Hi,
While searching for the definition of “have got to go” (“be got rid of”) came across an example: “These old trousers of yours have got to go” which sounds a bit odd to me - as if the trousers were ‘the doer’. Could you explain the construction?
Thank you.
Purely grammatically, the trousers are “the doer”, and in some slightly strained literal sense the trousers do, in fact, “go”. However, this is a set idiom in which “go” is understood to mean “be got rid of”, as you say. So, it does not feel odd.
Idiomatic right. We use many objects as active doers as in this case.
The computer got too old. They have got to go at the Junk.(compare)
I don’t understand ‘they have got to go at the junk’.
Do you mean the computers have to go to the junk or is this a separate thought entirely, in which case you possibly mean, ‘the junk has got to go’?
Just to check whether the lesson was taught: “These old trousers of yours have got to perish/vanish/pass away/disappear in the thin air” or they simply have got to be dumped/thrown away?
- You must get rid of your trousers and buy a pair of new ones.
Or:
2. You must take off your trousers.
Without context it’s probably the first.
It seems I’ve managed to get rid of them at last (they had gone?), a bit of improvident from me though.
Computers have got to go to the junk or at the junk.
For example
I was to the movie last night.
I was at the movie last night.
Which one of these is correct.
Neither is correct. “go to the junk” and “go at the junk” are not natural expressions (at least, not in the way you are using them).
“I was at the movie last night.”
“I went to the movie last night.”
The latter.
To me, this sentence doesn’t mean you are rid of your trousers. You might love them. But someone else (the speaker) thinks you have to throw them away for some reason, the trousers probably have been worn too much.
Correct.
Well.Dozy
got to go is not a natural or standard English expression. Can we use got to go in writing or it could be used in speaking only?
I heard Americans using this expression a lot. (in movies)
“got to go” is a natural and standard combination of words that can be used in a variety of situations. It can be used in speech or in writing, but it tends to be informal.
The “got to” part normally means “must”. The “go” part can mean different things, depending on context. In the original sentence, “These old trousers of yours have got to go”, the word “go” means “be got rid of”, as has been explained. If “Got to go!” is used by itself as a sentence, then “go” means “leave”, and the sentence means “I’ve got to leave now.”
Just as an aside, if it is used in movies a lot, then it is natural, otherwise people who use it wouldn’t be using it.
=))
I am still not notified of the answers.