:
Excuse me, do you have the time? This one for me.
Excuse me, have you got the time?

Asking if they have the capacity to do something:
Have you go the time to do this project for me today?
Do you have the time to do this this project for me today? This one for me.

I haven't gotten the hang of this yet. "I haven't got..."