Differences Between American English and British English

The British actually introduced the language to the Americas when they reached these lands by sea between the 16th and 17th centuries. In the UK, the dictionary was compiled by London-based scholars. Meanwhile, in the United States, the lexicographer was a man named Noah Webster. Allegedly, he changed how the words were spelled to make the American version different from the British as a way of showing cultural independence from its mother country. Noah Webster Jr. (October 16, 1758 – May 28, 1843) has been called the "Father of American Scholarship and Education".

Most of the differences between the English of the UK (Br. E) and the English of North America (Am. E) are in …pronunciationgrammarvocabulary (lexis)spellingpunctuationidiomsformatting of dates and numbers

Vocabulary differences. Bin. Trash can. Lift. Elevator

Flat. Apartment. Cooker. Stove

Banknote Bill. Bill. Check

Matching Game. British / American FOODDivide the class into two teams. Each team then takes turns in choosing TWO squares. If the two squares are the same word / picture, then the team gets a point. If the two squares are different, then click on the red circle to hide the picture again. Students must try to remember where the matching pairs of words are. How to Play

Prawn Bologna. Polony Wholemeal bread Brown bread Silverware Cutlery. Shrimp. Eggplant. Аubergine. Starter. Appetizer123456789101112

A number of English idioms that have essentially the same meaning show lexical differences between the British and the American version. Equivalent idiomsa drop in the oceana drop in the bucketstyle.colorfillcolorfill.typestyle.colorfillcolorfill.type

slowcoachslowpoketouch woodknock on wood

Grammatical differences In British English, people use the present perfect to speak about a past action that they consider relevant to the present. The present perfect can be used in the same way in American English, but people often use the past simple when they consider the action finished. This is especially common with the adverbs already, just and yet.{ED083 AE6-46 FA-4 A59-8 FB0-9 F97 EB10719 F}British English. American English. He isn't hungry. He has already had lunch.- Have you done your homework yet?- Yes, I've just finished it. He isn't hungry. He already had lunch.- Did you do your homework yet?- Yes, I just finished it.1. Present perfect and past simplestyle.colorfillcolorfill.typestyle.colorfillcolorstroke.colorfill.type

In British English, the past participle of the verb get is got. In American English, people say gotten.{ED083 AE6-46 FA-4 A59-8 FB0-9 F97 EB10719 F}British English. American English. You could have got hurt!He's got very thin. BUT: Have you got any money?You could have gotten hurt!He's gotten very thin. BUT: Have you got any money? (NOT Have you gotten ...)2. got and gotten** Note that have got is commonly used in both British and American English to speak about possession or necessity. HAVE GOTTEN is not correct here.style.colorfillcolorfill.typestyle.colorfillcolorstroke.colorfill.type

In British English, a singular or plural verb can be used with a noun that refers to a group of people or things (a collective noun). We use a plural verb when we think of the group as individuals or a singular verb when we think of the group as a single unit. In American English, a singular verb is used with collective nouns.{ED083 AE6-46 FA-4 A59-8 FB0-9 F97 EB10719 F}British English. American English. My family is/are visiting Pakistan. The crew is/are on the way to the airport. BUT: The police are investigating the crime. My family is visiting Pakistan. The crew is on the way to the airport. BUT: The police are investigating the crime.3. Verb forms with collective nouns** Note that police is always followed by a plural verb.style.colorfillcolorfill.typestyle.font. Weight

In British English, the verbs have and take are commonly used with nouns like bath, shower, wash to speak about washing and with nouns like break, holiday, rest to speak about resting. In American English, only the verb take (and not the verb have) is used this way.{ED083 AE6-46 FA-4 A59-8 FB0-9 F97 EB10719 F}British English. American English. I'm going to have/take a shower. Let's have/take a break. I'm going to take a shower. Let's take a break.4. have and take. Answer: A photograph.style.colorfillcolorfill.typestyle.colorfillcolorfill.typestyle.colorfillcolorfill.type

In British English, people often use Shall I ...? to offer to do something and/or Shall we ...? to make a suggestion. It is very unusual for speakers of American English to use shall. They normally use an alternative like Should/Can I ...? or Do you want / Would you like ...? or How about ...? instead. {ED083 AE6-46 FA-4 A59-8 FB0-9 F97 EB10719 F}British English. American English. It's hot in here. Shall I open the window?Shall we meet in the café at 5?Shall we try that again?It's hot in here. Can I open the window?Do you want to meet in the café at 5?How about we try that again?5. shallstyle.colorfillcolorfill.typerrrr

Are the sentences more typical of British English or American English?1. They haven't gotten home yet.2. Shall we get takeaway for lunch today?3. Shh! The kids are having a nap.4. Did you have a piece of cake yet?5. Liverpool have won the match!6. They're not going to the movies. They already saw the film.7. Do you want to take a break now?American English. British English8. That restaurant's got really expensive. British English. American English. British English. American English. American English. British Englishstyle.colorfillcolorfill.typestyle.colorfillcolorfill.typestyle.colorfillcolorfill.type