has got vs has

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New2grammar

#499260 Fri, 11 Apr 08 10:42 AM

He's got a weapon.

He has a weapon.

What's the difference?

Thanks!

New2grammar

Joined on Tue, Nov 21 2006

Veteran Member (7,670)

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Jhumjhum

#499262 Fri, 11 Apr 08 10:55 AM

He's got a weapon=He received a weapon

He has a weapon=He is an owner of a weapon

Jhumjhum

Joined on Thu, Mar 2 2006

Regular Member (573)

It is easier to disintegrate an atom than one's prejudice-Albert Einstein

New2grammar

#499265 Fri, 11 Apr 08 11:00 AM

Thank you Jhumjhum!

New2grammar

nona the brit

#499287 Fri, 11 Apr 08 12:56 PM

In British English 'has got' can be used as an alternative to 'has' so the meaning is a straightforward 'he is in possession of a gun'. I think US English avoids the use of the 'have got' construction.

nona the brit

Joined on Wed, Sep 22 2004

England

Veteran Member (11,355)

The name says it all.

British English, Constructions

Kooyeen

#499455 Fri, 11 Apr 08 06:30 PM

Jhumjhum
He's got a weapon=He received a weapon

That would be "He's gotten a weapon" in American English. And "he's got a weapon" and "he has a weapon" would be the same. The only difference might be that the form with "has got" (virtually always contracted to 's got) is much less common in formal contexts. Smile