Language varieties
Regional dialects
1. in American and British English grammar
Speakers of American English
generally use the present perfect tense (have/has + past participle) far less
than speakers of British English. In spoken American English it is very common
to use the simple past tense as an alternative in situations where the present
perfect would usually have been used in British English. The two situations
where this is especially likely are:
(i) In sentences which talk about an
action in the past that has an effect in the present:
American English / British English
- Jenny feels ill. She ate too much.
- Jenny feels ill. She's eaten too much.
- I can't find my keys. Did you see them anywhere?
- I can't find my keys. Have you seen them anywhere?
(ii) In sentences which contain the
words already, just or yet:
American English /
British English
- A: Are they going to the show tonight?
- B: No. They already saw it.
- A: Are they going to the show tonight?
- B: No. They've already seen it.
- A: Is Samantha here?
- B: No, she just left.
- A: Is Samantha here?
- B: No, she's just left.
- A: Can I borrow your book?
- B: No, I didn't read it yet.
- A: Can I borrow your book?
- B: No, I haven't read it yet.
1. Verb agreement with collective nouns
In British English collective nouns,
(i.e. nouns referring to particular groups of people or things), (e.g. staff ,
government, class, team) can be followed by a singular or plural verb depending
on whether the group is thought of as one idea, or as many individuals, e.g.:
My team is winning.
The other team are all sitting down.
In American English collective nouns
are always followed by a singular verb, so an American would usually say:
Which team is losing?
whereas in British English both
plural and singular forms of the verb are possible, as in:
Which team is/are losing?
2. Use of delexical verbs have and take
In British English, the verb have
frequently functions as what is technically referred to as a delexical verb,
i.e. it is used in contexts where it has very little meaning in itself but
occurs with an object noun which describes an action, e.g.:
I'd like to have a bath.
Have is frequently used in this way
with nouns referring to common activities such as washing or resting, e.g.:
She's having a little nap.
I'll just have a quick shower before
we go out.
In American English, the verb take, rather than have, is used in these contexts, e.g.:
In American English, the verb take, rather than have, is used in these contexts, e.g.:
Joe's taking a shower.
I'd like to take a bath.
Let's take a short vacation.
Why don't you take a rest now?
3. Use of auxiliaries and modals
In British English, the auxiliary do
is often used as a substitute for a verb when replying to a question, e.g.:
- A: Are you coming with us?
- B: I might do.
In American English, do is not used
in this way, e.g.:
- A: Are you coming with us?
- B: I might.
In British English needn't is often
used instead of don't need to, e.g.:
They needn't come to school today.
They don't need to come to school
today.
In American English needn't is very
unusual and the usual form is don't need to, i.e.:
They don't need to come to school
today.
In British English, shall is
sometimes used as an alternative to will to talk about the future, e.g.:
I shall/will be there later.
In American English, shall is
unusual and will is normally used.
In British English shall I / we is
often used to ask for advice or an opinion, e.g.:
Shall we ask him to come with us?
In American English should is often
used instead of shall, i.e.:
Should we ask him to come with us?
4. Use of prepositions
In British English, at is used with
many time expressions, e.g.:
at Christmas/five 'o' clock
at the weekend
In American English, on is always
used when talking about the weekend, not at, e.g.:
Will they still be there on the
weekend?
She'll be coming home on weekends.
In British English, at is often used
when talking about universities or other institutions, e.g.:
She studied chemistry at university.
In American English, in is often
used, e.g.:
She studied French in high school.
In British English, to and from are
used with the adjective different, e.g.:
This place is different from/to
anything I've seen before.
In American English from and than
are used with different, e.g.:
This place is different from/than
anything I've seen before.
In British English to is always used
after the verb write, e.g.:
I promised to write to her every
day.
In American English, to can be
omitted after write, i.e.:
I promised to write her every day.
5. Past tense forms
Below is a table showing verbs which
have different simple past and past participle forms in American and British
English. Note that the irregular past forms burnt, dreamt and spoilt are
possible in American English, but less common than the forms ending in -ed.
|
Infinitive
|
Simple
past
(Br) |
Simple
past
(Am) |
Past
participle
(Br) |
Past
participle
(Am) |
|
burn
|
burned/
burnt |
burned/
burnt |
burned/
burnt |
burned/
burnt |
|
bust
|
bust
|
busted
|
bust
|
busted
|
|
dive
|
dived
|
dove/
dived |
dived
|
dived
|
|
dream
|
dreamed/
dreamt |
dreamed/
dreamt |
dreamed/
dreamt |
dreamed/
dreamt |
|
get
|
got
|
got
|
got
|
gotten
|
|
lean
|
leaned/
leant |
leaned
|
leaned/
leant |
leaned
|
|
learn
|
learned/
learnt |
learned
|
learned/
learnt |
learned
|
|
plead
|
pleaded
|
pleaded/
pled |
pleaded
|
pleaded/
pled |
|
prove
|
proved
|
proved
|
proved
|
proved/
proven |
|
saw
|
sawed
|
sawed
|
sawn
|
sawn/
sawed |
|
smell
|
smelled/
smelt |
smelled
|
smelled/
smelt |
smelled
|
|
spill
|
spilled/
spilt |
spilled
|
spilled/
spilt |
spilled
|
|
spoil
|
spoiled/
spoilt |
spoiled/
spoilt |
spoiled/
spoilt |
spoiled/
spoilt |
|
stink
|
stank
|
stank/
stunk |
stunk
|
stunk
|
|
wake
|
woke
|
woke/
waked |
woken
|
woken
|
Note that have got is possible in American English, but is used with the meaning 'have', gotten is the usual past participle of get, e.g.
|
American
English
|
British
English
|
|
You've got two brothers
(= you have two brothers) |
You've got two brothers
|
|
You've gotten taller this year
|
You've got taller this year
|
2.Differences in American and British English pronounciation
Single differences
|
BrE
|
AmE
|
Words
|
|
/æ/
|
/ɑ/
|
annato,
BangladeshA2,
Caracas,
chiantiA2,
Galapagos,
GdańskA2,
grappaA2,
gulagA2,
HanoiA2,
JanA2 (male name, e.g. Jan Palach),
KantA2,
kebab,
Las (placenames, e.g. Las Vegas), Mafia,
mishmashA2, MombasaA2, Natasha, Nissan,
Pablo, pasta, PicassoA2,
ralentando, SanA2 (names outside USA; e.g. San Juan), SlovakA2,
Sri LankaA2,
Vivaldi,
wigwamA2,
YasserA2
(and A in many other foreign names and loanwords)
|
|
/iː/
|
/ɛ/
|
|
|
/ɒ/
|
/oʊ/
|
|
|
/ɑː/
|
/æ/
|
(Excluding trap-bath split words)
banana, javaA2, khakiA2, morale,
NevadaA2,
scenarioA2, sopranoA2, tiaraA2,
Pakistani
|
|
/ɛ/
|
/i/
|
CecilA2,B2,
crematoriumA2, cretin, depot, inherentA2,B2,
leisureA2, medievalA2, reconnoitreA2,
zebraB2, zenithA2,B2
|
|
/æ/
|
/eɪ/
|
|
|
/ɪ/
|
/aɪ/
|
dynasty, housewifery,
idyll, livelongA2, long-livedA2,
privacyB2, simultaneous, vitamin. Also the
suffix -ization. See also -ine.
|
|
/z/
|
/s/
|
|
|
/ɑː/
|
/eɪ/
|
amenA2, charadeB2, cicada, galaA2,
promenadeA2, pro rata, tomato, stratum
|
|
/əʊ/
|
/ɒ/
|
codify, goffer,
ogleA2, phonetician, processor, progress
(noun), slothA2,B2, wont A2, wroth
|
|
/ʌ/
|
/ɒ/
|
accomplice, accomplish,
colanderB2, constableB2, Lombardy,
monetaryA2, -mongerA2
|
|
/ɒ/
|
/ʌ/
|
hovelA2,B2,
hover. Also the strong forms of these function
words: anybodyA2 (likewise every-,
some-, and no-), becauseA2,B2 (and clipping 'cos/'cause), ofA2, fromA2,
wasA2, whatA2
|
|
(sounded)
|
(silent)
|
chthonic, herbA2 (plant), KnossosB2,
phthisicB2, salve, solder
|
|
/ɑː/
|
/ɚ/
|
|
|
/aɪ/
|
/i/
|
|
|
/iː/
|
/aɪ/
|
albino, migraineB2.
Also the prefixes anti-A2, multi-A2, semi-A2 in loose compounds (e.g. in anti-establishment,
but not in antibody). See also -ine.
|
|
/ə/
|
/ɒ/
|
hexagon, octagon,
paragon, pentagon, phenomenon.
|
|
/iː/
|
/eɪ/
|
eta, beta, quayA2, theta, zeta
|
|
/aɪ/
|
/ɪ/
|
|
|
/ɛ/
|
/eɪ/
|
ateB2 (“et” is nonstandard in
America), mêlée, chaise longue
|
|
/ɜːz/
|
/us/
|
Betelgeuse,
chanteuse, chartreuseA2, masseuse
|
|
/eɪ/
|
/æ/
|
apricotA2, dahlia, digitalis, patentA2,B2,
comrade
|
|
(silent)
|
(sounded)
|
medicineB2.
See also -ary -ery -ory -bury, -berry
|
|
/ɒ/
|
/ə/
|
|
|
/ʃ/
|
/ʒ/
|
|
|
/ə/
|
/oʊ/
|
borough, thorough
(see also -ory and -mony)
|
|
/ɪr/
|
/ɚ/
|
chirrupA2,
stirrupA2, sirupA2, squirrel
|
|
/siː/
|
/ʃ/
|
cassia, CassiusA2,
hessian
|
|
/tiː/
|
/ʃ/
|
consortium
|
|
/uː/
|
/ju/
|
|
|
/uː/
|
/ʊ/
|
boulevard, snooker,
woofA2 (weaving)
|
|
/ɜː (r)/
|
/ʊr/
|
connoisseurA2,
entrepreneurA2
|
|
/ɜː/
|
/oʊ/
|
|
|
/ə/
|
/eɪ/
|
DraconianA2,
hurricaneB2
|
|
/eɪ/
|
/i/
|
deityA2,B2,
Helene
|
|
/juː/
|
/w/
|
jaguar, Nicaragua
|
|
/ɔː/
|
/ɑ/
|
launch, saltB2
|
|
/ɔː (r)/
|
/ɚ/
|
record (noun), stridorA2,B2
|
|
/ziː/
|
/ʒ/
|
|
|
/æ/
|
/ɒ/
|
twatB2
|
|
/ɒ/
|
/æ/
|
wrath
|
|
/ɑː/
|
/ət/
|
nougat
|
|
/ɑː/
|
/ɔ/
|
|
|
/ɑː/
|
/ɔr/
|
quarkA2,B2
|
|
/æ/
|
/ɛ/
|
|
|
/aɪ/
|
/eɪ/
|
|
|
/aʊ/
|
/u/
|
nousA2
|
|
/ð/
|
/θ/
|
booth
|
|
/diː/
|
/dʒi/
|
cordiality
|
|
/dʒ/
|
/gdʒ/
|
suggestA2
|
|
/eɪ/
|
/ə/
|
template
|
|
/eɪ/
|
/ət/
|
tourniquet
|
|
/ə(r)/
|
/ɑr/
|
|
|
/ə(r)/
|
/jɚ/
|
figureA2 for the
verb
|
|
/ɛ/
|
/ɑ/
|
envelopeA2,B2
|
|
/ɛ/
|
/ə/
|
|
|
/ə/
|
/æ/
|
trapeze
|
|
/ɜː (r)/
|
/ɛr/
|
errA2
|
|
/əʊ/
|
/ɒt/
|
|
|
/əʊ/
|
/aʊ/
|
MoscowA2
|
|
/əʊ/
|
/u/
|
broochA2
|
|
/ɪ/
|
/i/
|
pi(t)taB2
|
|
/iː/
|
/ɪ/
|
beenB2
|
|
/iːʃ/
|
/ɪtʃ/
|
nicheA2,B2
|
|
/jɜː/
|
/ju/
|
milieu
|
|
/juː/
|
/u/
|
barracuda
|
|
/ɔː/
|
/æ/
|
falconA2
|
|
/s/
|
/z/
|
asthma
|
|
/ʃ/
|
/sk/
|
scheduleB2
|
|
/t/
|
/θ/
|
AnthonyA2,B2
|
|
/ts/
|
/z/
|
piazzaA2
|
|
/ʊ/
|
/ɪ/
|
|
|
/ʊ/
|
/ʌ/
|
brusque
|
|
/uː/
|
/aʊ/
|
routeA2
|
|
/uː/
|
/oʊ/
|
cantaloup(e)
|
|
/ʌ/
|
/oʊ/
|
covertA2,B2
|
|
/z/
|
/ʃ/
|
|
|
/ziː/
|
/ʃ/
|
transientA2,
nausea
|
|
3.Differences in lexicon
|
British English
|
American English
|
|
anti-clockwise
|
counter-clockwise
|
|
articulated lorry
|
trailer truck
|
|
autumn
|
autumn, fall
|
|
barrister
|
attorney
|
|
bill (restaurant)
|
bill, check
|
|
biscuit
|
cookie
|
|
block of flats
|
apartment building
|
|
bonnet (clothing)
|
hat
|
|
bonnet (car)
|
hood
|
|
boot
|
trunk
|
|
caravan
|
trailer
|
|
car park
|
parking lot
|
|
chemist's shop
|
drugstore, pharmacy
|
|
chest of drawers
|
dresser, chest of drawers, bureau
|
|
chips
|
fries, French fries
|
|
the cinema
|
the movies
|
|
clothes peg
|
clothespin
|
|
coffin
|
coffin, casket
|
|
crisps
|
potato chips
|
|
crossroads
|
intersection; crossroads (rural)
|
|
cupboard
|
cupboard (in kitchen);
closet (for clothes etc)
|
|
diversion
|
detour
|
|
drawing-pin
|
thumbtack
|
|
drink-driving
|
drunk driving
|
|
driving licence
|
driver's license
|
|
dual carriageway
|
divided highway
|
|
dummy (for baby)
|
pacifier
|
|
dustbin
|
garbage can, trash can
|
|
dustman
|
garbage collector
|
|
engine
|
engine, motor
|
|
estate agent
|
real estate agent
|
|
estate car
|
station wagon
|
|
film
|
film, movie
|
|
flat
|
apartment, flat, studio
|
|
flat tyre
|
flat tire
|
|
flyover
|
overpass
|
|
gearbox (car)
|
transmission
|
|
gear-lever
|
gearshift
|
|
Girl Guide
|
Girl Scout
|
|
ground floor
|
ground/first floor
|
|
handbag
|
handbag, purse, shoulder bag
|
|
high street
|
main street
|
|
holiday
|
vacation
|
|
hood (car)
|
convertible top
|
|
jam
|
jam, preserves
|
|
jug
|
jug, pitcher
|
|
juggernaut
|
18-wheeler
|
|
lift
|
elevator
|
|
lorry
|
truck, semi, tractor
|
|
mad
|
crazy, insane
|
|
main road
|
highway
|
|
maize
|
corn
|
|
maths
|
math
|
|
motorbike
|
motorcycle
|
|
motorway
|
freeway, expressway
|
|
motorway
|
highway, freeway, expressway,
interstate highway, interstate
|
|
nappy
|
diaper
|
|
naughts and crosses
|
tic-tack-toe
|
|
pants, underpants
|
underpants, drawers
|
|
pavement
|
sidewalk
|
|
pet hate
|
pet peeve
|
|
petrol
|
gas, gasoline
|
|
The Plough
|
Big Dipper
|
|
pocket money
|
allowance
|
|
post
|
mail
|
|
postbox
|
mailbox
|
|
postcode
|
zip code
|
|
postman
|
mailman, mail carrier, letter
carrier
|
|
pub
|
bar
|
|
public toilet
|
rest room, public bathroom
|
|
railway
|
railroad
|
|
return (ticket)
|
round-trip
|
|
reverse charge
|
collect call
|
|
ring road
|
beltway, freeway/highway loop
|
|
road surface
|
pavement, blacktop
|
|
roundabout
|
traffic circle, roundabout
|
|
rubber
|
eraser
|
|
rubbish
|
garbage, trash
|
|
rubbish-bin
|
garbage can, trashcan
|
|
saloon (car)
|
sedan
|
|
shop
|
shop, store
|
|
silencer (car)
|
muffler
|
|
single (ticket)
|
one-way
|
|
solicitor
|
lawyer, attorney
|
|
spanner
|
wrench
|
|
sweets
|
candy
|
|
taxi
|
taxi, taxi cab
|
|
tea towel
|
dish towel
|
|
telly (informal), TV
|
television, TV
|
|
third-party insurance
|
liability insurance
|
|
timetable
|
schedule
|
|
tin
|
can
|
|
toll motorway
|
toll road, turnpike
|
|
torch
|
flashlight
|
|
trousers
|
pants, trousers
|
|
tube (train)
|
subway
|
|
underground (train)
|
subway
|
|
vest
|
undershirt
|
|
waistcoat
|
vest
|
|
wallet
|
wallet, billfold
|
|
wellington boots
|
rubber boots, rain boots
|
|
whisky
|
whisky/whiskey
|
|
windscreen
|
windshield
|
|
zip
|
zipper
|
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