have [got] an idea

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New2grammar

#440265 Thu, 08 Nov 07 03:43 PM

Here are a couple of scenarios and I'd like to know whether you would use 'I've got an idea' or 'I've an idea'

James: Now that we have had dinner and the night is still young, what else can we do?

Mary: Let me think. Ummm... I've [got] an idea. Let's go rent a movie.

Bob: Listen up, guys. I've [got] an idea. Our resident assistant has just got a new car. Anyone want to TP his car?

Thanks in advance!

New2grammar

Joined on Tue, Nov 21 2006

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Marius Hancu

#440268 Thu, 08 Nov 07 03:49 PM

Read some of the threads here:

http://www.englishforums.com/search/have+got.htm

Marius Hancu

Joined on Wed, Apr 26 2006

Montreal, Canada

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CalifJim

#440493 Fri, 09 Nov 07 07:18 AM

In AmE the choice is between I've got an idea and I have an idea; I've an idea is not particularly AmE. It seems more like BrE to me.

I have an idea is in a higher register than I've got an idea. Both of your examples seem to be taken from casual conversation, so I prefer the slightly lower register I've got an idea for both.

CJ

CalifJim

Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004

California

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Marcelinx

#440723 Fri, 09 Nov 07 10:34 PM

Hi,
In the first sentence, I'd use "I've an idea", even with American English, because I'm picturing the person saying it very quickly, she has just thought about it, and she's saying it with a particular intonation.
In the second sentence, i've got is better because they person is saying it more slowly and with a different intonation.
I've seen i've with a. english lots of times.
That's just my opinion and how I'd use it.

Marcelinx

Joined on Wed, Jun 27 2007

New Member (15)

American English, Intonations

Yankee

#440743 Fri, 09 Nov 07 11:20 PM

I agree with Jim, and would add that in AmE the word "have" in "I've got an idea" often disappears completely in very informal language.
In other words, in informal spoken English, "I got an idea." often means "I have an idea."

Yankee

Joined on Sat, Apr 15 2006

Connecticut, USA

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MrPedantic

#440744 Fri, 09 Nov 07 11:25 PM

New2grammar wrote:

Here are a couple of scenarios and I'd like to know whether you would use 'I've got an idea' or 'I've an idea'

Since CJ says "I've an idea" sounds like BrE, I wouldn't use it, as the other parts of the dialogues sound non-BrE to me.

MrP

MrPedantic

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khoff

#440758 Sat, 10 Nov 07 12:41 AM

I've seen i've with a. english lots of times.

I would agree with this only when "have" is used with a past participle. "I've seen that; I've heard that, I've done that" all sound fine to me.

But using "I've" to show possession ("I've an idea") does not sound at all natural to me (even with a "particular intonation"). I would agree that if "I have an idea" is spoken quickly, the "have" is almost reduced to "'ve," but not quite. It would sound more like "I 'ave an idea." It would still have two syllables, although the "h" sound might well be lost. I would never write it as "I've" -- no matter how quickly I say "I have an idea," the "I have" never sounds the same as "I've" in "I've got an idea."

khoff

Joined on Sun, Mar 6 2005

Denver, Colorado, USA, Earth

Senior Member (2,569)

Native speaker of American English (but not a grammar expert)

Intonations