diff --git a/changelog/fix_add_require_english_for_special_globals.md b/changelog/fix_add_require_english_for_special_globals.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a36ecb14dc7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog/fix_add_require_english_for_special_globals.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+* [#4097](https://github.com/rubocop/rubocop/issues/4097): Add require English for special globals. ([@biinari][])
diff --git a/config/default.yml b/config/default.yml
index 5fbba4556d7..a750e241315 100644
--- a/config/default.yml
+++ b/config/default.yml
@@ -4575,6 +4575,7 @@ Style/SpecialGlobalVars:
   VersionAdded: '0.13'
   VersionChanged: '0.36'
   SafeAutoCorrect: false
+  RequireEnglish: true
   EnforcedStyle: use_english_names
   SupportedStyles:
     - use_perl_names
diff --git a/lib/rubocop.rb b/lib/rubocop.rb
index c9a937ea142..4b475009723 100644
--- a/lib/rubocop.rb
+++ b/lib/rubocop.rb
@@ -111,6 +111,7 @@
 require_relative 'rubocop/cop/mixin/preceding_following_alignment'
 require_relative 'rubocop/cop/mixin/preferred_delimiters'
 require_relative 'rubocop/cop/mixin/rational_literal'
+require_relative 'rubocop/cop/mixin/require_library'
 require_relative 'rubocop/cop/mixin/rescue_node'
 require_relative 'rubocop/cop/mixin/safe_assignment'
 require_relative 'rubocop/cop/mixin/space_after_punctuation'
@@ -144,6 +145,7 @@
 require_relative 'rubocop/cop/correctors/parentheses_corrector'
 require_relative 'rubocop/cop/correctors/percent_literal_corrector'
 require_relative 'rubocop/cop/correctors/punctuation_corrector'
+require_relative 'rubocop/cop/correctors/require_library_corrector'
 require_relative 'rubocop/cop/correctors/space_corrector'
 require_relative 'rubocop/cop/correctors/string_literal_corrector'
 require_relative 'rubocop/cop/correctors/unused_arg_corrector'
diff --git a/lib/rubocop/cop/correctors/require_library_corrector.rb b/lib/rubocop/cop/correctors/require_library_corrector.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..8a8b7a83607
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/rubocop/cop/correctors/require_library_corrector.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+
+module RuboCop
+  module Cop
+    # This class ensures a require statement is present for a standard library
+    # determined by the variable library_name
+    class RequireLibraryCorrector
+      extend RangeHelp
+
+      class << self
+        def correct(corrector, node, library_name)
+          node = node.parent while node.parent?
+          node = node.children.first if node.begin_type?
+          corrector.insert_before(node, require_statement(library_name))
+        end
+
+        def require_statement(library_name)
+          "require '#{library_name}'\n"
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/lib/rubocop/cop/mixin/require_library.rb b/lib/rubocop/cop/mixin/require_library.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ec1fd338d8f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/rubocop/cop/mixin/require_library.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+
+module RuboCop
+  module Cop
+    # Ensure a require statement is present for a standard library determined
+    # by variable library_name
+    module RequireLibrary
+      extend NodePattern::Macros
+
+      def ensure_required(corrector, node, library_name)
+        node = node.parent while node.parent&.parent?
+
+        if node.parent&.begin_type?
+          return if @required_libs.include?(library_name)
+
+          remove_subsequent_requires(corrector, node, library_name)
+        end
+
+        RequireLibraryCorrector.correct(corrector, node, library_name)
+      end
+
+      def remove_subsequent_requires(corrector, node, library_name)
+        node.right_siblings.each do |sibling|
+          next unless require_library_name?(sibling, library_name)
+
+          range = range_by_whole_lines(sibling.source_range, include_final_newline: true)
+          corrector.remove(range)
+        end
+      end
+
+      def on_send(node)
+        return if node.parent&.parent?
+
+        name = require_any_library?(node)
+        return if name.nil?
+
+        @required_libs.add(name)
+      end
+
+      private
+
+      def on_new_investigation
+        # Holds the required files at top-level
+        @required_libs = Set.new
+        super
+      end
+
+      # @!method require_any_library?(node)
+      def_node_matcher :require_any_library?, <<~PATTERN
+        (send {(const {nil? cbase} :Kernel) nil?} :require (str $_))
+      PATTERN
+
+      # @!method require_library_name?(node, library_name)
+      def_node_matcher :require_library_name?, <<~PATTERN
+        (send {(const {nil? cbase} :Kernel) nil?} :require (str %1))
+      PATTERN
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/lib/rubocop/cop/style/special_global_vars.rb b/lib/rubocop/cop/style/special_global_vars.rb
index 3c7dff432aa..5e54f44f9e7 100644
--- a/lib/rubocop/cop/style/special_global_vars.rb
+++ b/lib/rubocop/cop/style/special_global_vars.rb
@@ -5,9 +5,14 @@ module Cop
     module Style
       #
       # This cop looks for uses of Perl-style global variables.
+      # Correcting to global variables in the 'English' library
+      # will add a require statement to the top of the file if
+      # enabled by RequireEnglish config.
       #
       # @example EnforcedStyle: use_english_names (default)
       #   # good
+      #   require 'English' # or this could be in another file.
+      #
       #   puts $LOAD_PATH
       #   puts $LOADED_FEATURES
       #   puts $PROGRAM_NAME
@@ -50,6 +55,8 @@ module Style
       #
       class SpecialGlobalVars < Base
         include ConfigurableEnforcedStyle
+        include RangeHelp
+        include RequireLibrary
         extend AutoCorrector
 
         MSG_BOTH = 'Prefer `%<prefer>s` from the stdlib \'English\' ' \
@@ -90,6 +97,8 @@ class SpecialGlobalVars < Base
         # Anything *not* in this set is provided by the English library.
         NON_ENGLISH_VARS = Set.new(%i[$LOAD_PATH $LOADED_FEATURES $PROGRAM_NAME ARGV]).freeze
 
+        LIBRARY_NAME = 'English'
+
         def on_gvar(node)
           global_var, = *node
 
@@ -117,6 +126,8 @@ def message(global_var)
         def autocorrect(corrector, node, global_var)
           node = node.parent while node.parent&.begin_type? && node.parent.children.one?
 
+          ensure_required(corrector, node, LIBRARY_NAME) if should_require_english?(global_var)
+
           corrector.replace(node, replacement(node, global_var))
         end
 
@@ -172,6 +183,16 @@ def english_name_replacement(preferred_name, node)
 
           "{#{preferred_name}}"
         end
+
+        def add_require_english?
+          cop_config['RequireEnglish']
+        end
+
+        def should_require_english?(global_var)
+          style == :use_english_names &&
+            add_require_english? &&
+            !NON_ENGLISH_VARS.include?(preferred_names(global_var).first)
+        end
       end
     end
   end
diff --git a/spec/rubocop/cli/auto_gen_config_spec.rb b/spec/rubocop/cli/auto_gen_config_spec.rb
index 78bb5b2659d..d366161830a 100644
--- a/spec/rubocop/cli/auto_gen_config_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/rubocop/cli/auto_gen_config_spec.rb
@@ -1140,7 +1140,7 @@ def function(arg1, arg2, arg3, arg4, arg5, arg6, arg7)
 
             # Offense count: 2
             # Cop supports --auto-correct.
-            # Configuration parameters: EnforcedStyle.
+            # Configuration parameters: RequireEnglish, EnforcedStyle.
             # SupportedStyles: use_perl_names, use_english_names
             Style/SpecialGlobalVars:
               Enabled: false
@@ -1165,7 +1165,7 @@ def function(arg1, arg2, arg3, arg4, arg5, arg6, arg7)
 
             # Offense count: 3
             # Cop supports --auto-correct.
-            # Configuration parameters: EnforcedStyle.
+            # Configuration parameters: RequireEnglish, EnforcedStyle.
             # SupportedStyles: use_perl_names, use_english_names
             Style/SpecialGlobalVars:
               Exclude:
diff --git a/spec/rubocop/cli/options_spec.rb b/spec/rubocop/cli/options_spec.rb
index bed23fbe71d..d5596debb9e 100644
--- a/spec/rubocop/cli/options_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/rubocop/cli/options_spec.rb
@@ -1800,6 +1800,7 @@ def f
 
         1 file inspected, 1 offense detected, 1 offense corrected
         ====================
+        require 'English'
         p $INPUT_RECORD_SEPARATOR
       RESULT
     ensure
@@ -1823,6 +1824,7 @@ def f
         ====================
       RESULT
       expect($stdout.string).to eq(<<~RESULT.chomp)
+        require 'English'
         p $INPUT_RECORD_SEPARATOR
       RESULT
     ensure
diff --git a/spec/rubocop/cop/style/special_global_vars_spec.rb b/spec/rubocop/cop/style/special_global_vars_spec.rb
index 25a12db6d83..d2303dc612d 100644
--- a/spec/rubocop/cop/style/special_global_vars_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/rubocop/cop/style/special_global_vars_spec.rb
@@ -2,122 +2,213 @@
 
 RSpec.describe RuboCop::Cop::Style::SpecialGlobalVars, :config do
   context 'when style is use_english_names' do
-    let(:cop_config) { { 'EnforcedStyle' => 'use_english_names' } }
-
-    it 'registers an offense for $:' do
-      expect_offense(<<~RUBY)
-        puts $:
-             ^^ Prefer `$LOAD_PATH` over `$:`.
-      RUBY
-
-      expect_correction(<<~RUBY)
-        puts $LOAD_PATH
-      RUBY
-    end
-
-    it 'registers an offense for $"' do
-      expect_offense(<<~RUBY)
-        puts $"
-             ^^ Prefer `$LOADED_FEATURES` over `$"`.
-      RUBY
-
-      expect_correction(<<~RUBY)
-        puts $LOADED_FEATURES
-      RUBY
-    end
-
-    it 'registers an offense for $0' do
-      expect_offense(<<~RUBY)
-        puts $0
-             ^^ Prefer `$PROGRAM_NAME` over `$0`.
-      RUBY
-
-      expect_correction(<<~RUBY)
-        puts $PROGRAM_NAME
-      RUBY
-    end
-
-    it 'registers an offense for $$' do
-      expect_offense(<<~RUBY)
-        puts $$
-             ^^ Prefer `$PROCESS_ID` or `$PID` from the stdlib 'English' module (don't forget to require it) over `$$`.
-      RUBY
-
-      expect_correction(<<~RUBY)
-        puts $PROCESS_ID
-      RUBY
-    end
-
-    it 'is clear about variables from the English library vs those not' do
-      expect_offense(<<~RUBY)
-        puts $*
-             ^^ Prefer `$ARGV` from the stdlib 'English' module (don't forget to require it) or `ARGV` over `$*`.
-      RUBY
-
-      expect_correction(<<~RUBY)
-        puts $ARGV
-      RUBY
+    context 'when add require English is disabled' do
+      let(:cop_config) do
+        {
+          'EnforcedStyle' => 'use_english_names',
+          'RequireEnglish' => false
+        }
+      end
+
+      it 'registers an offense for $:' do
+        expect_offense(<<~RUBY)
+          puts $:
+               ^^ Prefer `$LOAD_PATH` over `$:`.
+        RUBY
+
+        expect_correction(<<~RUBY)
+          puts $LOAD_PATH
+        RUBY
+      end
+
+      it 'registers an offense for $"' do
+        expect_offense(<<~RUBY)
+          puts $"
+               ^^ Prefer `$LOADED_FEATURES` over `$"`.
+        RUBY
+
+        expect_correction(<<~RUBY)
+          puts $LOADED_FEATURES
+        RUBY
+      end
+
+      it 'registers an offense for $0' do
+        expect_offense(<<~RUBY)
+          puts $0
+               ^^ Prefer `$PROGRAM_NAME` over `$0`.
+        RUBY
+
+        expect_correction(<<~RUBY)
+          puts $PROGRAM_NAME
+        RUBY
+      end
+
+      it 'registers an offense for $$' do
+        expect_offense(<<~RUBY)
+          puts $$
+               ^^ Prefer `$PROCESS_ID` or `$PID` from the stdlib 'English' module (don't forget to require it) over `$$`.
+        RUBY
+
+        expect_correction(<<~RUBY)
+          puts $PROCESS_ID
+        RUBY
+      end
+
+      it 'is clear about variables from the English library vs those not' do
+        expect_offense(<<~RUBY)
+          puts $*
+               ^^ Prefer `$ARGV` from the stdlib 'English' module (don't forget to require it) or `ARGV` over `$*`.
+        RUBY
+
+        expect_correction(<<~RUBY)
+          puts $ARGV
+        RUBY
+      end
+
+      it 'does not register an offense for backrefs like $1' do
+        expect_no_offenses('puts $1')
+      end
+
+      it 'auto-corrects $/ to $INPUT_RECORD_SEPARATOR' do
+        expect_offense(<<~RUBY)
+          $/
+          ^^ Prefer `$INPUT_RECORD_SEPARATOR` or `$RS` from the stdlib 'English' module (don't forget to require it) over `$/`.
+        RUBY
+
+        expect_correction(<<~RUBY)
+          $INPUT_RECORD_SEPARATOR
+        RUBY
+      end
+
+      it 'auto-corrects #$: to #{$LOAD_PATH}' do
+        expect_offense(<<~'RUBY')
+          "#$:"
+            ^^ Prefer `$LOAD_PATH` over `$:`.
+        RUBY
+
+        expect_correction(<<~'RUBY')
+          "#{$LOAD_PATH}"
+        RUBY
+      end
+
+      it 'auto-corrects #{$!} to #{$ERROR_INFO}' do
+        expect_offense(<<~'RUBY')
+          "#{$!}"
+             ^^ Prefer `$ERROR_INFO` from the stdlib 'English' module (don't forget to require it) over `$!`.
+        RUBY
+
+        expect_correction(<<~'RUBY')
+          "#{$ERROR_INFO}"
+        RUBY
+      end
+
+      it 'generates correct auto-config when Perl variable names are used' do
+        expect_offense(<<~RUBY)
+          $0
+          ^^ Prefer `$PROGRAM_NAME` over `$0`.
+        RUBY
+        expect(cop.config_to_allow_offenses).to eq('EnforcedStyle' => 'use_perl_names')
+
+        expect_correction(<<~RUBY)
+          $PROGRAM_NAME
+        RUBY
+      end
+
+      it 'generates correct auto-config when mixed styles are used' do
+        expect_offense(<<~RUBY)
+          $!; $ERROR_INFO
+          ^^ Prefer `$ERROR_INFO` from the stdlib 'English' module (don't forget to require it) over `$!`.
+        RUBY
+        expect(cop.config_to_allow_offenses).to eq('Enabled' => false)
+
+        expect_correction(<<~RUBY)
+          $ERROR_INFO; $ERROR_INFO
+        RUBY
+      end
     end
 
-    it 'does not register an offense for backrefs like $1' do
-      expect_no_offenses('puts $1')
-    end
-
-    it 'auto-corrects $/ to $INPUT_RECORD_SEPARATOR' do
-      expect_offense(<<~RUBY)
-        $/
-        ^^ Prefer `$INPUT_RECORD_SEPARATOR` or `$RS` from the stdlib 'English' module (don't forget to require it) over `$/`.
-      RUBY
-
-      expect_correction(<<~RUBY)
-        $INPUT_RECORD_SEPARATOR
-      RUBY
-    end
-
-    it 'auto-corrects #$: to #{$LOAD_PATH}' do
-      expect_offense(<<~'RUBY')
-        "#$:"
-          ^^ Prefer `$LOAD_PATH` over `$:`.
-      RUBY
-
-      expect_correction(<<~'RUBY')
-        "#{$LOAD_PATH}"
-      RUBY
-    end
-
-    it 'auto-corrects #{$!} to #{$ERROR_INFO}' do
-      expect_offense(<<~'RUBY')
-        "#{$!}"
-           ^^ Prefer `$ERROR_INFO` from the stdlib 'English' module (don't forget to require it) over `$!`.
-      RUBY
-
-      expect_correction(<<~'RUBY')
-        "#{$ERROR_INFO}"
-      RUBY
-    end
-
-    it 'generates correct auto-config when Perl variable names are used' do
-      expect_offense(<<~RUBY)
-        $0
-        ^^ Prefer `$PROGRAM_NAME` over `$0`.
-      RUBY
-      expect(cop.config_to_allow_offenses).to eq('EnforcedStyle' => 'use_perl_names')
-
-      expect_correction(<<~RUBY)
-        $PROGRAM_NAME
-      RUBY
-    end
-
-    it 'generates correct auto-config when mixed styles are used' do
-      expect_offense(<<~RUBY)
-        $!; $ERROR_INFO
-        ^^ Prefer `$ERROR_INFO` from the stdlib 'English' module (don't forget to require it) over `$!`.
-      RUBY
-      expect(cop.config_to_allow_offenses).to eq('Enabled' => false)
-
-      expect_correction(<<~RUBY)
-        $ERROR_INFO; $ERROR_INFO
-      RUBY
+    context 'when add require English is enabled' do
+      let(:cop_config) do
+        {
+          'EnforcedStyle' => 'use_english_names',
+          'RequireEnglish' => true
+        }
+      end
+
+      context 'when English has not been required at top-level' do
+        it 'adds require English for $$' do
+          expect_offense(<<~RUBY)
+            puts $$
+                 ^^ Prefer `$PROCESS_ID` or `$PID` from the stdlib 'English' module (don't forget to require it) over `$$`.
+          RUBY
+
+          expect_correction(<<~RUBY)
+            require 'English'
+            puts $PROCESS_ID
+          RUBY
+        end
+
+        it 'adds require English for $$ in nested code' do
+          expect_offense(<<~RUBY)
+            # frozen_string_literal: true
+
+            x = true
+            if x
+              puts $$
+                   ^^ Prefer `$PROCESS_ID` or `$PID` from the stdlib 'English' module (don't forget to require it) over `$$`.
+            end
+          RUBY
+
+          expect_correction(<<~RUBY)
+            # frozen_string_literal: true
+
+            require 'English'
+            x = true
+            if x
+              puts $PROCESS_ID
+            end
+          RUBY
+        end
+
+        it 'does not add for replacement outside of English lib' do
+          expect_offense(<<~RUBY)
+            puts $0
+                 ^^ Prefer `$PROGRAM_NAME` over `$0`.
+          RUBY
+
+          expect_correction(<<~RUBY)
+            puts $PROGRAM_NAME
+          RUBY
+        end
+      end
+
+      context 'when English is already required at top-level' do
+        it 'leaves require English alone for $$' do
+          expect_offense(<<~RUBY)
+            require 'English'
+            puts $$
+                 ^^ Prefer `$PROCESS_ID` or `$PID` from the stdlib 'English' module (don't forget to require it) over `$$`.
+          RUBY
+
+          expect_correction(<<~RUBY)
+            require 'English'
+            puts $PROCESS_ID
+          RUBY
+        end
+
+        it 'moves require English above replacement' do
+          expect_offense(<<~RUBY)
+            puts $$
+                 ^^ Prefer `$PROCESS_ID` or `$PID` from the stdlib 'English' module (don't forget to require it) over `$$`.
+            require 'English'
+          RUBY
+
+          expect_correction(<<~RUBY)
+            require 'English'
+            puts $PROCESS_ID
+          RUBY
+        end
+      end
     end
   end