Which language to study: British or American English? American and British English: main differences.

Why not Australian or Welsh? British and American - two options one language - English. There is a slight difference in grammar and spelling and a somewhat larger difference in vocabulary and idioms (expressions that cannot be translated word for word). Modern British English is heavily influenced by American English, so some differences disappear. And although there are differences in pronunciation, the British and Americans understand each other without any difficulties.

If you are preparing to enter a university, then selection committee may require you to speak British English.

If you just want to know and understand English, it is recommended to study standard English (phrases and grammatical expressions that sound the same in both the US and the UK) and pay attention to differences only when there are no standard (common) phrases.
American or British English?

Why do I need British English when the whole world speaks American? This is what needs to be taught.

This very common belief is actually far from the truth. Although the opposite statement, that it is necessary to study exclusively the British version, is not indisputable. What kind of English is taught to foreigners in English-speaking and other countries, what kind of English does “the whole world” speak, and what kind of English language is worth learning?

Variants and dialects in English

300 years ago there was only one version of English. The one spoken in Britain. This language was brought by the British to new lands. America, Australia, New Zealand, India, Asia and Africa started speaking English. In each of these places, the English language developed in its own way, enriching and evolving. And according to an inevitable pattern, he returned to his homeland - with emigrants, goods, technologies, communications.

So let's start with the fact that modern British English, firstly, is heterogeneous, and secondly, it is far from the classical English language that existed 3 centuries ago. Within British English there are three language types: conservative English (C onservative English - the language of the royal family and parliament), accepted standard (R eceived conservative English is the language of the royal family and parliament), the accepted standard (Received P ronunciation, RP - the language of the media, it is also called BBC English) and advanced English (A advanced English - the language of youth). The last type is the most mobile; it is he who actively absorbs elements of other languages ​​and cultures. Advanced English is most susceptible to the general trend towards simplifying the language. Changes occur primarily in the vocabulary of the English language, one of its most mobile parts: new phenomena arise that need to be named, and old ones acquire new names. New vocabulary comes to British English (youth) from other varieties of English, in particular American English.

However, an even more variable part of the English language is phonetics. Phonetic differences are ubiquitous, and it is they that primarily determine one or another variant or dialect of a language. Let's say the British call a store "shop", and the Americans call it "shap"; The English have “lav” for love, the Irish have “liv”, and the Scots have “luv”; The English pronounce day as "day", and the Australians pronounce it as "dai". There are three main dialects in America: Northern, Central and Southern. Each of them, in turn, is divided into several subdialects. The richest and most characteristic is the southern dialect, especially Californian. This is the quintessence of what is commonly called American-English pronunciation: “racking”, savory chewing, voicing of consonants, shortening of vowels. Thus, the word "bete" ("better") turns into "bader". Closer to classical English is the northern dialect, the language of the east coast, New England, where the first settlers from Britain arrived at one time. In Great Britain itself, there are also several regional dialects: northern, central, southwestern, southeastern, Scottish, Welsh and Irish.

One of these dialects - the language of the educated population of London and south-east England - eventually acquired the status of a national standard (RP). It is based on “correct English” - the language of the best private schools (Eton, Winchester, Harrow, Rugby) and universities (Oxford, Cambridge). This is the classical, literary English that is taught, for example, in our foreign language language and which is the basis of any audio English courses in linguistic schools for foreigners.

Irish, Australian and New Zealand English are perhaps the closest to classical British English. Due to their geographical isolation, these countries did not experience strong influence from other languages ​​and cultures. The differences consist mainly, again, in English phonetics - in particular, in melody. This is a more even, “neutral” English pronunciation, replacing “complex” sounds with simpler ones, for example, the interdental in the words that, think with ordinary ones. The Irish, in addition, do not save sounds between consonants; they add neutral ones: for example, film sounds like “filem”. Irish English is more musical, melodious - which comes from Celtic; Australian English has a slower rhythm and a flat intonation scale.

American English> But America has created practically new language: the changes affected not only English phonetics and vocabulary, but also the most stable part of the language - English grammar. Therefore, it is quite natural that the debate is mainly around two varieties of English - British and American. American English is called Simplified. And this is perhaps the most accurate definition that reflects the essence. To ordinary people from different countries who went to America in search of happiness, they needed the same simple and uncomplicated way of communication. The refined language of the English aristocracy was not at all suitable for these purposes. And few of the settlers owned it. American English was based on colloquial English, the language of merchants and the emerging bourgeoisie. But, as you know, it was not only the British and Irish who explored America.
Peoples from all over Europe flocked there: the French, Spaniards, Scandinavians, Germans, Slavs, Italians. The new nation needed a unifying element that would help overcome national differences. The transformed English language, now called American English, became such an element. It inevitably had to become easier in writing, pronunciation, and grammar. And it is also inevitable to absorb elements of other languages. Unlike the British version, American English is more flexible, open to change and easy to understand. In particular, that is why it has become more widespread in the world. This is the language of a new generation without a specific nationality or place of residence, brought up on popular culture.

New computer technologies, a powerful entertainment industry, global business - all this is “made in America” and works everywhere. The Americans themselves call their main achievement the ability to create models and export them. The entire history, culture and mentality of America fit into one concept - the “American Dream”. And with this role model, with this dream, Americans infected almost the whole world. The fact that the whole world is learning English is also a merit of the Americans. However, as in many other cases, they only gave an impetus, and development went its own way.

The English language, which is studied by foreigners in language schools around the world, is called Course Book English by native speakers. This is the basic standard English language, which foreigners study in language schools around the world; native speakers call Course Book English (the language of textbooks). This is basic standard English, common to all varieties of the language. There is no flavor, no color - that which distinguishes native speakers from non-native speakers or from each other. English idioms, phraseological units, word formations, metaphors, jargon are unique in each version of the language. To comprehend them, as well as to master “local” English phonetics and melody, means getting closer to perfection, moving to another level - “English as a native language”. The task is unattainable for most foreigners. But, on the other hand, few people put it before themselves. English in the modern world is just a means of communication. And not at all with native speakers (or rather, not so much with them), but with people of different nationalities with each other. English these days is the new convenient Esperanto. However, unlike that, the “real” Esperanto has not gone into oblivion.

According to the director of the Russian representative office of the British school Language Link, Robert Jensky, we can now talk about the emergence and consolidation of a kind of averaged universal English language, which has absorbed the features of different languages. This - and not American English, not its British version, or any other - is the “international language”. It is naturally easier to understand. Firstly, it is neutral in color, and secondly, foreigners speak English more slowly, pronounce sounds in isolation, and words clearly. In addition, it is more convenient: you don’t have to strain yourself trying to get closer to a “purely British” or “purely American” pronunciation.

The “international language of business” solves the same problem. Another myth is that this is American English. It is true that business is an American invention (like the word itself), that business schools originated in America and that most and best of them are still located there. But as far as the language of business is concerned, it cannot be classified as any variant of English, American or British. This is professional language. Like the language of any profession, it has a certain, rather limited set of terms and clichés that are used by representatives of this type of activity. The language of business (read business English) is mastered along with the profession (in the vast majority of business schools in the world, teaching is conducted in English). It can also be studied in special business English courses (Business English, Executive English). The basic content of these courses is the same in all English-speaking countries. Therefore, there is no big difference where to take them: in the USA or Great Britain, Australia or Ireland, Canada, New Zealand or Russia.

What language should you learn? American English or purely British?

The answer to this question is embedded in the goal: why do you need English? If you are going to take the TOEFL and study in America, you cannot do without American English. Are you thinking of emigrating to Canada? It would be nice to get acquainted with the peculiarities of Canadian English. And so on. But you need to learn the right language. According to many Russian linguists and teachers, such a language is British English, more precisely, that part of it that is called the “accepted standard” (RP). Correct basic English, by the way, is also needed in order to understand other variants of the language, dialects and features. And to be able to master them. A person with good classical English will not disappear anywhere and, if necessary, can easily adapt and get used to another modification of the language, including American English.

You should also start with British English because it is the most complete and rich language. American English grammar is noticeably simplified compared to British. Americans recognize only simple tenses: present, past and future Simple - and almost never use Perfect. The general trend In American English, simplification also applies to pronunciation. American English can be called a "casual" language. The British version is more particular, more scrupulous. It has a huge variety of intonation patterns, unlike American English, where there is practically one: a flat scale and a falling tone. This intonation model determines the entire sound structure of the American version. British English has many scales: descending and ascending, stepped and sliding. The same goes for tones. Sometimes an accent is revealed not by the pronunciation of a sound, but by temporal characteristics: if you tighten (or under-stretch) the sound a little, they recognize you as a foreigner. The Americans themselves, by the way, treat British English with reverence. They are sick of the sound of their language.

Americans even host such parties: they invite a real Englishman to visit, ask him to tell something, and listen to him speak. Americans call British English refined - they never had this language, and, naturally, they did not have what is called “English traditions and culture.” Partly envying the British, the Americans say that those showing off are showing off. The British themselves say that they are simply polite - polite. should focus on classical English. In the best language universities (primarily in Foreign Languages), methods of the British version were traditionally taught, and mainly teachers from Britain were invited as foreign consultants and methodologists. [...]

Methods of intensive English, albeit communicative ones, and various methods of speed learning “to learn English quickly” are unlikely to help here. They are good for “talking” the student, overcoming the language barrier, giving him a positive attitude, and convincing him that learning English is a pleasure. But alas, serious language learning requires cramming, repetition of models, English grammar, and so on.

The best method of teaching English is a combined one: a combination of traditional and communicative. It gives the best result - on the one hand, a solid base, and on the other, speaking practice.

Indeed, in fact, no matter for what purpose a person learns English, he always strives for one thing - confidence. That is, he wants to reach a level where communicating in English does not create tension for him. When there is a feeling of confidence, the ability to “switch” to another language and exist without problems in a new language space.

Shcherbakov Yu.N. 2014

Which English is better - “British” or “American” - this question never arises among specialists. Linguists claim that these are concepts "invented" by students whose desire to distinguish different versions English arises from the natural need to sort everything that surrounds them into shelves. It's easier to understand this way.

English teachers working in Russia encounter students who believe that the two varieties of English are so different that it is possible that an American and an Englishman will not understand each other at all. Because of this, students strongly demand that they be taught either “British” or “American” English.

"Correct" English is the language of the elite

Rosina Lippi, PhD, independent linguist and author of English with an Accent: Language, Ideology and Discrimination in the United States, argues that linguistics lacks a clear concept of “normative American” and “normative British” English.

Students listen to Tony Blair and David Cameron, but they do not take into account the fact that on the street or at home these politicians speak very differently. A non-existent version of the language appears, which everyone imitates Dmitry Psurtsev,
Associate Professor MSLU

"A language standard is an idea that generally refers to the way intellectual elite. The norm is clearly based on differences between social and economic classes,” she says.

Lippi gives the example of the American tendency to call English spoken in schools or on television news "correct" English: "There is not an ounce of logic in this, since teachers and news anchors come from different parts of the United States, they speak different dialects of English."

Britain also has a wide range of distinct dialects, says Mario Saraceni, PhD, senior lecturer in English and linguistics at the University of Portsmouth in the UK.

English poet and theater director Martin Cook, who lives in Moscow, believes that prejudice against one or another version of the English language is just an excellent marketing ploy. "We know it doesn't really matter. Good English will always be good English," he adds.

What do Russians want?

“Russian students have traditionally developed a complex that there is an ideal English language and, in particular, pronunciation,” says Dmitry Psurtsev, associate professor of the English language translation department at Moscow State Linguistic University. More often than not, he says, they want to learn British pronunciation.

Teachers are capable of transmitting many stereotypes and prejudices, especially at the middle and high school level. Rossina Lippi,
linguist

“Students listen to Tony Blair and David Cameron, but do not take into account the fact that on the street or at home these politicians speak completely differently. A non-existent version of the language arises, which everyone imitates,” says the linguist. “And it is believed that if a person does not learned to speak like Thatcher, then he has nothing to open his mouth.”

“I’m surprised that Muscovites’ beliefs about which English is better or “correct” are so strong. The only conclusion I can come to is that these beliefs were formed as a result of public discussion between these two countries,” says Lippi, who "Teachers are capable of transmitting many stereotypes and prejudices, especially at the middle and high school level."

According to experts, such preferences are related to the fact that exactly for each student an idealized version of a particular English language means.

"But more often than not, those students who think about it would be unable to distinguish between American, British, Australian, Irish, etc. based on their speech," Saraceni says. This, according to him, is not surprising, since even the British and Americans are not always able to determine where their English-speaking interlocutor is from.

Who decides what English should be like?

In Italy and France, for several centuries, the main academic institutions on linguistics remained the Accademia della Crusca and the French Academy L'Académie française.

Unlike these countries, neither the UK, nor the US, nor any other English-speaking country has an official body with the power to carry out language reforms or regulate the English language in any way.

Many experts believe that it is precisely because of the absence of such a department that English develops “naturally.”

"One of the undeniable advantages of English is that it is a democratic and constantly changing language, meanings evolve through widespread use and not by order of a committee. This natural process which has been happening for centuries. Trying to somehow influence this process is perhaps arrogant and pointless,” notes American writer and former editor of the British newspapers The Times and Independent Bill Bryson in his book “ Native language: English and how it became like this."

Therefore, it is those who speak the language who define what “real” English is. Even the Oxford Dictionary does not have the right to set a standard.

And yet the differences

"The factor that determines the degree of divergence between two languages ​​is mutual understanding, that is, how well those who speak English understand each other," says Lynne Murphy, associate professor in the department of linguistics at Britain's University of Sussex. She runs the popular language blog Divided by a Common Language.

According to her, there are a huge number of differences between British and American English, but in most cases they do not affect mutual understanding: “In fact, it may be more difficult for a person from London to understand a person from Glasgow than a person from Washington.”

Nine out of ten Americans cannot distinguish an Australian or South African accent from a British or Irish accent Rosin Lippi,
linguist

There are some differences in the spelling of words in the two varieties of English. For example, the word "color" can be written as "colour" (British) or "color" (American). There are also differences in punctuation and grammar.

"An American who hears a British grammatical structure in a foreigner's speech may think it's a mistake," Murphy says. At the same time, according to her, an American will perceive the same construction as appropriate from the lips of a Briton.

But in most cases, different grammatical structures are acceptable in both countries, even if they are more common in only one of them. “For example, the British tend to say ‘have you got a...?’, whereas Americans tend to say ‘do you have a?’ (translated: have you?),” Murphy noted.

There are also differences in vocabulary (when different words used to describe the same phenomenon) and in usage (when the same word is used to describe different things).

However, according to Murphy, these differences are just normal aspects of different dialects, which vary equally within Britain and the United States.

What are the accents?

The last - and most noticeable difference between British and American English - is pronunciation. Murphy and Lippi agree that neither the British nor the Americans are as capable of recognizing the nuances in each other's accents as they think.

"British people often tell me that there are no regional accents in America, which just goes to show that their ears are not trained to recognize the differences that exist," Murphy says.

“I know some Americans who think that all British accents are snobbish, even those that are stigmatized in England. Moreover, nine out of ten Americans cannot distinguish an Australian or South African accent from a British or Irish accent,” says Lippi.

Experts believe that the terms "British English" and "American English" only describe broad categories that include a wide range of dialects and significant variation. “People like to highlight differences because they are always much more interesting than similarities,” Saraceni notes.

“To perceive them as separate languages ​​is simply ridiculous,” says the Englishman Cook. “And the idea that American English spoils British English is also a fallacy. There are many examples that the American language preserves the integrity of the English language... Some percentage English words would have gradually disappeared if not for the Americans."

In the UK there is a so-called "(generally) accepted pronunciation" (Received Pronunciation), which is especially common in the cities of southern England. Most Britons associate the accent with a certain socioeconomic status and level of education, says Murphy, and with people educated at elite schools and universities, and even with some degree of political clout.

However, even in England such pronunciation is not always welcome.

English is the most widely spoken language in the world. So-called "native speakers" are only a minority, since most people learn English as an additional language, as a lingua franca Mario Saraceni,
linguist

"This posh pronunciation can be problematic in certain social contexts," says Murphy. "If you're a social worker helping disadvantaged teenagers, wide vowels and a commanding tone don't exactly inspire confidence."

When it comes to accents in the United States, a person on the street is likely to say that fluent English is spoken in the Midwest, although this belief has become less common these days, Lippi says.

As the linguist explains, the English spoken in the southern United States is often stigmatized by residents of the north and west of the country; stereotypes about laziness, lack of education or aggressiveness of southerners are projected onto the owner of such pronunciation.

What differences should you pay attention to?

"No matter where you study English, you will always be taught a certain spelling and pronunciation," Murphy says. The linguist believes that English language students should know the key differences in spelling, pronunciation and grammar between British and American versions of English. This requirement applies to all students whose level of English is above average.

“If you're learning English for academic or professional purposes, you should be familiar with English language practices where you are,” says Saraceni.

As for differences in pronunciation, experts say it is unlikely that a non-native English speaker will speak without an accent.

"English is the most widely spoken language in the world," says Saraceni. "The so-called 'native speakers' are only a minority because most people learn English as an additional language, as a lingua franca."

As the expert explains, although English is one of the official languages ​​of the UN, even this organization cannot give preference to one version of English, since it employs representatives from countries all over the world, and everyone has their own approach to English (or their own understanding of what is standard English).

“The British and I have the same language, we just use it differently.” This is how a random African American acquaintance explained the essence of the issue to the author. Indeed, the differences between the American and British dialects, although noticeable, are not so important as to seriously bother with this issue. If your level of English is still far from ideal, then you should not spend more than ten minutes reading this article on studying American-British differences.

Differences in pronunciation

It is in the accent that the greatest differences between British and American English appear. If when reading a text it is usually difficult to determine who wrote it, then oral speech instantly reveals a person’s nationality. More details about the peculiarities of American pronunciation and intonation are written in the article about the American accent (we recommend reading it, because knowledge of these nuances greatly facilitates listening comprehension). And you can get acquainted with the differences in pronunciation: all scenes are taken from American films, and the training video at the end was recorded by a Briton.

In addition to accent differences, there are also differences in the pronunciation of certain words:

The word schedule in the British version begins with the sound w, and in the American version it sounds sk at the beginning of the word.

In the words either and neither, the first two letters can mean either the long sound i or the diphthong ai. It is believed that the first option is more American, the second – more British. However, both of them can speak differently in different situations.

In many words of non-English origin (often names and titles), for example, Mafia, Natasha, the British pronounce the stressed sound as [æ], and the Americans pronounce it as [a].

The word lieutenant in the British version sounds like lɛf`tɛnənt, and in the American version it sounds like lu`tɛnənt

There are quite a lot of similar words, but most of them are rarely used (which is why the differences have not had time to smooth out). For those interested, you can find many examples on Wikipedia - American and British English pronunciation differences.

Differences in word formation

The suffix "-ward(s)" is usually used as "-wards" in the British dialect, and as "-ward" in the American dialect. We are talking about the words forwards, towards, rightwards, etc. However, the word forward is actively used in Britain, and the words after, towards, forwards are not unusual in the American dialect.

For American English, word formation through compounding is more typical. Today, it is most often in the Western Hemisphere that established phrases are transformed into new words. When forming phrases consisting of a noun-subject and a verb talking about its purpose, in the British version the gerund (sailing boat) is more often used, while Americans would prefer to simply glue the verb with the noun (sailboat).

The same thing applies to phrases meaning an object and its owner - dollhouse vs. doll's house. It is clear which version is American and which is British.

Differences in spelling

Words that end in -our in the British language have been shortened slightly by Americans, and they end in -or: labor, color, favor instead of labor, color, favor.

The British words apologise, paralyse are written in American as apologize, paralyze.

Some words of French origin that ended in –re, in the American version end in –er: center, theater instead of centre, theater.

The word "gray" in British spelling looks like grey, and in American spelling it looks like gray.

Differences in word meanings

Americans and British often use different words for the same concepts. For example, an American will not call a toilet toilet, but exclusively bathroom, even if there is neither a bathtub nor a shower even close. The period (the one that is placed at the end of the sentence) in British will be full spot, and in American - period.

Here is a table of the most common differences. Source - M. S. Evdokimov, G. M. Shleev - “A short guide to American-British correspondences.”

Sometimes the differences are more subtle. In American English, the word quite has a connotation of increasing meaning; it can more often be translated as “quite” or even “very”. In British it should rather be understood as "to some extent".

Differences in grammar

This section was written using information from the article American and British English differences

In American English, nouns denoting a group of people (army, government, committee, team, band) usually have a singular form. The British can use these words either in the singular or in the plural, depending on whether they want to emphasize the plurality of people or their unity. If the team name has plural, then in any case the plural should be used. The Beatles are a well-known band.

There is a difference in use irregular verbs in the UK and USA. Thus, the verbs learn, spoil, spell, dream, smell, spill, burn, leap and some others in the British version can be either regular or irregular, having the endings ed or t, respectively. In America irregular shapes are used much less frequently, except burnt and leapt. The verb spit in British English has the form spat, and in American it can be both spat and spit, with the former often used in a figurative sense in the sense of “spit out” (a phrase) or “spit out some object”, rather than saliva. The past participle of the word saw in the British version sounds like sawn, in the American version it sounds like sawed. In America, the past participle of the word get can take the form gotten, from forget - forgotten, and from prove - proven. There are other differences in the use of irregular verbs, mainly related to local dialects, and this issue can be studied for quite a long time.

The British more often use the past perfect tense (I have just arrived home), while Americans prefer the simple tense (I just arrived home), especially in phrases with the words already, just, yet.

In the British version, the forms "I have got" (possession) and "I have got to" (necessity) are more often used in colloquial speech, and the expressions "I have" and "I have to" sound more formal. In America, “I have” and “I have to” are most often used, and in informal communication you can use “I got” and “I got to” respectively. The latter expression is known to have recently mutated into "I gotta".

Americans in oral speech can construct conditional sentences as follows: "If you"d leave now, you"d be on time." The literary analogue would sound like "If you left now you'd be on time." Even Americans try not to use the first option in a letter.

In the subjunctive mood, constructions of the form are more typical for America "They suggested that he apply for the job", and for the British - "They suggested that he should apply for the job."

Auxiliary verb shall almost never used in the USA.

Which option is better?

There are opposing opinions about which language variant to focus on when learning English. Supporters of the American version talk about its wider distribution, modernity, simplicity and convenience. They are right. Their opponents believe that only the British version is truly English, and everything else is a simplification, clogging and perversion. They are also right. The correct answer is to teach both in order to understand everyone. If we talk about grammar, most textbooks give the classic British version. American conversational norms, although they simplify British ones, do not cancel them. Don't be afraid to overwork yourself, learn English grammar. If your phrase is overly literary, then no one will think badly of you. It’s worse if, on the contrary, you try to simplify something that should not be simplified - you will look like a jamshut. As for vocabulary, the first thing you should know is American meanings words, for they are used almost all over the world except Britain. Thanks to Photoshop, the whole world (and the British too, by the way!) knows that an eraser is an eraser, not a rubber, and thanks to Eminem, the world remembers that a closet is a closet, not a wardrobe. (However, you should know when to stop - you shouldn’t call football “soccer” anywhere except America).

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 even in oral speech, you can get into trouble, not distinguishing in meaning and pronunciation between 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 the spelling of 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, speaking about an action that ended not so long ago, they do not bother to use the Present Perfect, replacing it with a tense like 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

The expression have got meaning to have is more often used by the British, while Americans simply use the verb have. Also, residents of Foggy Albion more 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 into American version English in different ways. 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 knowing British English will help everyone understand you correctly.