American-English terms that used to be English-English terms?

Banga   Saturday, March 27, 2004, 16:08 GMT
In England.

"I have got those letters"
"I have gotten those letters"

Both mean the same thing.




To differentiate, you'd say

"I have got those letters"
"I got those letters"


Because "gotten" and "got" mean the same thing, however to imply that you recieved them letters in the past but your not implying that you HAVE them. You simply miss out "I HAVE/I'VE".
John   Saturday, March 27, 2004, 16:18 GMT
Because "gotten" and "got" mean the same thing. Banga, you are wrong. Look up ''got'' and ''gotten'' in the dictionary. You will see the difference.
Banga   Saturday, March 27, 2004, 17:17 GMT
Notice I said (In England)

I understand in America that it's used to differentiate like that, but not in England.

From online-oxford dictionary.

In British English, the past participle of the verb "get" is got:
We've finally got rid of the kids!

In American English, the past participle of the verb "get" is gotten:
We've finally gotten rid of the kids!
John   Saturday, March 27, 2004, 17:30 GMT
To me, ''I've got to the next house'' doesn't sound any less weird than ''I've just ate my lunch'', ''I've stole money from the bank that I've broke into'', ''I've got bit by the dog'' and ''I've wrote about the word ''gotten'' on antimoon''.
mjd   Saturday, March 27, 2004, 20:48 GMT
Banga,

"Got" exists in American English too.

"I got a letter from Uncle John." (This means that I received a letter from Uncle John).

As I stated earlier, the confusion arises when "got" is used to mean "have."

"I've got a letter from Uncle John." (I have one in my possession now).
"I've gotten a letter from Uncle John." (I've received one in the past).

It's not as simple as "got/gotten." It depends on the context in which these words are used.