Sneakers Trainers
Triple Treble
Transportation Transport noun
Pants Trousers
Cart Trolley
Subway Tube
Tucked in Tucked up as in “the
baby was tucked up for the night
Study of Tuition for noun as in
“tuition for the flute” Subway
Underground Upscale
Up market Vacuum tube
Valve Undershirt
Vest Walker device to assist
the elderly Walking frame
Doing the dishes Washing up
Vest Waistcoat
3.2 Differences in Grammar between British and American English
There are some differences in Grammar between British and American English. They are:
3.2.1 The usage of Present Perfect
In British English, The Present Perfect is used to express an action that has accrued in the recent past that has an effect on the present moment.
Example: ▪ I’ve lost my key. Can you help me look for it? British English
▪ I lost my key. Can you help me look for it? American English In British English, the usage above would be considered incorrect.
However, both forms are generally accepted in standard American English.
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Other differences involving the usage of present perfect in British English and American English include already, just and yet
Example: .
●British English
▪ I’ve just had breakfast ▪ I’ve already watched the program
▪ Have you finished your duty yet?
● American English
▪ I just had breakfast or I’ve just had breakfast ▪ I already watched the program or I’ve already watched the program
▪ Have you finished your duty yet? 0r Did you finish your duty yet?
3.2.2 The usage of Preposition
There are few differences in using Preposition in British English and
American English, such as: the, a, for, pastafter, toof, till AMERICAN
BRITISH
Be in the hospital Be in hospital
Be at the university Be at university
Go to a university Go to university
Go to class Go to a class
In the future In future
Did it the next day Did it next day
Haven’t done something forin weeks Haven’t done something for weeks
Ten minutes past after six o’ clock Ten minutes past six
o’clock
Five minutes tooftill seven o’clock Five minutes to seven
o’clock
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On the weekend At the weekend
On a team In a team
Please write me soon Please write to me soon
Different fromthan Different fromto
3.2.3 The usage of Possession There are two forms to express possession in English. They are have
and have got. In America English, the possession uses have and in British English uses have got.
Example: ▪ Do you have a car? AmE
Have you got a car? BrE ▪ He doesn’t have any friends AmE
He hasn’t got any friends BrE ▪ She has beautiful new home AmE
She has got a beautiful new home BrE
3.2.4 The usage of the verb Get The past participle of the verb get is Gotten in American English
Example: ▪ He has gotten much better at playing tennis
But, in British English, the past participle of the verb get is got
Example: ▪ He has got much better at playing tennis
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3.2.5 The usage of past simple past participles
The form of past simple past participle is acceptable 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. Example:
American British
Burned Burnt
Dreamed Dreamt
Leaned Leant
Learned Learnt
Smelled Smelt
Spelled Spelt
Spoiled Spoilt
Spilled Spilt
3.2.6 Verb agreement with collective nouns
In British English, collective nounsi.e. nouns referring to particular groups of people or things, e.g. staff, government, class, teamcan be
followed by a singular or plural verb depending on whether the group is thought of as one idea, or as many individuals.
Example: ▪ My Team is winning
▪ The other team are all sitting down ▪ Which team isare losing? Both plural and singular forms of the verb are
possible In American English collective nouns are always followed by a singular verb.
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Example: ▪ The other team is all sitting down
▪ Which team is losing?
3.2.7 The usage of delixical verbs Have and Take In British English, the verb Have frequently functions as what is
technically referred to as a delixical 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. Example:
▪ 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. Example:
▪ 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. Example:
▪ 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?
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3.2.8 The Usage of auxiliaries and modals In British English, the auxiliary Do is often used as a substitute for a
verb when replying to a question. Example:
▪ A: Are you coming with us?
B: I might do. In American English, Do is not used in this way.
Example: ▪ A: Are you coming with us?
B: I might.
In British English, needn’t is often used instead of don’t need to.
Example: ▪ They needn’t come to school today.
In American English, needn’t is very unusual and the usual form is don’t need to.
Example: ▪ They don’t need to come to school today.
In British English, shall is sometimes used an alternative to will to talk
about the future. Example:
▪ I shallwill be there later.
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In American English, shall is unusual and will is normally used.
Example: ▪ I will be there later.
In British English, shall I we is often used to ask for advice or an opinion.
Example: ▪ Shall we ask him to come with us.
In American English, should is often used instead of shall.
Example: ▪ Should we ask him to come with us?
3.3 Differences in Spelling between British and American English