"must have forgot" or "must have forgotten"

Question

My son Ryan and I are arguing over the proper expression of "must have forgot" or "must have forgotten"

The context is that he has sent out an email earlier and forgot to attach a file. So he sent out another e-mail explainng why there was no attachement. So he wrote :

" I must have forgot to attach....."

But I think the proper usage should be " I must have forgotton to attach ..."

Can any master help and explain ?

TIA.

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

Both forms of the participle are perfectly acceptable, just as with get - got - got/gotten.

Davidckchiu · Answer

Thanks. My son is thrilled to know that !

Anonymous · Answer

Hi!
Both expressions are correct,forgot i sthe past participle in British English whereas forgotten is generally used by the americans.
thanks

Fivejedjon · Answer

Anonymous,forgot i sthe past participle in British English

No. Only forgotten is correct in British English.

Anonymous · Answer

Davidckchiu My son Ryan and I are arguing over the proper expression of "must have forgot" or "must have forgotten"The context is that he has sent out an email earlier and forgot to attach a file. So he sent out another e-mail explainng why there was no attachement. So he wrote :" I must have forgot to attach....."But I think the proper usage should be " I must have forgotton to attach ..."Can any master help and explain ?TIA.

See the following: http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=1214483

I am certain that one can find many "Authorities", real or otherwise, to support whichever view you take on the matter, so it would seem that either usage will end up being correct.

It is very unfortunate that the world is slowly losing a one, or two "absolute" language authorities, since, for example, very soon, "then" and "than" will be interchangeable, as they practically already are, judging by the reading of newspapers, books, and especially, internet postings of any kind.

Soon it will be very difficult to understand the real meaning of anyone's writings due to the erosion of words' meanings and a multitude of accepted grammatical rules. *** help us all.

Yours always,

N1755L

RandomGuy · Answer

fivejedjonNo. Only forgotten is correct in British English.

I’m surprised past participle forgot acceptable in AmE. I for one cringe at the sound of have forgot.

BarbaraPA · Answer

I (an American) would have said only "have forgotten" was correct as well.
I forget
I forgot
I have forgotten

However, www.m-w.com does show "forgot" as a valid third form. I'd never say it, though.

CalifJim · Answer

fivejedjonOnly forgotten is correct in British English.

Wow! There are hundreds of people is the US training ESL teachers who don't know this!

We are taught that American is gotten and forgotten; British is got and forgot!

CJ

Fivejedjon · Answer

CalifJimWe are taught that American is gotten and forgotten; British is got and forgot!

Sorry. It's got and forgotten.

Mister Micawber · Answer

fivejedjonSorry. It's got and forgotten.

Hmm. I guess that's gotten forgotten over the pond.

"must have forgot" or "must have forgotten"

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