There was a fight in PA that the state slogan, “You’ve Got A Friend in PA” was poor grammar. The argument is that the actual phrase would be “you have a friend in PA”; however, it seems the contraction needs a helping verb, “got”. OTOH, some say “you have got to go”, for example, which can have a slightly different connotation than “you have to go”.
Maybe this is like “if I were rich” vs. “if I was rich?”
Tongue Tied!
“I was rich” is correct, BTW.
Dunno 'bout the slogan. I like the one with “got” in it, because it has the emphasis of two parts of the language to do with possession: have, and got. The other version sounds too wussy to be a good slogan.
'Sides, English thrives through how everyone uses it. If everyone knows what the slogan means, why be pedantic?
The “have” (represented by the “'ve”) is not used in the sense of “to posess”. It’s part of the present perfect verb tense of the whole statement. “Got” (past tense of “get”) is the word used here to indicate “posession”.
So the jist of “You’ve Got a Friend in Pennsylvania” is “you, in the recent past (just after you read my license plate) obtained a friend in Pennsylvania”.
This cutesy slogan of course is either completely wrong or obviously right. If I see it on a tourist’s car, it’s suggesting that they’re so friendly that I could consider them my friend immediately. But your plate says you’re “in Pennsylvania”. No, you’re in Washington, DC!
Or you live in Pittsburgh. Of course I’ve got a friend here!
It of course should read “… from Pennsylvania”.
Jinx:
Ice Wolf
Jinx was asking about “if I were rich”, which is the correct use for the subjunctive mood, which suggest doubt or a situation contrary to fact.
E.g.[ul]
[li]If I were rich [but I’m not], I would buy a house there.[/li][li]If he were the murderer [but I don’t think he is], he would’ve thrown the weapon off the bridge.[/li][li]If this be treason [but I don’t think it is], then hang me now![/li][/ul]
The other moods are:[ul]
[li]indicative - direct statement or question or to express an uncertain condition: “If you build it, they will come.”[/li][li]imperative - commands: “Now you take that diaper off your head and you put it back on your sister!” :D[/li][li]Hi, Opal![/li][/ul]
I always thought it meant that Pennsylvania in itself is your “friend”, just a friendly place to be. “You’ve Got” is just a more casual way to say it, like “Have you got a minute?”
My parents’ families are from PA and they go see them only as a duty, and endure the visit. My father’s reaction to the new slogan was, “With a friend like Pennsylvania, who needs enemies?”
To translate for AWB (who is completely correct):
Always follow “If” with “were” not “was.”
Ah, like the “Toy Story” song “You’ve Got A Friend In Me”. Woody hasn’t eaten a friend of mine, he just saying that he would be my friend.
So Pennsylvania is my friend. But will it pick me up from the airport? :D:D
Thanks for the “completely correct”. 
I think the correct conjugation of “get” was “have gotten.” Like, “He has gotten sicker the last couple days” or “We’ve gotten a letter from the IRS saying we owe $1.” “Have got” is I think just a colloquial expression that, while incorrect, is too prevalent to stomp out.
I didn’t know that was PA’s slogan. I like the play on words of “Friend” referring to your usual friend as well as the Society of Friends (aka Quakers). Does the ACLU know about this?
Skwerl: According to my English teacher, “gotten” is not a word at all. I lost marks on a presentation for using it.
Also, ‘You’ve a friend’ is acceptable, ‘You’ve got a friend’ is more colloquial, but also passes.
I always thought the “you’ve a” contstruction was a Britishism. Rarely have I heard an American use it, at any rate. I had an American boss who used to say “I’ve an idea,” and the effect was actually kind of annoying - sounded like an affectation.
Sorry, carry on.
damn, I usually spell better than that, honest.
Dictionary.com says it’s the past participle (aka perfect participle) of “get.”
And I’m surprised you didn’t challenge your English teacher!
http://www.dictionary.com/cgi-bin/dict.pl?term=past%20participle
Well this is just plain silly. What misbegotten wretch told you this? Is it possible he or she has just forgotten the rules? Or did your teacher buy a diploma with ill-gotten gains? I’d’ve gotten very mad, were I you.
Of course, now I’ve said “gotten” so much, it has ceased to have any meaning at all.
AWB … yeah to the “rich” thing. My brain was out wandering the streets at the time.
But I don’t buy the "present perfect verb tense " thing you said. 'Least, not in this case.
You’ve a friend = You have a friend.
In this case, “have” is part of the verb “to have”. There is “a friend”. Who’s friend? Why, yours!
You’ve lost your marbles = You have lost your marbles.(not a personal comment about anyone on this thread, merely an example)
In this case, it’s your PPVT. “To have” lost.
Sorry, AWB. What you said sounded mighty impressive, but it didn’t gel with me.
While incorrect in American English is what you meant of course;)
Yeah, I wasn’t too impressed with that teacher, but he was pretty bright other than the “gotten incident”. As I recall, I had intended to use “acquired”, but fell into the “gotten” rut on tape. I think it was the one mark that kept me from getting a perfect score on a big assignment. Oh, well.
Could I suggest that the ‘got’ in the phrase may be a mark of emphasis as in ‘got to’
I should go- I’ve got to go
I’ve a friend- I’ve got a friend
similar construction adding emphasis.
Anyway, blame it on Carol King 1960s, ‘You’ve got a friend’.
Sometimes, anyway, good coloquial English doesn’t need tyo follow strict grammatical rules- it’s stronger and better when working outside those rules.
Oh, and by the way, ‘gotten’ has just about disappeared in colloquial spoken English as well as written English in England, although it still exists with other -en endings in Somerset and Bristol- Gotten, Boughten, Founden, Backen etc.