[Grammar] Have vs. Got

Status
Not open for further replies.

coldplay258

Member
Joined
Oct 3, 2012
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Spanish
Home Country
Puerto Rico
Current Location
Puerto Rico
What is the difference between Have and Got? Please, I need some examples.

Thank you.
 
(Not a Teacher)

"Have" and "got" can both be used to denote possession (they often come together, in fact):
"He has a bad case of the flu." --- "He has got a bad case of the flu."
"He has an Audi." --- "He has got an Audi."

You may also hear it in the future tense, though not as often because it sounds a bit more verbose (though it's only one extra syllable):
"He will have enough money to rent an apartment." --- "He will have gotten enough money to rent an apartment."

However, you don't really see "got" used this way in the past tense:
You can say, "He had a drinking problem," but "He had got a drinking problem," is incorrect.

They're also used to convey obligation:
"You have to go to the family reunion." --- "You have got to go the family reunion."

"Get" has additional meanings of "to obtain, retrieve, or receive":
"Martha, would you get the flour out of the pantry, please?"
"She got the utility bill in the mail yesterday."

As well as some other harder to pin down meanings:
"Hey, could you get the lights on your way out?"
"He got a little cantankerous after a few Tequila shots."
"I'm getting hungry."
"They got married under the Eiffel Tower."

I hope this is at least somewhat helpful.
 
Last edited:
Nice examples of differences by SlickVic900. I would add that especially in AmE, for example, rather than, "Have you got change for the vending machine?" you would more likely hear, "Do you have change.....?"
 
Thank you so much!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Ask a Teacher

If you have a question about the English language and would like to ask one of our many English teachers and language experts, please click the button below to let us know:

(Requires Registration)
Back
Top