Have Got vs Have Gotten? What is the Difference?

Grammar / By

“Have got” and “have gotten” both sound kind of funny when you say them out loud, but they are actually both correct depending on where you are located. The main difference between these two phrases is where they are used in the world.

“Have got” is used in British English while “have gotten” is used in American English. You will also see “have got” used in American English, but it isn’t as common. This means you can use both in American English, but only have got in British English. ”

Have got” and “have gotten” are both the present perfect simple form of the verb “to get”. “Got” and “Gotten” are the past participle of “get”. 

Have Got

This phrase is most commonly used in British English, but you will also see it used sometimes in American English. When followed by a noun, “have got” just means “to have”. When followed by the word to and a verb, have got means “must” or “have to”.

Have Got and a Noun

We have got a lot to get done today.

I’ve heard they have got one dog and two cats.

All I have got to my name right now is five dollars.

Have Got and a Verb

I have got to start saving money for a new car.

The rules have got to change if we want to see improvement.

I have got to leave right now, or I’ll be late.

Have Gotten

This phrase will not be used at all in British English, just American English. Have gotten has three meanings and each is slightly different. Have gotten can mean have obtained something, have become something, or have entered something.

Have Gotten as Have Obtained

I have gotten so many compliments on my new shirt.

With those qualifications, you could have gotten a job anywhere.

You should have gotten that delivery by now.

Have Gotten as Have Become

Things have gotten so much better recently.

I heard you have gotten your life turned around lately.

I keep hearing that people have gotten confused by our rule changes.

Have Gotten as Have Entered

It is possible some chemicals have gotten in the water by mistake.

The two of them have gotten into law school.

I can’t believe you have gotten accepted on a full scholarship.

Have Got vs Have Gotten in American English

Since both of these phrases are correct, it is important to know that there is a difference between them, and you can still use them incorrectly.

Have got refers to something current or in the future. For example, I have got a lot of events coming up this week or I have got so much to do right now.

Have gotten refers to something that has happened in the past or to signal that something has changed. For example, in the past week, I have gotten twelve phone calls about my car warranty or things have gotten much better since last year.

Contractions

It is also possible to combine have with another word to create a contraction. This will still be proper and might even sound better in some cases. Using a contraction makes it possible to say fewer words while still getting your point across.

For example, you can say “I’ve got to get going” instead of “I have got to get going”. I’ve seems to roll off the tongue easier and makes your sentence sound better.

You can also say “they’ve gotten a new house and are moving this weekend” instead of “they have gotten a new house“.

Another example is with the word “you”. For example, you could say “you’ve gotten so big” instead of “you have gotten so big”. You could also say “you’ve got to leave” instead of “you have got to leave“.

Conor
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