I've got to

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Chariot

#433356 Mon, 22 Oct 07 01:27 PM

"I've got to get going." and "I have to get going." What is the difference between the two phrases?

"I've got to..." Is "I've" always contracted? Is "I have got to..." correct? Thanks.

Chariot

Joined on Mon, Apr 24 2006

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Neeraj Jain

#433358 Mon, 22 Oct 07 01:40 PM

I believe that it is entirely up to you whether to contract a verb or not. I have never seen or heard of the phrase "I've got to get going."

Neeraj Jain

Joined on Fri, Sep 7 2007

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Yankee

#433383 Mon, 22 Oct 07 02:33 PM

Hi Chariot

"I've got to get going."is often slightly more emphatic than "I have to get going."
And whenever you fully pronounce a word that is normally contracted, that also tends to add more emphasis. In spoken English, people don't often say "I have got to" instead of "I've got to".

Yankee

Joined on Sat, Apr 15 2006

Connecticut, USA

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Philip

#433457 Mon, 22 Oct 07 04:38 PM

Yankee wrote:
Hi Chariot

"I've got to get going."is often slightly more emphatic than "I have to get going."
And whenever you fully pronounce a word that is normally contracted, that also tends to add more emphasis. In spoken English, people don't often say "I have got to" instead of "I've got to".

You might also hear "I gotta get going". I wouldn't use either in formal writing. "Have to.../must...." works much brtter.

Philip

Joined on Thu, Jun 23 2005

USA Pacific Northwest (Seattle)

Veteran Member (6,333)

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Grammar Geek

#433500 Mon, 22 Oct 07 06:30 PM

I think I may have learned here that "I have got to" (in whichever form) tends to be more American in its usage.

Oh my gosh - look at the time! I have GOT to get going!

Grammar Geek

Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006

Pennsylvania, USA

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Barbara, who answers in American English.

CalifJim

#433560 Mon, 22 Oct 07 09:25 PM

Though none of them is particularly formal, from least formal (most casual) to most formal (least casual), they are:

I gotta get going.
I've gotta get going.¹
I've got to get going.²
I have to get going.

¹Personally, I tend to use this one in ordinary conversation.²I have got to get going is the more emphatic form of this one. It would probably be said more slowly, with some stress on each of the first three syllables.

CJ

CalifJim

Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004

California

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Chariot

#433783 Tue, 23 Oct 07 11:55 AM

Thank you, everyone.

Now may I summerise your opioion. 1. "I've got to" is more emphatic and more casual than "I have to".

2. "I've got to" is most often contracted.

I have a question for Califjim. ²I have got to get going is the more emphatic form of this one. It would probably be said more slowly, with some stress on each of the first three syllables.
What does "this one" refer to? Thanks.

Chariot

Kooyeen

#433922 Tue, 23 Oct 07 07:37 PM

Chariot wrote:
2. "I've got to" is most often contracted.

I have a question for Califjim. ²I have got to get going is the more emphatic form of this one. It would probably be said more slowly, with some stress on each of the first three syllables.
What does "this one" refer to? Thanks.