"I've 'got' my period" for menstruation

Posted by Smokey Stover on March 08, 2004

In Reply to: "I've 'got' my period" for menstruation posted by ESC on March 08, 2004

: : (No one in this household has menstruated in two decades so we are out of touch)

: : Why is it not "I'm having..." or "I'm in..." or "It is my ..."?

: : Why "got"?

: : How long has it been "got"?

: I'll have to do some research and get back to you. Maybe it's "got" because sometimes it might be considered a gift.

Fowler has a lot to say about "got" and "gotten," and so do lots of others. But as usual the language marches on, indifferent to the grammarians. "I've got" is pretty much used as a synonym for "I have," as well "I have obtained." Thus, "I've got you under my skin," or "I've got the flu," or "I've got my period." Of course, no one says "I have my period," they say "I'm having my period." Or not. In this case, I think there's a tiny nuance in the phrase, and that "I've got my period" means "My period has arrived," rather than "l'm having my period." (I said a TINY nuance.) Actually I don't know anyone who says any of those things except "I've got the flu." SS

• "I've 'got' my period" for menstruation R. Berg 08/March/04
  • "I've 'got' my period" for menstruation ESC 08/March/04
    • "I've 'got' my period" ESC 09/March/04
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