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British and American people can
always understand each other – but there
are a few notable differences between
British and American English.
Grammar
Vocabulary
Pronunciation
Spelling
In British English, the auxiliary do is often used as a substitute for a verb when replying to a question. In American English, do is not used in this way.
Example:
US A: Are you coming with us?
B: I might.
Brit. A: Are you coming with us?
B: I might do.
In British English needn't is often used
instead of don't need to. In American
English needn't is very unusual and the
usual form is don't need to.
Example:
US They don't need to come to school
today.
Brit. They needn't come to school today.
In British English, shall is sometimes used as an alternative to will to talk about the future. In American English, shall is unusual and will is normally used.
Example:
US I will be there.
Brit. I shall/will be there later.
In British English shall I / we is often used to ask for advice or an opinion. In American English should is often used instead of shall.
Example:
US Should we ask him to come with us?
Brit. Shall we ask him to come with us?
In American English the singular form of the verb is used with collective nouns. In British English the plural form of the verb is used instead of singular.
Example:
US My team is winning.
Brit. My team are winning.
US Which team is losing?
Brit. Which team are losing?
American English speakers use present perfect tense less than British English speakers.
Example:
US I lost my key. Can you help me look for it?
Brit. I’ve lost my key. Can you help me look for it?
US Did you do your homework yet?
Brit. Have you done your homework yet?
US I already ate.
Brit. I’ve already eaten.
US I just had lunch
Brit. I've just had lunch
In British English, ‘have got’ is often used for the possessive sense of ‘have’.
Example:
Brit. I’ve got two sisters.
US I have two sisters.
In British English ‘have got to’ is informally used for ‘have to’. This is much less common in American English.
Example:
Brit. I’ve got to go now.
US I have to go now.
In American English gotten is used
instead of got as a past participle.
Example:
US He's gotten much better at playing
tennis.
Brit. He's got much better at playing
tennis.
In British English have is frequently used when expressing action. In American English take is used instead of have.
Examples:
US I’d like to take a bath./She is taking shower.
Brit. I'd like to have a bath./ She is having shower.
US She's taking a little nap.
Brit. She’s having a little nap.
US Let's take a short vacation.
Brit. Let’s have a short vacation.
US Why don't you take a rest now?
Brit. Why don’t you have a rest now?
The following verbs have two acceptable forms of the past simple/past participle in both American and British English, however, the irregular form is generally more common in British English and the regular form is more common to American English.
Examples:
Verb American English
(-ed)
British English
(-t)
Burn burned burnt
Dream dreamed dreamt
Lean leaned leant
Learn learned learnt
Smell smelled smelt
Spell spelled spelt
Spill spilled spilt
Spoil spoiled spoilt
There are also a few differences between American and British English usage of prepositions.
Example:
US on the weekend
Brit. at the weekend
US on a team
Brit. in a team
US please write me soon
Brit. please write to me soon
British and American English have some different words which have the same meaning.
British English American English
angry mad
autumn fall
Boot(of a car) trunk
chemist’s drug store
cupboard closet
flat apartment
lift elevator
nappy diaper
pavement sidewalk
petrol gas/gasoline
rubbish trash
tap faucet
trousers pants
Example :
British English has some words which many Americans will not understand. And also there are some words which exist in both British and American English but have very different meanings.
Example :
Mean: (adj)
US- angry, bad humored,
Brit. - not generous, tight fisted
There are differences in both vowels and consonants, as well as stress and intonation.
Example:
Shop US /shap/ Brit. /shŏp/
Matter US /(mă(d)′ər/ Brit. /măt′ə/ Internet US /ĭn′ər-nĕt′/ Brit. /ĭn′tə-nĕt′/
What about? US /hwa(d) əbout/ Brit. /hwat əbout/
Advertisement US /ăd′vər-tīz′mənt/ Brit. /ăd-vûr′tĭsmənt/ Bath US /băth/ Brit. /bäth/
Mobile US /mō-bēl′/ Brit. /mō′bēl′/
Adult US /ə-dŭlt′/ Brit. /ăd′ŭlt/ Civilization US /sĭv′ə-lĭ-zā′shən/ Brit. /sĭv′ə-lī-zā′shən/
American and British English have some spelling differences.
Some words that end in ‘-tre’ in British English end in ‘-ter’ in American English.
US theater, center
Brit. theatre, centre
Some words that end in ‘-our’ in British English end in ‘-or’ in American English.
US color, labor
Brit. colour, labour
Some words are shorter in American English than in British English.
US catalog, program
Brit. catalogue, programme
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