Основні відмінності між British English & American English
British English and American English
Do you know any differences between British and American English?
Look at these sentences. Do you know which sentences are more typical of British English or American English?
Shall I open the door for you?
He's taking a shower.
France have won the World Cup.
I'm not hungry. I just ate.
Try this exercise to test your grammar.
Are the sentences more typical of British English or American English?
Shall we go for a walk? _______ My computer isn't working. I haven't gotten anything done. ____
Can I get you a coffee? _______ His family live in Helsinki.________
We'll have a break at 11. _______ She's got behind with her work recently. ________
Did you eat yet? ________ The children are having a bath. __________
Grammar explanation
The main difference between British English and American English is in pronunciation. Some words are also different in each variety of English, and there are also a few differences in the way they use grammar. Here are five of the most common grammatical differences between British and American English.
1. Present perfect and past simple
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.
|
BE
He isn't hungry. He has already had lunch. |
AE
He isn't hungry. He already had lunch. |
2. got and gotten
In British English, the past participle of the verb get is got.
In American English, people say 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.
|
BE
You could have got hurt!
BUT: |
AE
You could have gotten hurt!
BUT: |
3. Verb forms with collective nouns
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.
** Note that police is always followed by a plural verb.
|
BE
My family is/are visiting from Pakistan.
BUT: |
AE
My family is visiting from Pakistan.
BUT: |
4. have and take
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.
|
BE
I'm going to have/take a shower. |
AE
I'm going to take a shower. |
5. shall
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.
|
BE
It's hot in here. Shall I open the window? |
AE
It's hot in here. Can I open the window? |
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?_____________ 8. That restaurant's got really expensive.____________
Основные различия в орфографии
|
Британский Английский |
Американский Английский |
|
-ll- |
-l- |
|
-me, -ue |
– |
|
-s- |
-z- |
|
-ce |
-se |
|
-re |
-er |
|
-our |
-or |
Основные различия в лексике
|
Британский Английский |
Американский Английский |
|
flat |
apartment |
|
lawyer |
attorney |
|
luggage |
baggage |
|
milliard |
billion |
|
taxi |
cab |
|
company |
corporation |
|
city/town centre |
downtown |
|
chemist’s |
drugstore |
|
lift |
elevator |
|
autumn |
fall |
|
petrol |
gas |
|
motorway |
highway |
|
cross-roads |
intersection |
|
living room |
drawing room |
|
coach |
long-distance bus |
|
post |
|
|
cinema |
movies |
|
trousers |
pants |
|
sleeper |
Pullman |
|
railway |
railroad |
|
shop-assistant |
salesman, clerk |
|
time-table |
schedule |
|
football |
soccer |
|
underground |
subway |
|
booking office |
ticket office |
|
to be sick |
to be ill |
|
advocate |
trail lawyer |
|
lorry |
truck |
|
boot |
trunk |
|
ground floor |
first floor |
|
first floor |
second floor |
|
second floor |
third floor |
Некоторые различия в грамматике
|
Британский Английский |
Американский Английский |
|
Have you heard the news? |
Did you hear the news? |
|
He’s just gone out. |
He just went out. |
|
I’ve got a brother. |
I have a brother. |
|
She hasn’t got a pen. |
She doesn’t have a pen. |
|
I’ve got a book. |
I’ve gotten a book. |
|
I suggest he should see the oculist. |
I suggest (that) he see an oculist. |
|
He didn’t eat at all. |
He didn’t eat any. |
|
at the weekend |
on the weekend |
|
Monday to Friday |
Monday through Friday |
|
different from/to |
different from/than |
|
stay at home |
stay home |
|
write to somebody |
write somebody |
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