Which language to study: British or American English? How does British English differ from American English?

Almost everyone who started learning a foreign language was faced with the question - British English or American English, which language to learn? Some believe that it is necessary to know the classic British version, while others argue that the American version is not only modern, but also easy to learn. Especially this question relevant for beginners. In this article we will try to understand which option is more preferable and is suitable for you in a particular situation. Since there are certain differences in pronunciation and grammar.

Before you make your choice and start learning, you need to find out what advantages both languages ​​have.

Before talking about the American language as an independent unit, we should remember how the division of languages ​​occurred. After the discovery of America by Columbus, Europeans began to explore this continent. Representatives of different languages ​​needed a single language that everyone could understand. The choice was made in favor of the language of Foggy Albion. Neither the Queen nor members of the intelligentsia visited the open mainland. Traders, the bourgeoisie, as well as all those who needed to hide from persecution, sought to get here. Naturally, in such a diverse society there could be no talk of prim British vocabulary with its complex grammar. In addition, Spaniards and French began to move to America, bringing something of their own to the refined vocabulary of the British. Thus, one of the most changing and simplified languages ​​arose. Here is the answer to the question of what is the difference between these dialects.

Advantages of American English

Which one should you learn – British English or American English? Naturally, each of us is attracted by the lightness, modernity and accessibility of the American model. Just as Europeans many centuries ago, when moving to a new continent, sought to simplify their lives, so we are following their example. Bright idioms, slang - that's all that makes it different American English from its progenitor - the prim English language. The genes of their ancestors are so strong among the inhabitants of America that they are still too lazy to understand the rules and nuances of speech. Abbreviated words and phrases, distortion of established expressions - everything that terrifies the natives of England.

So, the main advantages of the American model:

• simplified grammar. In the American version there are only three simple tenses - Past, Present, Future. For Americans it costs nothing instead Past Perfect use Past Simple. Moreover, the latter can be replaced by Present Perfect. In England such liberties are unacceptable. These are very significant differences between dialects.
• slang. Helps make speech more lively and convey your thoughts to your interlocutor faster.
• idioms. Despite the fact that there are plenty of these parts of speech in the British language, American ones are distinguished by their brevity and conciseness. For example, start comparing some expressions - hit the books – learn a lot (American version).
• trends of other languages. If you carefully monitor the speech of an American, you will notice that suffixes and words from Spanish and French are used quite often. For example, tutor - tutor or adios - goodbye. And you must agree that the resulting mixture of several languages ​​has its own charm, which we are happy to learn.

The advantages of classical English

First of all, British English is the foundation, the foundation. Knowing this option, you will have no problem in the future learning any interpretation of it, be it American or Singaporean.

Despite the fact that the American version is quite common in the world, classical English is more valuable in narrow circles. Believe me, on international conferences or business negotiations, British English is not only more preferable, but also more appropriate, which cannot be said about American pronunciation.

If you can master the difficult grammar of classical English, the American version will seem like heaven to you in the future. After all, everyone knows that constructions in the British language are quite difficult to learn.

It would seem that the British are more restrained in their emotions than the Americans, however, the British language has much more intonation than it seems at first glance. Their speech is more variable in tone, ranging from outdated expressions to up-to-date vocabulary.

IN educational institutions Russia is studying the British version. Therefore, if you know at least some basics, it will be easier for you to learn English for beginners and advanced in the future.

Comparing the pronunciation of the English and American versions, you will notice that the latter is harsher. The British language is viscous, soft, melodious and sounds more pleasant. Even US residents recognize the superior tonality of this version. And the British are celebrating their victory.

As for literature, if you know the British language, you can read American authors without any problems. The exception is contemporary works, for example, by Chuck Palahniuk. In this case, readers need to know the slang. Therefore, you will have to start learning modern American expressions.

All dialects of English are very similar to each other. This applies to both vocabulary and grammar. That’s why, when you go on a trip to an English-speaking country, you don’t have to worry that the locals won’t understand you.

Varieties of British English

To date, three variations have emerged within the British model:

• The first option is aristocratic. It is spoken by representatives of the royal family and Parliament. Its use is appropriate at meetings and important receptions. This variety is called conservative.
• The second option is the language of society. He answers everyone accepted standards and is called received pronunciation (RP). You can also find something else - the BBC language. It is intended primarily for the press.
• The third variety is advanced. This is an advanced version spoken by young people. Advanced is mobile and constantly in dynamics. You can find a lot of slang, newfangled words and colorful idioms in it. Something this variety is similar to the American model because it has simplified grammar and an American sound.

English with a native speaker via Skype

In the age of computer technology, learning English with a native speaker using Skype is becoming increasingly popular. This is a good option that will help you quickly master all the intricacies of the language and “speak.” A native speaker, be it a resident of England or America, will teach you the current language and indicate how to pronounce this or that construction. With its help, you can master words and phrases from real life. This way, you can avoid memorizing outdated phrases that no one needs. Current vocabulary is the basis for learning not only English, but also any other language.

The British will help you master the grammar course without much difficulty. It will teach you how to construct sentences correctly, which will allow you to quickly understand the spoken dialect.

A tutor will help you get rid of your accent, teach you clear pronunciation, and tell you how to pronounce words correctly. With its help you can eradicate the admixture of Spanish or American language.

A native speaker will help you fully immerse yourself in the language environment and understand what English sounds like. Once you learn to understand the speech of a tutor, you will understand the speech of other native speakers without any obstacles.

American English lessons

The Voice of America radio program has developed a course with which you can gradually learn American English in a fairly short period of time. Its name is English USA - That's what they say in America. It is designed for two years of study and includes 104 lessons. There is no transcription here, but there is everyday vocabulary. The main goal of training is practical mastery of American English.

Each lesson offers dialogue. In it, students follow radio journalist Martin Lerner as he travels across America. He meets with many Americans who come from different backgrounds and different professions. The journalist conducts a dialogue using everyday expressions.

Also present in the lessons is presenter Anna Filippova, who invites her students to take part in the conversation and also helps them practice using idiomatic constructions. The main focus of the lessons is the repetition of structures from colloquial speech, which will help to better master and understand the language.

Having looked at the merits of one and the other option, most likely, you have already decided which English you want to learn more. Here are some interesting facts:

• The similarity between American and classical English reaches up to 98%. In fact, it doesn't really matter which option you choose. Knowing one of the varieties, you will be able to communicate without barriers, both with residents of England and with residents of America or Australia.
• Native speakers note that a mixture of American and British languages. It has already been given a name - “international English language" It is an emotionally neutral language that contains a minimum number of idioms and slang. However, it is mainly used by residents of non-English speaking countries.

Teachers and philologists say that it is better to start learning English from classical British, gradually adding idioms and slang to it.

As can be seen from the above, no matter what option you choose, in any case it will be useful to you in the future. But first of all, focus on the goals you are pursuing. If you want to go to rainy England, learn British, and if you want to go to America, learn American. It would be a good idea to listen to audio recordings in both languages. Decide which speech you like best. One of the keys to successful learning is a love of language. If you studied the classical dialect at school or university, it would be more advisable to continue studying it.

Well, I’ll express my opinion about English languages. At school, and even at the Institute, we were taught the so-called British version of English - which I call for myself the “Russian version of English”. I say this because my school teachers had never been abroad and had never even met a living Englishman - and their pronunciation was appropriate, that is, Russian. At the institute, the teachers already spoke a couple of levels higher - but still - the Russian accent was present, this was felt after we had 3 American teachers in the 4th year - and there was something to compare with. This was felt in all respects - both in the tempo of speech, and in other intonation, and in the very pronunciation (of sounds). Those Americans who taught us were very easy to understand, they said on Standard American, after all, they are teachers, and not heroin dealers from Harlem. It was later in life that I met, for example, guys from Texas who were difficult to understand - they spoke through their noses, swallowed sounds, cut off endings. But nevertheless, I understood them too. that is, there is Standard American, and there is Southern American/Midwestern and a bunch of others. Take, for example, how blacks talk - that’s also a different story (I won’t go into detail about blacks; I judge them only from films).

--- “Are the differences between these variants of English significant?-- Between them is the Atlantic Ocean,” this opinion was expressed above. I won't argue - I'll express my opinion. I believe that the differences between Standard American and Standard British are not great - for me they come down to a couple of obvious differences
Br dance-Am dance/ Br girl- Am girl well, plus all these combinations when there is the letter “r” - or/ur/ir/ar. Everything else is trifles. What other differences can you tell me? Do Americans speak through their noses? - well, it happens - but not all. Differences in grammar are minor. According to? May the British understand you perfectly - it doesn’t matter what you say - pavement or sidewalk.
As for films, standard American predominates in our country. most films American and English Hardly ever.
Question - “Will it be normal to study both options mixed?” - Yes, it’s normal - because until you start working with native speakers or live for a long time somewhere in the UK, the accent will be appropriate, namely Standard Russian British :) - and not some kind of British or American
But what, for example, when taking the FCE, is it so important which version you speak?
Now, a few words about Standard British - this is the language of TV, films, radio (like the BBC), all sorts of phonetic courses and textbooks. I can safely say - 50% of the English (if not more) do not speak it. I've been working with them now for a year. I already wrote about my sad experience in another topic.
What can I say if they sometimes don’t understand each other. Those. a person living in London may have some problems understanding a person from Liverpool - the pronunciation varies not only from area to area, but even from city to city. Not to mention all the Scots
a couple of examples of their pronunciation - love, done, come - how will they be read?---correctly--through the usual “o”
money, Monday, one, rough, russian - all through the sound "u". Similar differences - mooore
This created some difficulties in understanding - Come with us, we "ll have some fun - Com visa us, vil "av som fun - at first I was lost, but now it’s normal, I’m used to it :)
As for my own pronunciation, I admit that sometimes I mix American and British into one heap. Having worked with the Americans (just a couple of weeks) - now I can no longer pronounce I can"t in the British manner - probably a psychological barrier :) The Americans laughed and called me you, li"l cunt :)
“Switching from British to American” -hmm- I wouldn’t be able to do that - and why? I'm not translating for Mr. Bush. And everyone understands me without any problems. To the question “how do you like my pronunciation?” They told me “pretty much authentic” - and on this I decided that I would not adapt to their pronunciation.
So which option is better - everyone chooses for himself --- while studying at the institute I really wanted to speak with an American accent - well, I just liked it better and that’s all - but in general there’s not much difference

The question of which English to learn: British or American is a subject of debate among millions of people studying this language around the world. Some say that the American version is more modern and simpler, others call for a return to the classic British one. Let's try to find out today which option is most relevant for you.

The English language is no less bright and multifaceted than Russian. Should we stick to the classics or live by today's ideals? Let's try to find out what advantages both languages ​​have and make right choice in favor of one of them.

A brief excursion into the history of the emergence of the American language

First, let's remember history, it will help us understand where the division of languages ​​came from. Remember who discovered America? Great, now tell me, who began to explore the new continent? That's right, the most different representatives European countries. It is quite natural that this motley crowd needed a common language of communication. They didn’t bother too much with this issue, choosing the common language of Foggy Albion. You, of course, understand that the British Queen and other decent people did not go to America. As a rule, traders, the petty bourgeoisie, and those who needed to escape criminal prosecution sought to get to the new continent. They set off in search of happiness and safe shelter. How do you think these people communicated? Naturally, perfect pronunciation, prim British vocabulary and precise grammatical structures were out of the question! In addition, the abundance of immigrants from France, Italy, and Portugal did not at all contribute to the use of the refined language of the English nobility. So a simplified version emerged, which became the foundation of American English. Needless to say, this language is still one of the most flexible and rapidly changing along with Russian.

And now about the advantages of American English

American English is for those who are looking for the easiest way. Which English is better to learn: American or British? Of course, the American variation of the language attracts us with its ease, accessibility, and modernity. We, like immigrants from Europe many years ago, want to simplify our lives. Slang words and colorful idioms are the favorite child of the American language (although British has plenty of them too). Apparently, the genes of the immigrants are still making themselves felt: Americans do not like to understand the rules and nuances of speech. They distort pronunciation, shorten words, abbreviate phrases, which horrifies the aristocratic British.

What's good about the American version?

• Simple grammar. Americans most often use only three simple tenses: Present, Past, Future. They may well replace Past Perfect with Past Simple. And this same Past Simple can even replace the Present Perfect. In the UK, for taking such liberties you would be given, at a minimum, a contemptuous look. This does not bother the people of America. It's not a matter of " stupid Americans”, but in the desire to communicate dynamically, simply and quickly.
• Slang. To be honest, even passionate adherents of classical literature like to throw in a bright word from time to time. Slang expressions make speech lively and quickly convey ideas to the interlocutor.
• Idioms. There are plenty of them in both the British and American versions. Only in the latter they are more concise, precise, “newfangled”. For example, hit the books - prepare for an exam, study, study a lot. Or duck soup - it's as easy as shelling pears.
• Influence of other languages. In a conversation with an American friend, you may be surprised to discover the words tacos, adios, doritos, borrowed from Spanish. Also pay attention to the words employee (employee), tutor (tutor). Do you feel a taste of French? Yes, Americans actively use the suffixes of this language. Still, such an “explosive mixture” has its own charm.

Now let's see what British English can do against this

Why you should learn English via Skype with a native speaker

• A native speaker, whether American or British, will teach you a living, relevant language. He will only use words and phrases that are used in real life. This way you will protect your speech from using outdated expressions and other archaisms. Current vocabulary is the main thing in learning English.
• He will explain how easy it is to master grammar, construct a sentence, and will methodically guide you through the material you have covered.
• Native speakers who teach English professionally speak without an accent. They will teach you pure pronunciation without any admixture of Americanism, Spanishism and other languages.
• The most valuable thing in classes is the experience of communicating with a foreigner. You will finally immerse yourself in the language environment and try English “by ear”. If you manage to understand your tutor’s speech, then there will be no problems understanding Americans or English; after all, the difference between the languages ​​is not as great as it seems at first glance.

Which version of English should you learn: British or American?

A thing well said will be in all languages.

A well-expressed thought sounds smart in all languages.

And now, when you are almost ready to choose the option you like, we will tell you the most interesting facts.

• Both varieties of language are 93-97% similar to each other. So, by and large, it doesn't matter which type you choose. Residents of both countries communicate without a translator, so they will understand you in England, America, and Australia (they also have their own dialect, no less bright than all the others).
• English teachers around the world are celebrating the emergence of... a new variation. This is something between the British and American versions. It has already been dubbed “international English”. It is quite neutral in emotional tone and contains a minimum of slang and idioms. As you understand, it is used mainly by residents of non-English speaking countries.
• According to the experience of philologists and teachers, it is best to teach the classical basis, while simultaneously supplementing it with the most commonly used slang words and idioms.

As you can see, any option will be relevant and will definitely be useful to you in the future. When choosing a language, focus on your goals: if you are going to the UK, learn British, if you are going to America, learn American. Listen to the audio recordings and choose the option whose sound you prefer to hear, because love for the language is one of the components of successful learning. And thanks to your love for the English language, you can learn any version of it: both American and British.

The difficulty of learning English is that you have to learn two versions: British and American. When using written English, it is important to stick to one spelling throughout the entire document. But also in oral speech You can get into trouble by not distinguishing between the meaning and pronunciation of words and phrases used in America and Great Britain. In order not to confuse the American language with the British language, you need to know the main differences.

So let's start with spelling some English words. First of all, it should be noted that in British English most words retain the features of the languages ​​from which they came into English, while in American English their spelling is influenced by pronunciation.

So, for example, words ending with ‘-tre" in British English end with '-ter" in American English: theater, center - theater, center.

Words that end in '- our' in British English end in '- or' in American English: colour, labor - color, labor.

In British English, some words are longer than in American English, due to the fact that US residents adapt borrowed words: catalogue, program - catalog, program.

In the British version, verbs can end in ‘-ize’ or ‘-ise’; in America they only write ‘-ize’: apologize or apologise, organize or organize, recognize or recognize - apologize, organize, recognize.

Words that end in '-yse' in British have the ending '-yze' in American: analyze, paralyse - analyze, paralyze.

According to the rules of spelling in the British version, verbs ending in a vowel +l double the final consonant when adding the endings -ing or -ed; in the American version this rule is not present: travel - travelled - travelling - traveler; fuel - fuelled - fueling; travel - traveled - traveling - traveler - fuel - fueled - fueling

Some words from the field of medicine in British English are distinguished by the fact that they are written with 'ae" and 'oe", and in American English only with 'e': leukaemia, manoeuvre, oestrogen, paediatric - leukemia, maneuver, estrogen, pediatric.

One word - two pronunciations

There are words that are spelled the same in both British and American, but the British and Americans pronounce them differently. The transcription and pronunciation of such words must be memorized so as not to mix American and British English during communication. For example, the verb "Ask" is pronounced [æsk] in American and [ɑːsk] in British. Other most famous differences are presented in the table below.

Differences in grammar

It should be noted that Americans do not respect grammatical rules too much. So, when talking about an action that ended not long ago, they do not bother to use the Present Perfect, replacing it with a tense like the Past Simple. The British use Perfect everywhere.

Did you do your homework yet? I already did it - that's what the Americans say.

Slight differences between British and American English are observed in the formation of the II and III forms of some irregular verbs.

BrE: learnt, dreamt, burnt, leant.

AmE: learned, dreamed, burned, leaned

Expression have got meaning to have is more often used by the British, while Americans simply use the verb have. Also residents Foggy Albion often use dividing questions in their speech, while Americans do this very rarely.

The options for using prepositions are also different: the British say in a team, Americans - on a team, at the weekend (BrE) - on the weekend (AmE), write TO smb (BrE) - write smb (AmE).

Vocabulary

Sometimes the same single word or construction in British English can be translated differently into American English. In the table below you can see the most striking examples.

Conclusion

We found out how British English differs from American English. Now the question arises: which option should be preferred? You need to know both options. Knowing American English will help you understand everyone, and with knowledge British version everyone will understand you correctly.

Are British and American English the same thing? Find out how they differ and how they are similar. For those who want to “feel the difference” - 5 test exercises!

In contact with

Classmates

Those who complain about the difficulty of learning German don’t even know how lucky they are - because they only have to learn one language. Of course, there are different dialects in German-speaking countries, but someone who has learned standard literary German (Hochdeutsch) will have no problems and will be easily understood by residents of Germany, Austria or Switzerland.

The difficulty for those learning English is that there is no standard in this language. There are two options to learn: British English and American (even if you don’t take into account Australian, Indian, South African dialects, etc.). Despite their mutual cross-cultural influences, it seems that the vocabulary, spelling and pronunciation of British and American English are becoming increasingly different every year.

To stick to one option and, more importantly, to be understood correctly, you need to know which words differ in meaning and pronunciation in America and Great Britain. This is important not only for simple communication, but also in order to avoid awkward situations.

For example, if a woman from London says to a New Yorker: “I have left my child's dummy in the pram and his nappy in the boot,” she will only get a puzzled look in response. If a New Yorker tells her: “ You have nice pants,” she could easily consider this an insult.

In Britain, a baby's pacifier is called a dummy, in America - a pacifier, diapers in the first case - nappies, in the second - diapers. The British call a pram a pram, while the Americans call it a baby carriage. What is boot for the British is trunk for the Americans. In America the word pants means trousers, while in Britain it means underwear (underpants).

Below are examples of the main differences between the two languages, as well as some exercises.

Differences in spelling

With regard to the spelling of British English (BrE) and American (AmE), it can be said that Americans adhere to a more economical and phonetic spelling. Unpronounceable letters are skipped, and words are written closer to their sound. The most obvious example is the absence of the letter u in American words such as color, neighbor, honor, etc.

Compare also the words traveling, jewelry and program with their British equivalents - travelling, jewelery and program. However, this rule does not always apply. You might think that in America it's spelled skilful and in Britain it's spelled skillful, but it's actually the other way around!

Exercise 1

Which of the following words are written in American English and which are written in British English? Can you give a second spelling?

Sample: AmE - mustache:BrE— mustache

• airplane, check, theater, tire, defense, woolen, pajamas, gaol

Differences in pronunciation

Of course, both countries have their own regional pronunciations, but the following words are pronounced differently by most Americans and Britons. The differences are mainly in the sound of vowels or stress.

Exercise 2

Can you indicate how an American would pronounce the following words and how a British person would pronounce them?

• vase, route, ballet, address (noun), ate, buoy, tomato, advertisement, garage, leisure

Differences in vocabulary

The percentage of words that are used in only one country is very small, but the problem for English learners is that these words are among the most commonly used. Many words are used only by Americans but most Britons understand them, but others can be difficult.

For example, the British know that Americans call biscuits cookies, and flat - apartment, but not many people know what alumnus (college or university graduate) or fender (dirt guard over a car wheel) are. In turn, Americans know that a yard in Britain is called a garden, and a truck is called a lorry, but the words plimsolls (sneakers) or off-licence (liquor store) that are familiar to the British will not tell them anything.

Exercise 3

From the list below, select pairs of words that have the same meaning and classify them as American or British English.

Sample: AmE - cookie = BrE - biscuit

Differences in grammar

The grammar of British and American English is almost the same, but there are some interesting variations, for example in some verb forms. In AE, the past tense of the verb fit is fit; in BrE - fitted. Americans say I "ve gotten to know her well; the British - I"ve got to know her well. BrE often uses the Present Perfect where AmE would rather use the Past Simple.

For example, when using the words just or already, the British are most likely to say I "ve just seen him or I"ve already done it, and the Americans - I just saw him or I already did it.

Another example is that Americans are much more likely to agree collective nouns with the verb. In standard AmE it is correct to say The team is playing well this season, while in BrE it is acceptable to say: The team are playing well. The same applies to words such as government, committee, etc. In American - The government is..., in British - The government are...

Exercise 4

The following sentences are typically American. How would a Brit say them?

• Do you have any siblings?
• It is important that she be told.
• The jury has not yet reached its decision.
• Go fetch your book.
• He dove into the water.
• You must come visit me real soon.

Use of words

There are countless interesting nuances between AmE and BrE that relate to the use of words. AmE has a useful preposition through, which means “through, inclusive.” For example, The exhibition is showing March through June. Its equivalent in BrE is from March to June, but this can be understood in two ways.

Will the exhibition last until the beginning of June or until the end? To avoid misunderstandings, it is better to say, for example: The exhibition is showing from March to the end of June.

Another example: for Americans, the number billion contains 9 zeros (billion). For most Brits there are 12 zeros (a trillion). As for zero itself, in AmE the word zero is more common, while in BrE it is nought. Americans are more likely to pronounce the number 453 as four hundred fifty three, while the British almost always pronounce it as four hundred and fifty three. And this is only a small part!

Exercise 5

For whom are the following sentences more typical - an American or a British person?

• I"ll try and visit you on the weekend.
• Please write me when you arrive.
• Call me as soon as you get there.
• Most everyone has a telephone and a refrigerator these days.
• If you make a mistake, you"ll just have to do it over.
• He was born 3/27/1981.
• The soccer team won two to nothing (2-0).
• She arrived at twenty of two.
• The secretary said, "Mr. Clinton will see you soon."

Conclusion

It is quite obvious that for non-native speakers it will be very difficult to separate these two dialects. The best thing to do in this case is to purchase a good reference book. We can recommend two books on this topic:

• Practical English Usage, M. Swan (1995), Oxford University Press
• The Right Word at the Right Time (A guide to the English language and how to use it) (1985) Readers Digest

Answers

Exercise 1 - Writing

• airplane - aeroplane
• check - check
• theater - theater
• defense - defense
• woollen - woollen
• tire - tire
• pajamas - pajamas
• jail-gaol*

* Now in Britain the word jail is also more common, but gaol is also quite acceptable (they are pronounced the same).

Exercise 2 - Pronunciation

In most cases, Americans and British accents are the same. For example, everyone says pencil and relax, cinema and consider, but the following words are stressed differently:

• ballet - BrE - ballet - AmE
• address - BrE - address * - AmE
• garage – BrE – garage – AmE
• advertisement – ​​BrE – advertisement – ​​AmE

There are words that differ in the sound of the stressed vowel. It is difficult to illustrate them without resorting to phonetic symbols, which not everyone is familiar with. Therefore, they are presented in comparison with common words containing the same sound.

• vase: as in cars (BrE) - as in face (AmE)
• route: like shoot (BrE) - like shout * (AmE)
• buoy: like toy (BrE) - like the French name Louis (AmE)
• ate: like let (BrE) — like late (AmE)
• tomato: as in tomarto (BrE) - tomayto * (AmE)
• leisure: as in pleasure (BrE) - first vowel as in she (AmE)

* Some Americans pronounce these words the same way as the British.

Exercise 3 - Vocabulary

• closet - cupboard
• vacation - holiday
• fall - autumn
• thumb tack - drawing pin
• flashlight - torch
• subway - underground
• baggage - luggage
• movie-film
• drapes - curtains
• elevator - lift
• hood - bonnet
• mailman-postman
• check - bill *
• line - queue
• candy - sweets
• gas - petrol
• trailer - caravan

* In England, bill is the bill you ask the waiter in a restaurant. In America it is called a check, while a bill is a banknote.

Exercise 4 - Grammar

• AmE - Do you have any siblings?
• BrE — Have you got any brothers or sisters?
• AmE — It is important that she be told. *
• BrE — It is important that she is told.
• AmE — The jury has not yet reached its decision.
• BrE - The jury have not yet reached their decision.
• AmE - Go get your book.
• BrE - Go and fetch your book.
• AmE - He dove into the water.
• BrE - He dived into the water.
• AmE — You must come visit me real soon.
• BrE — You must come and visit me really soon.

* AmE uses the subjunctive form much more often than BrE.

Exercise 5 - Using words

This was a tricky task because in reality all of these sentences are more likely to be said by an American than by a British person! Here are their UK equivalents:

• AmE — I"ll try and visit you on the weekend.
• BrE — I"ll try to visit you at the weekend.
• AmE — Please write me when you arrive.
• BrE — Please write to me when you arrive.
• AmE - Call me as soon as you get there.
• BrE — Ring me (phone me) as soon as you get there.
• AmE — Most everyone has a telephone and a refrigerator these days.
• BrE — Almost everyone has a telephone and a refrigerator these days.

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