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Differences Between American English and British English (Leyla Rashidli, Jeddah International Turkish School)

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Page 1: Differences Between American English and British English (Leyla Rashidli, Jeddah International Turkish School)
Page 2: Differences Between American English and British English (Leyla Rashidli, Jeddah International Turkish School)

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

Page 3: Differences Between American English and British English (Leyla Rashidli, Jeddah International Turkish School)

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.

Page 4: Differences Between American English and British English (Leyla Rashidli, Jeddah International Turkish School)

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.

Page 5: Differences Between American English and British English (Leyla Rashidli, Jeddah International Turkish School)

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?

Page 6: Differences Between American English and British English (Leyla Rashidli, Jeddah International Turkish School)

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?

Page 7: Differences Between American English and British English (Leyla Rashidli, Jeddah International Turkish School)

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

Page 8: Differences Between American English and British English (Leyla Rashidli, Jeddah International Turkish School)

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.

Page 9: Differences Between American English and British English (Leyla Rashidli, Jeddah International Turkish School)

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.

Page 10: Differences Between American English and British English (Leyla Rashidli, Jeddah International Turkish School)

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?

Page 11: Differences Between American English and British English (Leyla Rashidli, Jeddah International Turkish School)

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

Page 12: Differences Between American English and British English (Leyla Rashidli, Jeddah International Turkish School)

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

Page 13: Differences Between American English and British English (Leyla Rashidli, Jeddah International Turkish School)

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 :

Page 14: Differences Between American English and British English (Leyla Rashidli, Jeddah International Turkish School)

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

Page 15: Differences Between American English and British English (Leyla Rashidli, Jeddah International Turkish School)

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/

Page 16: Differences Between American English and British English (Leyla Rashidli, Jeddah International Turkish School)
Page 17: Differences Between American English and British English (Leyla Rashidli, Jeddah International Turkish School)

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

Page 18: Differences Between American English and British English (Leyla Rashidli, Jeddah International Turkish School)

THANK

YOU!