Grammar Gremlins: In writing, don't use 'got' with 'have'
Do you say, "I have got three books" or "I have three books"?
Both expressions are acceptable, but the preferred form, especially in writing, is the one without "got."
There are some interesting thoughts on how "got" came to be used with "have."
One thought is that "have" started being used so widely as a helping verb that its use to denote actual possession was weakened.
Another thought on this point is that "got" might have been inserted because "have" often occurred as "'ve" in sentences. Example: "I’ve three books." Possession is strengthened in this example: "I've got three books."
Don K. Ferguson, retired U.S. District Court chief deputy clerk, is a former member of the Knoxville City Council. He may be reached at firstname.lastname@example.org.