Re: Free Wi-Fi at mcDonalds

In article news:<Jqq1JB.KAF@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, Charles Lindsey wrote:
Moreover, what is the past participle of "get" if it is not "gotten"?

"getted"? "gotted"? "gat"?

"Gat" is a possible past tense (not participle) but archaic -- as in
"begat". The participle is "got" or "gotten" but -- as noted earlier --
gotten has largely fallen into misuse.

The real answer is probably that we don't always use a past participle
of "get" ...

Present: I get seasick on long voyages.
Perfect: I have /become/ seasick.

(Hmm. "I have gut seasick" would be wrong, but redolent with
unlooked-for imagery)

... and when we use "get" it's not usually a participle:

Present: "I get a discount here for being a member"
Past: "I got a discount for being a member"

"I have got a discount ..." wouldn't carry the same nuance.

Cheers,
Daniel.




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