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On Cambridge Online Dictionary, the phrase "have got" is considered a formal alternative to simply "have", for example:

He has four cats.

He has got four cats.

I want to ask: Does adding an additional modal verb (e.g. must) change the meaning, or is the meaning of "must have got" & "must have" still the same?

In other words, do these sentences mean the same thing?:

He must have four cats.

He must have got four cats.

How about with modals apart from must?

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    I think you will find that the dictionary describes have got as informal. I would say that must have got is possible, but a speaker would be much less likely to add got when using must have.
    – Kate Bunting
    Commented Oct 8, 2020 at 8:59
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    First, there is no modal auxiliary in your examples. The reverse of what you say is true. "Have got" is restricted to informal style, though it is very common, especially in BrE. Other than that, there's no difference in meaning between your two examples, at least not in BrE.
    – BillJ
    Commented Oct 8, 2020 at 10:03
  • @BillJ I think what the OP's asking seems to be: "Do must have got and must have mean the same thing? Or does the addition of must constrict our interpretation of have got? I think it does. It's hard for me to think of a situation where I'd interpret must have got a cat, for example, to mean the same thing as must have a cat.
    – Araucaria - Him
    Commented Oct 11, 2020 at 2:29
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    @Araucaria-Nothereanymore. Now that you mention it, neither can I. I’ve reöpened the question upon that consideration.
    – tchrist ♦
    Commented Oct 11, 2020 at 3:03
  • I can't see any real difference between They must have a cat and They must have got a cat. Where it expresses a state rather than an event, of course. .
    – BillJ
    Commented Oct 11, 2020 at 8:21

1 Answer 1

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I have 4 cats. = I currently own/am in charge of/possess 4 cats

I have got 4 cats. (British English) = (i) I have [very recently] received/bought/obtained, etc, 4 cats (ii) I currently possess 4 cats

(i) is more distinct in American English but the past participle is "gotten" - I have gotten 4 cats. This does not have the meaning of (ii).

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  • I wanna specify, my question is, given that we know "have got" & "have" are the same, can we base upon that to say that "must have got" & "must have" are the same as well.
    – Thuan Khang
    Commented Oct 8, 2020 at 10:10
  • Right, here I’ve got three letters in my name is mere ongoing possession, whereas I’ve gotten three letters from them already means the postman delivered them to you or whatnot.
    – tchrist ♦
    Commented Oct 8, 2020 at 11:32
  • @tchrist I think the OP's main concern is about the modal must (in relation to have got).
    – Araucaria - Him
    Commented Oct 11, 2020 at 2:35
  • Then there's "I went hunting in Africa. I got four cats."
    – Hot Licks
    Commented Oct 11, 2020 at 14:48

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