got to

[Matthew S Dryer]

A footnote regarding the contrast of "gotta (obligation)" with "got to" in

(8) a. I got PRO to go! (Past tense of get, indicating privilege, meaning,
for example, my boss let me go.)

which Dan here describes as indicating privilege and Spike describes as
involving permission.

That this can involves a notion of possibility or ability that goes beyond
either privilege or permission is indicated by examples like

(a)  Because he lived on the ocean when he was growing up, he got to swim
all the time, but because I lived in the middle of a desert, I never got
to swim.

which means roughly the same as

(b)  Because he lived on the ocean when he was growing up, he was able to
swim all the time, but because I lived in the middle of a desert, I was
never able to swim.

It seems to differ from 'can' and 'able' only in lacking a
generic/habitual sense and always refers to a specific time or situation.
Compare

(c) I can speak German.
(d) I get to speak German.

Matthew Dryer