Differences Between American and British English ( With more examples and execises with answers) While there are certainly many more varieties of English, American and British English are the two varieties that are taught in most ESL/EFL programs. Generally, it is agreed that no one version is "correct" however, there are certainly preferences in use. The most important rule of thumb is to try to be consistent in your usage. If you decide that you want to use American English spellings then be consistent in your spelling (i.e. The color of the orange is also its flavour - color is American spelling and flavour is British), this is of course not always easy - or possible. The following guide is meant to point out the principal differences between these two varieties of English. Use of the Present Perfect In British English the present perfect is used to express an action that has occurred in the recent past that has an effect on the present moment. For example: I've lost my key. Can you help me look for it? In American English the following is also possible: I lost my key. Can you help me look for it? In British English the above would be considered incorrect. However, both forms are generally accepted in standard American English. Other differences involving the use of the present perfect in British English and simple past in American English include already, just and yet. British English: I've just had lunch I've already seen that film Have you finished your homework yet? American English: I just had lunch OR I've just had lunch I've already seen that film OR I already saw that film. Have your finished your homework yet? OR Did you finish your homework yet? Possession There are two forms to express possession in English. Have or Have got Do you have a car? Have you got a car? He hasn't got any friends. He doesn't have any friends. She has a beautiful new home. She's got a beautiful new home. While both forms are correct (and accepted in both British and American English), have got (have you got, he hasn't got, etc.) is generally the preferred form in British English while most speakers of American English employ the have (do you have, he doesn't have etc.) The Verb Get The past participle of the verb get is gotten in American English. Example He's gotten much better at playing tennis. British English - He's got much better at playing tennis. Vocabulary Probably the major differences between British and American English lies in the choice of vocabulary. Some words mean different things in the two varieties for example: Mean: (American English - angry, bad humored, British English - not generous, tight fisted) Rubber: (American English - condom, British English - tool used to erase pencil markings) There are many more examples (too many for me to list here). If there is a difference in usage, your dictionary will note the different meanings in its definition of the term. Many vocabulary items are also used in one form and not in the other. One of the best examples of this is the terminology used for automobiles. American English - hood British English - bonnet American English - trunk British English - boot American English - truck British English - lorry Once again, your dictionary should list whether the term is used in British English or American English. For a more complete list of the vocabulary differences between British and American English use this Prepositions There are also a few differences in preposition use including the following: American English - on the weekend British English - at the weekend American English - on a team British English - in a team American English - please write me soon British English - please write to me soon Past Simple/Past Participles 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 (the first form of the two) and the regular form is more common to American English. Burn Burnt OR burned Dream dreamt OR dreamed Lean leant OR leaned Learn learnt OR learned Smell smelt OR smelled Spell spelt OR spelled Spill spilt OR spilled Spoil spoilt OR spoiled Spelling Here are some general differences between British and American spellings: Words ending in -or (American) -our (British) color, colour, humor, humour, flavor, flavour etc. Words ending in -ize (American) -ise (British) recognize, recognise, patronize, patronise etc. The best way to make sure that you are being consistent in your spelling is to use the spell check on your word processor (if you are using the computer of course) and choose which variety of English you would like. As you can see, there are really very few differences between standard British English and standard American English. However, the largest difference is probably that of the choice of vocabulary and pronunciation. For further information concerning these areas please refer to the following more examples 1) English is my favourite subject at school. British English 2) Have you seen Dick's new truck? American English 3) The park is in the center of our town. American English 4) Mr Barnes, our caretaker, found my key. British English 5) I like French fries, they're very crispy. American English 6) Have you seen the latest movie? American English 7) I've passed this test. So I'll get my driving licence very soon. British English 8) The accident happened because the blue car didn't stop at the traffic lights. British English 9) Tom told me to get off the Underground at Tower Hill. British English 10) They have moved into a semi-detached house. British English more examples American British apartment flat argument row baby carriage pram band-aid plaster bathroom loo or WC can tin chopped beef mince cookie biscuit corn maize diaper nappy elevator lift eraser rubber flashlight torch fries chips gas petrol guy bloke, chap highway motorway hood (car) bonnet jello jelly jelly jam kerosene paraffin lawyer solicitor license plate number plate line queue mail post motor home caravan movie theater cinema muffler silencer napkin serviette nothing nought overpass flyover pacifier dummy pants trousers parking lot car park period full stop pharmacist chemist potato chips crisps rent hire sausage banger sidewalk pavement soccer football sweater jumper trash can bin truck lorry trunk (car) boot vacation holiday vest waistcoat windshield (car) windscreen zip code postal code Exercises Exercise 1 How many differences between British and American English can you find from reading these two short texts? Mark (Hampshire, England) ‘I’m going to rake up the leaves in the garden, then get a DVD for tonight from the shop on the High Street, unless you’d rather go to the cinema. There’s no point cleaning the house now because Simon’s got his mates coming round to watch the football, and the last time they came they left crisps all over the carpet!’ Mark (New Hampshire, United States) ‘My buddy Jim must be one of the most accident-prone people in the world. Last year he went to hospital four times – first he broke his toe playing soccer, then he tripped over and broke his wrist when he was walking out of a store on Main Street, then he burnt himself at a barbecue here in our yard, then he somehow got a potato chip stuck in his throat at the movie theatre!’ Answers : garden/yard, shop/store, High Street/Main Street, cinema/movie theatre, mate/buddy, football/soccer, (potato) crisp/chip Exercise 2 Fill in the gaps to complete the table of British English words and their American equivalents. BRITISH AMERICAN BRITISH AMERICAN 1. biscuit c _ _ kie 11. torch flashl _ _ _ _ 2. l _ rry truck 12. p _ yrise raise 3. puncture f _ _ t 13. curtains dr _ pe _ 4. rubbish bin t _ _ _ h can 14. note (money) _ ill 5. ground floor f _ _ _ _ floor 15. bill (e.g. in a restaurant) ch _ _ k 6. c _ retaker janitor 16. boot (of a car) tr _ nk 7. t _ n can 17. cook _ _ stove 8. zip zipp _ _ 18. return (ticket) r _ _ nd trip 9. windscr _ _ n windshield 19. single (ticket) o _ e-w _ y 10. underground (train system) subw _ _ 20. p _ _ tbox mailbox Answers: 1. cookie 2. lorry 3. flat 4. trash can 5. first 6. caretaker 7. tin 8. zipper 9. windscreen 10. subway 11. flashlight 12. payrise 13. drapes 14. bill 15. check 16. trunk 17. cooker 18. round trip 19. one-way 20. postbox (Note that some American English words such as can and cookie are now also commonly used in British English.) Exercise 3 Look each of the sentences below and decide whether they are written in British English (B), American English (A), or if they would be the same in both types of English (AB). Then change the British English sentences into American English, and the American English sentences into British English. 1. Did you get a single or a return? 2. It’s a really busy, noisy road – there are trucks going past all the time. 3. She lives on the first floor, so you won’t have to go up any stairs. 4. Shall I just put this stuff in the trash can? 5. I got a puncture when I was cycling to work yesterday. 6. My dad works as a janitor at the local school. 7. I went to the shop to buy five tins of peaches and some biscuits. 8. It’s one of the biggest cities in Europe. 9. Excuse me, could we have the check please? 10. Yes, thank you, the meal was excellent. 11. It’s dark out there, so take a torch. 12. I’m going to have to clean this windshield – I can hardly see out of it. If you could just bring me some water, I’ll use the cloth I’ve got in the trunk. 13. That bag looks far too heavy for you to carry. 14. I need to get this bag repaired because the zip’s broken. 15. It’s about twenty minutes on the subway. 16. I’d like a new cooker, but we can’t really afford it. 17. I hate my job – my boss is an idiot and I haven’t had a raise for four years. 18. Their new carpet’s a weird colour and it doesn’t match the drapes at all. 19. I’m sure I had a twenty-dollar bill in this pocket, so where is it now? 20. Honey, can you go and put this in the mailbox for me? Answers: 1. B: Did you get a single (one way) or a return (round trip)? 2. A: It’s a really busy, noisy road – there are trucks (lorries) going past all the time. 3. A: She lives on the first (ground) floor, so you won’t have to go up any stairs. 4. A: Shall I just put this stuff in the trash can (rubbish bin)? 5. B: I got a puncture (flat) when I was cycling to work yesterday. 6. A: My dad works as a janitor (caretaker) at the local school. 7. B: I went to the shop (store) to buy five tins (cans) of peaches and some biscuits (cookies). 8. AB 9. A: Excuse me, could we have the check (bill) please? 10. AB 11. B: It’s dark out there, so take a torch (flashlight). 12. A: I’m going to have to clean this windshield (windscreen) – I can hardly see out of it. If you could just bring me some water, I’ll use the cloth I’ve got in the trunk (boot). 13. AB 14. B: I need to get this bag repaired because the zip’s (zipper’s) broken. 15. A: It’s about twenty minutes on the subway (underground / Tube). 16. B: I’d like a new cooker (stove), but we can’t really afford it. 17. A: I hate my job – my boss is an idiot and I haven’t had a raise (payrise) for four years. 18. A: Their new carpet’s a weird colour and it doesn’t match the drapes (curtains) at all. 19. A: I’m sure I had a twenty-dollar bill (note) in this pocket, so where is it now? 20. A: Honey, can you go and put this in the mailbox (postbox) for me? . Between American and British English ( With more examples and execises with answers) While there are certainly many more varieties of English, American and British. in the gaps to complete the table of British English words and their American equivalents. BRITISH AMERICAN BRITISH AMERICAN 1. biscuit c _ _ kie 11. torch