Module 10: Differential British and American Accents

My international driver’s licence has expired.

1.      American English uses license (-se) for both the noun and the verb.
Example: My international driver’s license has expired.

2.      British English uses licence (-ce) for the noun and license (-se) for the verb. Note that licence and license have the same pronunciation.
Example: My international driver’s licence has expired.

 

In those days, Germans had to stand in a queue for hours to buy food.

1.      American English uses line.
Example: In those days, Germans had to stand in a line for hours to buy food.

2.      British English uses queue.  
Example: In those days, Germans had to stand in a queue for hours to buy food.

 

Maths has always been my favourite subject.

1.      American English uses math (without s).
Example: Math has always been my favourite subject.

2.      British English uses maths (with s)
Example: Maths has always been my favourite subject.

Note:

1.      Both American English and British English also use mathematics (with s).

2.      Mathematics and maths (in British English) looks a plural word, but it is a singular word. When used as a subject, it takes a singular verb, as in “Mathematics has always been my favourite subject.”

3.      Similar words; politics physics; headquarters.

 

My mum was too busy running in a marathon to take us fishing last Sunday.

1.      American English (spoken) uses mom and pop/dad.
Example: My mom was too busy running in a marathon to take us fishing last Sunday.

2.      British English (spoken) uses mum and dad.
Example: My mum was too busy running in a marathon to take us fishing last Sunday.

 

Tom was admitted into the hospital last night.

1.      If you say, “Tom was admitted into (without ‘the’) hospital last night,’ American might think your educational level is low.
Example: Tom was admitted into hospital last night.

2.      British English sometimes uses the before hospital and sometimes not.
Example: Tom was admitted into the hospital last night.

Tony is in hospital

->Tony is hospitalized; tony is a patient.

Tony is in the hospital.
->Tony is in this particular hospital, visiting a patient or visiting a doctor.

 

My mother is sick/ill.

1.      In American English, when you do not feel well, you are sick/ill. Sick can be used either before a noun (a sick person) or after the verb to be (am/is/are/was/were sick).

For this meaning, American English usually says someone is throwing up/vomiting/upchucking(slang)/barfing (slang)/being sick or someone feels sick.
Example:
-Suhalmin’s mother is sick.

-Suhalmin has to take care of his sick mother.

2.      In British English, when you do not feel well, you are ill. Ill is used after the verb to be (am/is/are/was/were ill), and sick is used before a noun (a sick person).

In British English, saying that someone is sick or someone is being sick only means that the food the person has eaten suddenly leave his/her stomach through the mouth.
Cyrus drank so much last night that he was sick three times this morning,
Example:

-Suhalmin’s mother is ill.

-Suhalmin has to take care of his sick mother.

 

She’s at a sales meeting.

1.      American English uses in a meeting.
Example: She’s in a sales meeting.

2.      British English uses at a meeting.
Example: She’s at sales meeting.

 

The cheque bounced.

1.      American English uses check.
Example: The check bounced.

2.      British English uses cheque.
Example: The cheque bounced.

 

I enjoy going to the cinema on Sundays.

1.      In American English you go to the movies.

Flick is slang and not often used
Example: I enjoy going to the flicks on Sundays.

2.      In British English you go to the cinema.
Example: I enjoy going to the cinema on Sundays.

 

The new space war film is so popular that there is a long queue outside the cinema.

1.      American English uses theater for live performances.
American English also theater or movie theater or movie house for movies.
Example: The new space war film is so popular that there is a long line outside the cinema.
-Louise; Does Eloise direct movies?
-Sophia: Yes, she also owns then theaters in California.

2.      British English uses theatre for live performances only and cinema for films.
Example: The new space war film is so popular that there is a long queue outside the cinema.

Note the different spellings between American English (theater) and British English (theatre).

 

 

China’s basketball team are/is full of enthusiasm.

1.      American English uses is.
Example: China’s basketball team is full of enthusiasm.

2.      British English uses are/is.
Example: China’s basketball team are/is full of enthusiasm.

 

The Brazilian government are/is hoping to control the pollution.

1.      In American English, if you use a plural verb with a collective noun such as family, committee, union, staff, government, and team, you might be regarded as an uneducated person.
Example: The Brazilian government is hoping to control the pollution.

2.      In British English these collective nouns are often regarded as plural, and therefore they are used with plural verbs and plural pronouns (they, them, etc.).

In British English, when you regard these collective nouns as a unit, not as a group of people, you use singular pronouns.
Example: The Brazilian government are/is hoping to control the pollution.

The rubbish is collected once a day.

1.      American English uses garbage/trash.
Example: The garbage is collected once a day.

2.      British English uses rubbish.
Example: The rubbish is collected once a day.

 

The grass in the front of garden needs to be cut.

1.      In American English, a yard is piece of land adjacent to a house that is used for sitting, playing, and growing plants in. it can be covered with concrete or have grass, trees, flowerbeds, etc.

A yard in American English usually means a garden in British English.

In American, a garden is a piece of ground, usually close to a house, for growing vegetables, fruits, flower, ornamental shrubs, trees,
Example: The grass in the front of yard needs to be cut.

2.      In British English, a yard is covered with concrete or similar hard material. It cannot grow grass, flowers, etc.

In British English, an area with grass, trees, flowerbeds, etc., is a garden.
Example: The grass in the front of garden needs to be cut.

 

You should enrol as soon as possible.

1.      American English uses enroll.
Example: You should enroll as soon as possible.

2.      British English uses enrol.
Example: You should enrol as soon as possible.

 

A wife needs a job to ensure her independence.

1.      In American English, ensure and insure both mean to make certain that something happens or is done.
-I cannot ensure/insure her being on time.
-I cannot ensure/insure that he will be a good husband.  
Example: A wife needs a job to insure/ensure her independence.

2.      In British English, insure only means to pay money in the case of loss (of life, property, etc) or to issue or obtain insurance on or for something.
-Sandra insured her new Eden computer
-Ramona insured her house for $150.000
Example: A wife needs a job to ensure her independence.

 

My family are going to India this summer.

1.      American English uses is.
Example: My family is going to India this summer.

2.      British English uses are/is.
Example: My family are/is going to India this summer.

 

My family are all waiting for me.

1.      American English uses are.
Example:
- My family members are all waiting for me.

-My family is waiting for me.

2.      British English uses are/is.
Example: My family are all waiting for me.

 

Our car needs petrol.  

1.      American English uses gas/gasoline.
Example: Our car needs gas/gasoline.

2.      British English uses petrol.
Example: Our car need petrol.

 

Cindy Wulan has just gotten a new yellow sports car.  

1.      In the U.S. gotten is frequently used as the past participle of get. Phrases that involve some sort of process also use gotten.
Example:
-Paul’s grades have gotten better since he moved out of the fraternity house and quit drinking.
-Cindy Wulan has just gotten a new yellow sports car.

2.      Using the British has got, in this case (when it means has acquired or obtained), makes you sound not well educated to an American.
Example: Cindy Wulan just got a new yellow sports car.

3.      Cindy Wulan has a got new yellow sports car.

Note:

1.      In American English, have got is to mean possess, must, and have to.

-He has got newspaper’s today.

-It’s late, and I have to go now.

2.      Compare:

Lila has got just four dollars to buy her lunch.

-Implying current possession
- Lilly has gotten five dollars for babysitting Tilly.
-Emphasizing the earning of the money rather than its possession

3.      This shows that in America people have kept using both have got and gotten, but the two verb phrases have different meanings. It is not only that American speak improper English, but that they have made the English language richer.

4.      This is a very important difference between have got and have gotten. In this case, we hope British English will follow American English someday. Let’s wait and see what the British will do.

 

 

Does Susan have a computer?

1.      American English uses Does Have.
Example: Our car needs gas/gasoline.

2.      British English uses Has.
Example: Has Susan a computer?

 

He lives in a flat.  

1.      Apartment means a set of rooms to live in. It is more common in American English than in British English. The common word in British English is flat.

Similarly, an apartment building/an apartment house in American English is usually a block of flats in British English.  
Example: He lives in an apartment.

2.      In British English, apartment usually refers to a set of large rooms with expensive decorations and furniture, kept for a special purpose or used by someone important.
Example: He lives in a flat.

 

Judy began to kiss me as if we were on our honeymoon.

1.      In American English, especially in spoken English, like is often used to replace as if.
Example: -Judy began to kiss me as if/like we were on our honeymoon.

2.      British English only uses as if to mean as though.
Example:
-Judy began to kiss me as if we were on our honeymoon.

Note:

1.      In other words, as if generally preferred in formal writing over like, but in colloquial speech, like prevails.

2.      So in formal writing, if you want your English grammatically correct, please remember this rule: As if comes before a clause, and if no verb follows, choose like.

3.      Formal writing:
Like mother, like daughter.

--like + noun
My brother is just like me; he works twelve hours a day and seven day a week.
--like + pronoun
Mom jumped with joy as if she had found her long-lost sister.
--as if + clause

4.      However, in casual usage, do as you wish. It’s not a sin against the Queen’s language to say, “It looks like those two cars are flying in the air!”

 

It’s your turn to bath the baby.

1.      American English uses bathe to mean washing someone or yourself in a bathtub.
Example: It’s your turn to bathe the baby.

2.      British English uses bath to mean washing someone or yourself in a bathtub.
Example: It’s your turn to bath the baby.

 

He likes to wear pink trousers.

1.      In American English, pants are an outer garment extending from the waist to the ankles and divided into separate covering for the legs.
Example: He likes to wear pants.

2.      For this meaning British English uses trousers. In British English, the word pants is a short form of underpants.  
Example: He likes to wear pink trousers.

 

 

Neither if my sisters have been outside America.

1.      American English uses bathe to mean washing someone or yourself in a bathtub.
Example: Neither if my sisters have been outside America.

2.      British English uses bath to mean washing someone or yourself in a bathtub.
Example: Neither of my sisters has (have) been outside Britain.

 

I like the color of swimming suit.

1.      American English uses color.
Example: Ilike the color of swimming suit.

2.      British English uses colour.
Example: I like the colour of swimming suit!

 

Just a moment, please.  I will bring a trolley.

1.      Cart (American); a basket, frame, or table with wheels used for moving food, baggage, or other items.
Example: Just a moment, please. I will bring a baggage cart.

2.      British English uses trolley for the meaning mentioned above.
Example: Just a moment, please. I will bring a trolley.