The three forms of get
Get is an irregular verb and one of the most common verbs in English. Its past simple is always got. Its past participle is got in British English and gotten in American English.
| Form | British English | American English |
|---|---|---|
| Base form | get | get |
| Past simple | got | got |
| Past participle | got | got or gotten |
The past simple never uses gotten. "I gotten a letter" is wrong in both varieties. Gotten appears only after have, has or had.
British English uses got
In British English the past participle is got for every meaning. The perfect tenses therefore look the same as the past simple, and the auxiliary shows the difference.
- I got an email yesterday. (past simple)
- I have got an email from her. (present perfect, British)
- They had got the tickets before the price rose. (past perfect, British)
American English uses gotten for a change or an acquisition
American English keeps gotten for the idea of receiving, obtaining, becoming or reaching a state. The focus is on the result of a change.
- She has gotten a new job. (she obtained it)
- The weather has gotten colder. (it became colder)
- He had gotten lost before he found the station. (he reached a state)
Have got and have got to keep got
American English still uses got in two fixed patterns: possession with have got, and obligation with have got to. These patterns are not perfect tenses of the verb get. They are idioms with a present meaning.
| Sentence | Meaning | Where it is usual |
|---|---|---|
| I have got two brothers. | I have two brothers. | British; informal American |
| I have got to go. | I must go. | British; informal American |
| I have gotten two emails. | I have received two emails. | American |
| I have got two emails. | I have received two emails, or I have two emails. | British; the meaning comes from context |
"I have got to go" is about the present. "I have gotten to go" is about an opportunity that came in the past. Do not use one for the other.
Other verbs with two participles
Get is not alone. Several verbs have a British participle in -t and an American participle in -ed. The pattern is the same: both forms are correct, and one variety prefers one form.
| Base | British participle | American participle |
|---|---|---|
| learn | learnt | learned |
| burn | burnt | burned |
| dream | dreamt | dreamed |
| spell | spelt | spelled |
| spoil | spoilt | spoiled |
Both forms are understood everywhere. Choose one variety and keep it through a piece of writing.
Common mistakes
| Incorrect | Correct | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| I gotten the message. | I got the message. | The past simple is always got. |
| She has got a new job in American English. | She has gotten a new job. | Acquisition uses gotten in American English. |
| He has gotten a car since 2019. | He has had a car since 2019. | Possession uses have, not get, with a period. |
| I have got to went. | I have got to go. | "Have got to" takes the base form. |
Try the quiz
Answer the questions in writing first. Then open the answer key.
- Complete with got or gotten (British English): They have ___ our address.
- Complete with got or gotten (American English): Prices have ___ higher this year.
- Correct the sentence: I gotten a text from Sam.
- Which sentence means "I must leave"? I have got to leave or I have gotten to leave?
- Give the past simple and past participle of get in American English.
- Choose the usual American form: She has ___ a cold.
Show all answers
- got. British English uses got as the past participle.
- gotten. American English uses gotten for a change of state.
- I got a text from Sam. The past simple is got.
- "I have got to leave" means I must leave.
- Past simple got; past participle got or gotten.
- gotten. She has caught a cold, so the state changed.