'I have got a toothache' vs 'I have got toothache'

[Tom]

Hi

Could you please tell me if the following information is correct with regard to AmE and BrE?

1- I have got a headache. (AmE)
2- I have got headache. (BrE)

1- I have got a tummyache. (AmE)
2- I have got tummyache. (BrE)

1- I have got a toothache. (AmE)
2- I have got toothache. (BrE)

Tom

[Yankee]

Hi Tom

Using "a" ins those sentences would be standard in AmE.

Amy
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[Conchita]

'I've got a headache/a tummyache' is standard British English, too. Now, toothache or backache often don't deserve an article (don't ask me why! ).

More on aches and pains:

Difference between semicolon and the word and
http://www.english-test.net/forum/ftopic1691.html

Ache and pain
http://www.english-test.net/forum/ftopic409.html

[canadian45]

I have a headache.

I got a headache after I drank the wine.

''I've got a headache.'' is also said, but ''I have got a headache." is rarely said.

I think "I have got a headache." is redundant. (You could say "I've got....." is redundant too but at least it's shorter, not so 'dragged out'.)

[Pamela]

Canadian, I’ve got a question for you:
what is the difference between I’ve got and have got.
Just a contraction and nothing more, I think. I believe we can use either of the forms in Tom’s examples: have and have got. Have got is simply informal. Give me the reasons for stating this:

[Yankee]

Hi Pamela

I think I can answer your question.

The point is that no native speaker in their right mind would ever say "I have got a headache." It would always be contracted to "I've got a headache." in spoken English. Or you would simply use have: "I have a headache."
.
In fact, in very informal, colloquial American English, 'have got' (with the same meaning as 'have') ends up "contracted" so much that the word 'have sometimes ends up being omitted completely: "I got a headache." = "I have a headache."

Amy
_________________
Amy
.
ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[Conchita]

And 'I got a headache' often contracts to 'gotta headache'!

'Wanna' practice with a song?

You Gotta Be
by Des'Ree

Listen as your day unfolds
Challenge what the future holds
Try and keep your head up to the sky
Lovers, they may cause you tears
Go ahead release your fears
Stand up and be counted
Don't be ashamed to cry

You gotta be
You gotta be bad, you gotta be bold
You gotta be wiser, you gotta be hard
You gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger
You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm
You gotta stay together
All I know, all I know, love will save the day

Herald what your mother said
Read the books your father read
Try to solve the puzzles in your own sweet time
Some may have more cash than you
Others take a different view
My oh my, hey hey

You gotta be bad, you gotta be bold
You gotta be wiser, you gotta be hard
You gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger
You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm
You gotta stay together
All I know, all I know, love will save the day

Don't ask no questions, it goes on without you
Leaving you behind if you can't stand the pace
The world keeps on spinning
You can't stop it, if you try to
This time it's danger staring you in the face
Oh oh

Remember

Listen as your day unfolds
Challenge what the future holds
Try and keep your head up to the sky
Lovers, they may cause you tears
Go ahead release your fears

My oh my, hey hey

You gotta be bad, you gotta be bold
You gotta be wiser, you gotta be hard
You gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger
You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm
You gotta stay together
All I know, all I know, love will save the day
Yeah yeah yeah

You gotta be bad, you gotta be bold
You gotta be wiser, you gotta be hard
You gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger
You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm
You gotta stay together
All I know, all I know, love will save the day
Yeah yeah

Got to be bold
Got to be bad
Got to be wise
No one ever said

Got to be hard
Not too too hard
All I know is
I never saved the day

You gotta be bad, you gotta be bold
You gotta be wiser, you gotta be hard
You gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger
You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm
You gotta stay together
All I know, all I know, love will save the day

You gotta be bad, you gotta be bold
You gotta be wiser, you gotta be hard
You gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger
You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm
You gotta stay together

'Gotta' go now!

[Pamela]

Amy, thanks a lot! As for me, I prefer rather a contracted form in all the cases.

P.S. Nice song, Conchita!

[Yankee]

Hi Conchita

I'm almost afraid to mention this (for fear of really scaring English learners), but in your song "gotta" is the shortened spoken form of "have got to" -- which basically means "must".

Amy
_________________
Amy
.
ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English

[Pamela]

Or "have to to do smth"

[Alan]

Hi,

You gotta be joking - you must be joking.

A
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English as a Second Language
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