"Gotten" is the American past participle of "get" (process/change); "got" is the British past participle and the simple past in both varieties.
Past participle of "get" in American English (AmE). Used with "have/has/had" to indicate a process or change: "have gotten better" = have improved (process of improvement). NOT used in British English.
Her English has gotten much better since she moved to New York.
The situation has gotten more complicated over the past few weeks.
Have you gotten a chance to review the proposal I sent yesterday?
In American English: only the simple past ("I got a letter"). In British English: both the simple past AND past participle ("I have got a letter"). "Have got" in British English = "have" (current possession).
I got your message this morning and replied right away.
She got the job after three rounds of interviews.
Have you got any idea where I left my keys? (British English)
Common mistake
In AmE: "have gotten" implies process or change. "have got" implies current possession. "I have gotten a car" (AmE) = I acquired a car at some point. "I have got a car" (AmE, informal) = I have a car (possession). In BrE: "gotten" barely exists and sounds foreign. Using "gotten" in a British text is a clear marker of Americanism.
Trick to remember it
If writing American English: use "gotten" when "have" + participle indicates process or change (things getting better/worse, acquiring things). Use "got" for the simple past in any variety, and for present possession informally: "I have got three cats" = I own three cats. If writing British English: avoid "gotten" entirely.
Quick rule
Gotten = AmE-only past participle (process/change with have). Got = universal simple past + BrE past participle + informal possession.
Did you know?
"Gotten" is not a modern Americanism — it is actually the original form that British English gradually dropped starting in the 18th century. American English preserved the archaic form that the first colonists brought over from 17th-century English. So when British speakers say "gotten" sounds "American", they are really talking about English they themselves stopped using.
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
The traffic has _____ much worse since they closed the main highway. (American English)
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
I _____ your email this morning and forwarded it to the team.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Gotten = AmE-only past participle (process/change with have). Got = universal simple past + BrE past participle + informal possession.
In AmE: "have gotten" implies process or change. "have got" implies current possession. "I have gotten a car" (AmE) = I acquired a car at some point. "I have got a car" (AmE, informal) = I have a car (possession). In BrE: "gotten" barely exists and sounds foreign. Using "gotten" in a British text is a clear marker of Americanism.
If writing American English: use "gotten" when "have" + participle indicates process or change (things getting better/worse, acquiring things). Use "got" for the simple past in any variety, and for present possession informally: "I have got three cats" = I own three cats. If writing British English: avoid "gotten" entirely.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy