Réalisée et présentée par :

RAKI Khaoula
History

1.Grammatical Differences

2.Differences in Spelling

3.Differences in Pronunciation

4. Lexical Differences

Examples
History
 History

In his history of the Second World War, Winston Churchill records that
differences in the interpretation of the verb "to table" caused an
argument between British and American planners. The British wanted a
matter tabled immediately because it was important, and the
Americans insisted it should not be tabled at all because it was
important. In British English, the term means "to discuss now" (the issue
is brought to the table), whereas in American English it means "to
defer" (the issue is left on the table).
• The differences in the languages reached its peak right
after the industrial revolution

• With the spread of modern technology, more terms are

becoming common
1.Grammatical Differences

American British
have Have got
Do you have the time ? Have you got the time?
I don’t I haven’t

American British
burn / burned / burned burn / burnt / burnt
dream / dreamed / dreamed dream / dreamt / dreamt
 1.Grammatical Differences

AmE sometimes uses the simple past where BrE has the present perfect.

American British
I just ate I´ve just eaten
will / won´t shall / shan´t

Some differences of word order

American British
Hudson River River Thames
a half hour half an hour
 1.Grammatical Differences

American British
In the future In future
In the hospital In hospital

AmE prefers collective nouns in the singular whereas BrE allows also the plural

American British
The government is…. The government are…
 1.Grammatical Differences

American British
Come take a look Come and take a look
I asked that he go I asked him to go

AmE prefers were to was

American British
I wish she were here I wish she was here
1.Grammatical Differences

American British
I´ll go momentarily In a moment
real good really good
backward backwards
It´s twenty of four It´s twenty to four
It´s in back of the building It´s behind the building
2.Differences in Spelling

American British
Center Centre
Color Colour
Tire Tyre
Mom, Mommy Mum, Mummy
Aluminum Aluminium
 3.Differences in Pronunciation

-dance, chance

-data

-tune, duty

-bird, floor

-Water

-Better
 4. Lexical Differences

Words that are only found in AmE :

- checking account, station wagon …

Words that are only found in BrE :

- current account, estate car …

Words that are established throughout the world as part of World

Standard English (WSE)

- Pharmacy  AmE (Drugstore) , BrE (Chemist‘s)

American British
Gas Petrol
Truck Lorry
Bathroom Loo
Line Queue
Stove Hob
Napkins Serviettes
Eggplant Aubergine
Zuchinni Courgette
Potentially confusing situations

Asks you about football…

…they mean soccer
Asks you bring pudding…
…they mean dessert
Puts on a jumper…
…they mean a sweater
Wears braces….
…wears suspenders
Wears suspenders…
…wears garters
Potentially confusing situations

“ My other jeans ripped, so I’ve been wearing these pants for

the past three days!”

underwear trousers
Potentially confusing situations

• Ask for chips in England, and you’ll get French Fries, not

potato “crisps”

• Tell a British friend to pick up some jelly at the store,

and they’ll bring home gelatin (Jell-o) not jam

Potentially confusing situations

• In the US, a private school • In England, a public school

requires tuition requires tuition

• In the US, a public school is • In England, a state school is

government funded government funded

What have we learn today ?

British English:
“I was waiting in queue for the loo before getting
some petrol for my lorry when I realized I left the hob
on and the aubergines were probably burning!”
American English:
“I was waiting in line for the bathroom before getting
some gas for my truck when I realized I left the stove
on and the eggplant was probably burning!”
“England and America are two countries divided by a

common language.”

~George Bernard Shaw