[ Grammar ] past tense
I get / catch you vs I got / caught you

While playing tag...
A: I got you.
B: Okay. Now I’m it.

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C: I don’t know what you are talking about.
D: Stop kidding around. I got you.

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Q1: Can person A & D say “ I get / catch you ” ?

Q2: In those situations, what is the difference of the usage between past tense and present tense ?

ie. I get / catch you vs I got / caught you

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Thanks a lot : )

Question

[ Grammar ] past tense
I get / catch you  vs  I got / caught you

While playing tag... 
A: I got you. 
B: Okay. Now I’m it.

------

C: I don’t know what you are talking about. 
D: Stop kidding around. I got you.

-----

Q1: Can person A & D say “ I get / catch you ” ?

Q2: In those situations, what is the difference of the usage between past tense and present tense ?

ie. I get / catch you  vs  I got / caught you

-----

Thanks a lot : )

Answer

Speaking like this is slang, and used in colloquial English.

Examples of "get/got" depend on present or past tense.
"I get it." / "I get you" is present tense.
"I got it." / "I got you" is past tense, but people often say it while referring to present tense.

We don't exactly use "catch" you. But instead we could say something like:
"I catch your drift." - present tense. It means "I understand what you're saying"
"I caught what was going on" - past tense. It means "I understand what happened"

Answer

Dear Chris,

Could you explain why present tense doesn't work in those dialogues ?

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Dear Marlana,

You meant both " I get you " and " I got you " are correct in those dialogues ?

Thank you all  ^_^

Answer

Chris, "I get you" is present tense and can work for this example of slang.

Answer

No.  Present tense doesn't work.