INVESTICE DO ROZVOJE VZDĚLÁVÁNÍ

Podpora rozvoje cizích jazyků pro Evropu 21. stol.

Tento projekt je spolufinancován Evropským sociálním fondem a státním rozpočtem České republiky.

British and American English

The differences and varieties

British v American English• American English

(AmE) is the form of English used in the United States. It includes all English dialects used within the United States of America.

• General American (GA) is considered to be "standard" or "accentless"

• British English (BrE) is the form of English used in the United Kingdom. It includes all English dialects used within the United Kingdom.

• In the United Kingdom, Received Pronunciation (RP) is considered "standard“

• also called the Queen's English and BBC English

Which is correct?

• American and British English are taught in English as a foreign language programs

• no one version is "correct"

• RULE: be consistent in your usage

• the largest difference is probably in the choice of vocabulary and pronunciation

Grammatical Differences

British English:• Present perfect for

action that has occurred in the recent past that has an effect on the present moment

• two forms to express possession: Have or Have got

American English• Past tense is also

possible• simple past include

already, just and yet

• employ the have (do you have, he doesn't have etc.)

• The past participle of the verb get is got

• differences in preposition use:

at the weekend Different from from 5 to 6

• Past Simple/Past Participles

Burnt OR burned irregular form is more

common in Br. E.

• is gottenHe's gotten much better at

playing tennis.

on the weekend Different than from 5 through 6

dreamt OR dreamed regular form is more

common to American English.

Spelling DifferencesBritish English• Words ending in –our:

colour, humour • Words ending in –ise:

recognise, patronise • Others:

Traveller

Cheque

programme

American English• Words ending in –or:

color, humor

Words ending in –ize:

recognize, patronize

Traveler

Check

program

Lexical Differences

British English• Pardon?• Autumn• Film• Trousers• Flat• Tin• Mobile phone• Biscuit• lorry

American English• Excuse me?• Fall• Movie• Pants• Apartment• Can• Cell phone• Cookie• truck

Pronunciation Differences

British English• [o] in spot• [a:] in fast• [t’] in better• [r] – sometimes silent

• [ɪ] in privacy

American English• [a:] in spot• [ae] in fast• [d] in better• [r] pronounced

everywhere• [aɪ] in privacy

Quiz: What are the British equivalents?

1. Q: Vocabulary ‘round trip' - I booked a round trip.

2. Q: Spelling 'check' - I wrote a check for the full amount.

3. Q: Spelling 'tire' - Do you know how to change a tire?

4. Q: Vocabulary 'subway' - I took the subway to work.

5. Q: Spelling 'color' - Do you have this shirt in a different color?

Return ticket

cheque

tyre

underground

colour

6. Q: Vocabulary 'trunk' - Put your luggage in the trunk.

7. Q: Grammar 'just went' - He just went home. 8. Q: Vocabulary 'flashlight' - The lights have

gone out. Where is the flashlight? 9. Q: Expression with preposition 'Monday

through Friday' - He works Monday through Friday.

10. Q: Grammar 'seven hundred thirty' - eight thousand seven hundred thirty

11. Q: Expression with preposition 'plays on' - He plays on a team in town.

12. Q: Vocabulary ‘gas' - I think we need some gas.

boot

torch

to

And thirty

petrol

13. Vocabulary call collect' - (on the telephone) I'd like to call collect

14. Grammar 'this' - (on the telephone) Hello, is this Peter?

15. Past participle form - He's gotten more difficult. 16. Vocabulary 'bill' - (in a restaurant) Can I have

the bill? 17. Q: Vocabulary 'diaper' - Honey, can you

change the baby's diaper? 18. Q: Grammar 'committee meets' - The

committee meet tomorrow. 19. Q: Vocabulary 'chips' - I'm hungry. Let's stop

and get a bag of chips at the supermarket.

'reverse the charges

that

both

nappy

meet

crisps

20. Q: Vocabulary 'intersection' - Take a left at the second intersection.

21. Q: Vocabulary 'stand in line' - We had to stand in line for three hours to get into the concert.

22. Q: Expression with preposition 'do over' - Can I do that over?

23. Q: Vocabulary 'garbage' - Why is there so much garbage in here?

23. Q: Vocabulary 'rest room' - Excuse me, where is the rest room?

25. Q: Vocabulary 'vacation' - We went on a two week vacation last month.

crossroads

queue

again

rubbish

Public toilet

holiday

INVESTICE DO ROZVOJE VZDĚLÁVÁNÍ

Tento projekt je spolufinancován Evropským sociálním fondem a státním rozpočtem České republiky.

Tato výuková prezentace byla pořízena z finančních prostředků hrazených Evropským sociálním fondem

a rozpočtem České republiky.