got

Saying What Someone Has

Level 1

Got can connect a person with something they have: I got an umbrella. It does not by itself say the person received it in the past; context distinguishes possession from get.

How It Works

Possessive got links an owner with something they have. I got an umbrella can describe what the speaker has now. It does not need has with a third-person owner in this construction: She got a spare key.

Got has other jobs, so use the whole clause. I got an umbrella yesterday may describe obtaining it; I got an umbrella with me normally describes current possession. Don't have or no plus a noun can deny possession in suitable frames. The construction also covers resources such as time, not only objects held in someone's hand.

Examples (4)

  1. I got an umbrella with me.

    I have an umbrella with me.

  2. She got a spare key.

    She has a spare key.

  3. We got enough time.

    We have enough time.

  4. You got a pen or not?

    Do you have a pen?

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

gotLevel 1Saying What Someone Has

Learn This First

Distinguish got linking a place to an existing thing from got linking an owner to a possession.