what I gotta do

[layla0302]

Hello, the great teachers who always helps me in English!! I always appreciate your helps


I have a question about the sentence "I just gotta do what I gotta do"

Does this mean

1. I am going to do what I have to do


or


2. I just did what I had to do


"gotta" is confusing me because I am not sure it is a past verb or not..

Thank you!!!

 

[charliedeut]

Hi layla,

"I just gotta do what I gotta do" means "I just have to do what I have to do". Note that "gotta" (got to/have to), "gonna" (going to), "wanna" (want to) and similar contractions are very informal English, if they are not slang, and their use shold be avoided in formal conversation and in writing, unless quoting what somebody else said.

greetings,

charliedeut

 

[charliedeut]

"gotta" is confusing me because I am not sure if/whether it is a past verb or not..

Thank you!!!

No, it isn't. It is a modal.

Greetings,

charliedeut

 

[SoothingDave]

If you wanted to restate the expression, it would be something like "I have to act according to my nature."