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Have got
Have got (/hæv ˈgɒt/) is an English lexical-grammatical structure.[1]
Meaning[edit | edit source]
Though the form is perfective (see below), the meaning is non-perfective. An alternate interpretation is that it means “to have obtained something in the past and currently possess it.” It’s generally equivalent to lexical have.
Form[edit | edit source]
- Affirmative statement: “I have got a pen.”
- Negative statement: “I haven’t got a pen.”
- Question: “Have you got a pen?"
The short answer uses auxiliary have as the auxiliary verb; "yes, I have,” "no, I haven’t.”
Third person -s must be used for the third person singular:
- Affirmative statement: “She has got a pen.”
- Negative statement: “She hasn’t got a pen.”
- question: “Has she got a pen?"
Pronunciation[edit | edit source]
“Have" may be reduced to its weak form /həv/ or /əv/ (with h-dropping), or even completely elided. And “got to" may be reduced to “gotta,” or even “gorra.”
Appropriacy[edit | edit source]
This is mainly used in informal registers of British English. It isn’t used in formal (especially written) British English, where independent have offers an alternative. In American English it’s found in AAVE, but generally discouraged from formal registers.
Pedagogy[edit | edit source]
EFL learners encounter this at low levels, a long time before they encounter the present perfect. Thus, it tends to be taught as special lexis.