have got / have got to
have got / have got to means “have got = have (possession); have got to = have to (obligation), common in speech”. In everyday British and spoken English, have got often replaces have for possession: I have got a car means the same as I have a car. Formation: have/has got + N (= have) · have/has got to + V (= have to)
have got = have (possession); have got to = have to (obligation), common in speech
A2Formation
have/has got + N (= have) · have/has got to + V (= have to)
Explanation
In everyday British and spoken English, have got often replaces have for possession: I have got a car means the same as I have a car. Add to for obligation: I have got to leave (= I have to leave). In speech people shorten it to I've got / I've got to, but the meaning is unchanged. It stays in the present — for the past, use had or had to, not had got.
Examples
Note
Questions and negatives: Have you got a pen? / I haven't got any money. American English prefers plain have / have to here.
FAQ
have got / have got to — what does it mean and how is it used?
have got = have (possession); have got to = have to (obligation), common in speech. In everyday British and spoken English, have got often replaces have for possession: I have got a car means the same as I have a car. Add to for obligation: I have got to leave (= I have to leave). In speech people shorten it to I've got / I've got to, but the meaning is unchanged. It stays in the present — for the past, use had or had to, not had got.
have got / have got to — how do you form it?
have/has got + N (= have) · have/has got to + V (= have to)
have got / have got to — any usage notes?
Questions and negatives: Have you got a pen? / I haven't got any money. American English prefers plain have / have to here.