I get/got it

Question

A: Do you get it? (= Do you understand?)B: Yes, I got it. (= Yes, I understand.)C: No, I don't get it. (= No, I don't understand.)Why use the past tense in the affirmative reply?

Philologist · Accepted Answer

I would be inclined to argue that B could've used both "get" and "got", but let's wait until one of the grammar experts drops by <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/>

Cool Breeze · Answer

PhilologistI would be inclined to argue that B could've used both "get" and "got", but let's wait until one of the grammar experts drops by

I would be inclined to agree with you but let's leave this to those whose fault the English language is.

Cheers
CB

BarbaraPA · Answer

TeoA: Do you get it? (= Do you understand?)

B: Yes, I got it. (= Yes, I understand.)

C: No, I don't get it. (= No, I don't understand.)

Why use the past tense in the affirmative reply?

It could go either way. By saying "I got it" I could be saying "Yes, I understood (past tense) what you just explained to me. But by saying "Do" (instead of "Did") to me, I might also reflect your tense and say, "Yes, I get it."

Right now I'm trying to hear my daughter's voice after I say "You understand?" and that motherly way, and trying to remember if she says "Yes, Mom, I get it, I get it!" or if she says "Yes Mom, I got it, already."

If you've tried to explain it to me numerous times and finally I understand - "Do you get it now?" "Yes! I finally get it!" I would use present, I think.

So perhaps this is one of those things that don't bear much thinking about, because either one is idiomatic, at least to my AmE ears.

Clive · Answer

Hi guys,

A: Do you get it? (= Do you understand?)

B: Yes, I got it. (= Yes, I understand.)

C: No, I don't get it. (= No, I don't understand.)

Why use the past tense in the affirmative reply?

It's an ordinary little conversation where neither party is consciously focused on their grammar. In addition, the use of 'get' to understand is pretty idiomatic. However, it's quite possible that in speaker B's mind, the 'idea' was 'I have got it'. It's not unusual for the 'have' to be either omitted entirely or said so quietly and quickly that it is not even audible.

Best wishes, Clive

Tuanle · Answer

Is "have got" only acceptable colloquially?  Grammatically speaking, it should be "have gotten," the past participle form.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Is "have got" only acceptable colloquially? Grammatically speaking, it should be "have gotten," the past participle form.

'Got' and 'gotten' are both acceptable as past participle.

I think of 'gotten' as more of an Americanism. I believe there are also shades of meaning, in that 'gotten' relates to something 'I got' recently.

In the sense of 'I understand' that we are discussing, you certainly wouldn't respond 'Yes, gotten!'

Best wishes, Clive

CalifJim · Answer

Pattern 1.

A Have you got it?
B Yes, I've got it. [Less formally: Yes, I got it. (have omitted)]
C. No, I haven't got it.

Pattern 2.

A Do you get it?
B Yes, I get it.
C No, I don't get it.

Pattern 3.

A Did you get it?
B Yes, I got it.
C No, I didn't get it.

Sometimes forms from different patterns get mixed. To make matters more confusing the informal form of Pattern 1 (B's remark) has the same surface structure as the corresponding portion of Pattern 3.

CJ

Sitifan · Answer

Whe get means understand, is it acceptable in American English to say "I've gotten it"?

Yankee · Answer

Hi Sitifan

sitifanWhe get means understand, is it acceptable in American English to say "I've gotten it"?

I'd say it's possible, but also that it's unlikely you'd hear anybody use it much. I'd say the use of "get" to mean "understand" is by far more likely in the simple present, the simple past, or as an infinitive.

I get/got it

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