Got is Just Not Good English

By Annette Rey

Let’s find some words to substitute for the word got.

Often you will see sentences like these:

The boy got the ball.

I got the groceries today.

I’ve got a headache.

I’ve got a teddy bear.

He has gotten the flu.

She had gotten the toys from him.

——

How about:

The boy caught the ball. The boy trapped the ball. The boy grabbed the ball.

I bought the groceries today. I picked up the groceries today.

I have a headache.

I own a teddy bear. I possess a teddy bear.

He has the flu.

She received the toys from him.

——

Can you see? It is better to drop got.