Gotta means have got to, that is, have to or must. I gotta go means I have to leave now. In fast speech the have often disappears, so people say and write both I've gotta and just I gotta. In conversation and texts to friends it's a normal form, but in a message to a manager or teacher and in an essay, write I have to or I need to.
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(I've/you've) gotta + verb; gotta go / gotta run (= I have to leave); past: had to + verb
- Gotta run, my train leaves in ten minutes. Talk later!
- You gotta try the dumplings at that new place near the station.
- I've gotta finish this essay tonight, so no gaming for me.
What changed
First versionSorry, I gotta to go, my bus is here.
RevisionSorry, I gotta go, my bus is here.
Gotta already contains to: gotta = got to. So a second to after gotta is redundant, and the verb follows directly: gotta go, gotta finish, gotta call.
You gotta… often sounds less like an obligation and more like an enthusiastic recommendation: You gotta see this film! Gotta doesn't talk about past necessity: for yesterday, you need had to, as in I had to leave early.
Your turn
Last night I ___ stay late at the office to finish the slides.
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had to — It's about last night, so the past tense is needed: had to. Gotta only talks about what's necessary now or soon, so Last night I gotta stay is wrong.
Write to a friend that you urgently have to leave. Use gotta and give the reason.
Sorry, gotta go, my mum's waiting for me outside the cinema.
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