I would like to know the difference between 'I have' and 'I have got'.
***NOT A TEACHER***muthu, good morning. (1) Yes, here in the United States, "I have to go" and "I have got to go" are the same. (2) I have 3 suits.I have got 3 suits. = the same. (3) I have gotTEN 3 suits. = here in the United States, it means that I have obtained 3 suits (perhaps I went to store today and bought them). (4) Some American teachers suggest that their students NOT use "got" in elegant writing. (5) My sources were: Patricia T. O'Conner's popular WOE IS I; Bryan A. Garner's authoritative A DICTIONARY OF MODERN AMERICAN USAGE. Thank you.