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GOT/GOTTEN |
In the UK, the old word “gotten” dropped out of use except in such
stock phrases as “ill-gotten” and “gotten up,” but in the US it is
frequently used as the past participle of “get.” Sometimes the two are
interchangeable, however, “got” implies current possession, as in “I’ve
got just five dollars to buy my dinner with.” “Gotten,” in contrast,
often implies the process of getting hold of something: “I’ve gotten
five dollars for cleaning out Mrs. Quimby’s shed” emphasizing the
earning of the money rather than its possession.
Phrases that involve
some sort of process usually involve “gotten”: “My grades have gotten
better since I moved out of the fraternity.” When you have to leave,
you’ve got to go. If you say you’ve “gotten to go” you’re implying
someone gave you permission to go.
