The word “get” is very common in English. It is used in many ways and has many meanings. When we talk about things that happened in the past, we need to change “get” to its past form. The past form of “get” is “got.”
What Does “Get” Mean?
First, let’s understand what “get” means. “Get” is a very common verb in English. It can mean to receive, become, arrive, obtain, and many other things depending on the context. For example:
- I get a gift on my birthday. (receive)
- I get tired after a long walk. (become)
- I get to school at 8 AM. (arrive)
How to Use “Got”?
When we talk about a single event that happened at a specific time in the past, we use the simple past tense. For “get,” the simple past tense is “got.” Here are some examples to make it clear:
- Yesterday, I got a letter in the mail.
- Last week, she got very excited about the trip.
- He got home late last night.
- Yesterday, I got a new bike.
- She got scared during the movie last night.
- We got home late after the concert.
In all these sentences, “got” is used to show that something happened in the past at a particular time.
How to Use “Gotten”?
This is where it gets a bit tricky. In English, we have something called a past participle, which is used with “have” to talk about experiences or actions that have happened at some time in the past. This form can also be used in passive sentences (when the focus is on the action, not who did the action).
In American English, people often use “gotten” as the past participle:
- She has gotten much better at playing the piano.
- They have gotten all the supplies they needed for the project.
However, in British English, “got” is also used as the past participle, not “gotten”:
- She has got much better at playing the piano.
- They have got all the supplies they needed for the project.
So, whether you use “got” or “gotten” can depend on where you are or which version of English you are using.
Simple Tips to Remember
Use “got” for the simple past tense: when an action happened at a specific time in the past.
Use “got” or “gotten” for the past participle:
- In American English, prefer “gotten” when talking about acquiring, receiving, or becoming something.
- In British English, stick with “got.”
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