[Grammar] Is have got present perfect?

[Madeline2000]

The construction "I have got a pen" looks like it's present perfect but, is it?
I've googled it and some places say yes and others no, can't seem to find a decent answer.

Thanks

 

[GoesStation]

It's a present perfect form. Its meaning is nearly identical with the present simple I have a pen.

In American English we usually use got as a past participle only when to have got means "to possess"; that is, it could be replaced by to have. In all other cases we use the past participle gotten.

 

[bhaisahab]

In your example it is not. It's (in my opinion) a clumsy way of saying 'I have a pen', the 'got' is completely redundant. However, 'have gotten' (rarely used in BrE but commonly used in American and Irish English) is present perfect, it means that at some point in time you received something.

 

[GoesStation]

In your example it is not. It's (in my opinion) a clumsy way of saying 'I have a pen', the 'got' is completely redundant.

I have a feeling that I've got was adopted as a less clumsy way to say I have. Both phrases take two syllables, but I've got avoids the slightly more difficult production of an aspirated consonant in the middle of a common phrase.

 

[jutfrank]

My advice is that you should not consider it as present perfect. Think of it as identical in use and meaning to I have a pen.

This advice extends more generally to all uses of have got. I mean, considering it as present perfect is not going to help you do anything useful.

 

[Madeline2000]

OK, It was really about the general use of "have got". I gave an example just to make it clear. So, although the form/construction is present perfect..verb have plus past particle, it shouldn't be considered present perfect. Thank you I like that.:up:

 

[GoesStation]

I'd add 'normally' to that sentence. There are times when it really is the present perfect of GET, for example:

It's got very cold in the evenings recently.
Arsenal have got through to the semi-finals for the first time in six years.
[STRIKE]I've got George on the door this evening, so we should be free from gate-crashers.[/STRIKE] [Not a past perfect sense.]
I got my results in the post yesterday. Have you got yours yet?

We Americans distinguish all of those from the possessive have got by using the past participle gotten.​ But Arsenal is singular to us, so we may not be good role models.

 

[bhaisahab]

The same is true in Ireland, and, I believe, in England into the 17th century.