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I am trying to understand the usage of the "get" in the sentence:

But you got to make me change my mind.

I guess it is not "have got".

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  • It's an odd sentence. It's most likely 'have got' as you suggest, but why would you say that someone has to make you change your mind? Alternatively, you could be saying that someone was privileged enough to make you change your mind… which is perhaps a teensy bit less strange of a thing to be saying, but still quite odd.
    – Janus Bahs Jacquet
    Commented Feb 22, 2014 at 9:09
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    I read it as 'have got' as well (with the 'have' elided as it often is when contracted in informal speech), in the sense that the subject needs to be substantially persuaded if they're going to change their opinion.
    – DallaLiyly
    Commented Feb 22, 2014 at 9:18
  • The "got to V" seems to have a meaning of obligation or necessity, similar to that of the idiom "have got". There's also the similar examples: "But you got to.", "You got to do it." This kind of stuff is common in my dialect. Hopefully someone will post a detailed explanation of what is actually going on. (Perhaps it is merely an informal dropping of "have" from the idiom usage of "have got".)
    – F.E.
    Commented Feb 22, 2014 at 9:52
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    There's a bit in the 1985 reference grammar by Quirk et al., A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language, in section 3.45, footnote 'e', on page 142: "In informal speech, the first word of HAVE got to and had better is often completely elided, . . ."
    – F.E.
    Commented Feb 22, 2014 at 10:06

2 Answers 2

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One view might be that it is just a clumsy way of saying 'You made me change my mind'.

But as 'got' becomes the main verb and 'to make me change my mind' a predicate phrase, it stresses an achievement on your part, that you were able to make me change my mind.

There are, however, in my view, better ways of saying it e.g. 'You persuaded me to change my mind'.

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  • Thanks but what usage of GET would that be (in Oxford dictionary).
    – SDand
    Commented Feb 22, 2014 at 9:16
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    Assuming that this sentence is by a native speaker, I don't think this interpretation is correct. Using get as a synonym for attain in this context is very awkward and unidiomatic.
    – DallaLiyly
    Commented Feb 22, 2014 at 9:23
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    @MunchyWilly It sounds perfectly idiomatic for an American. (It is not a form you would hear in Britain.) 'You got to go to China' i.e. you got the opportunity and were able to go to China. 'You got to make me change my mind, so that you were able to go to China'.
    – WS2
    Commented Feb 22, 2014 at 9:32
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    @WS2 What's unidiomatic to my American ears is the context in which it's used... 'getting an opportunity to change someone else's mind' is not only a weird idea, couching it in these terms is weirder still. Weird enough that I can't imagine a native speaker ever saying this with your proposed meaning. An elided contracted 'have' is much more plausible.
    – DallaLiyly
    Commented Feb 22, 2014 at 9:45
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    @MunchyWilly I agree that it is a rather odd sounding sentence. The only alternative is that there is a 'have' missing. 'You have got to make me change my mind', which means something completely different, is grammatical.
    – WS2
    Commented Feb 22, 2014 at 10:33
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To give some context, I found that the OP's quote may be coming from one of Tracy Chapman's lyrics?

TRACY CHAPMAN LYRICS
"Give Me One Reason"

Give me one reason to stay here
And I'll turn right back around
Give me one reason to stay here
And I'll turn right back around
Because I don't want leave you lonely
**But you got to make me change my mind**

The answer that follows should be credited to @F.E., who wrote in the comments:

There's a bit in the 1985 reference grammar by Quirk et al., A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language, in section 3.45, footnote 'e', on page 142: "In informal speech, the first word of HAVE got to and had better is often completely elided, . . ."

Unfortunately, none of the grammar books I own deal with have got to at a great length. The most detailed description I have found is on the BBC's Learning English site.

must, have to, and have got to are modal and semi-modals verbs that express personal obligation. have to and have got to are preferred in conversation, with have got to being considered very informal. Thus, it is not surprising that in this informal cases of use, the first word of have got is often elided as described by Quirk et al.

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    +1 for finding the lyrics which have the OP's example in it. :) Hopefully you'll update your answer so that it discusses the idiom "have got" (as often used in "have got to V").
    – F.E.
    Commented Feb 22, 2014 at 10:09
  • @F.E., actually I haven't realised that was the construct until you mentioned. Please, go ahead and put all your comments together into an answer, so that you can get the credit.
    – Nico
    Commented Feb 22, 2014 at 10:21
  • I'm too lazy, and it's way past my bedtime. I had posted two quick comments onto the OP's main post, so that info (and maybe also the internet) might be enough for you to do your edit.
    – F.E.
    Commented Feb 22, 2014 at 10:25

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