American English VS British English

There are some differences between American and British English in some ways. Therefore, sometimes they give many difficulties for a beginner of non-native English learners to distinguish them, and lead him into confusion and errors in using of English. Here the writer tries to explain briefly about the differences...

A. In American English the past simple is often used to give new information or to announce a recent happening:
-I lost my key. Can you help me look for it?
B. The past simple is used with just and already:
-I’m not hungry. I just had lunch
-‘Don’t forget to post the letter.’ ‘I already posted it’.

C. Americans use the past simple simple with yet:
-I didn’t tell them about the accident yet
D. In American English the forms I have/I don’t have/do you have? Are more usual than ‘I’ve got/I haven’t got/Have you got?’:
-we have a new car(Am.E)
-we have got a new car(Br.E)
-Do you have any change?(Am.E)
-Have you got any change?(Br.E)
E. Americans use the infinitive (without to) in structures with insist/suggest etc.:
-They insisted that we have dinner with them
-Jim suggested that I buy a car
This structure is also used in British English
F. Americans say ‘the hospital’
-The injured man was taken to the hospital(Am.E)
-The injured man was taken to hospital (Br.E)
F. Americans say ‘the hospital’
-The injured man was taken to the hospital(Am.E)
-The injured man was taken to hospital (Br.E)
G. Americans say ‘on a team’
-He’s the best player on the team(Am.E)
-He’s the best player in the team(Br.E)
H. Quite in Br.E means less than ‘very’ but more than ‘a little’
Quite in Am.E means completely, e.g. ‘Are you sure?’ ‘Yes, quite sure’ (=completely sure)
I. Americans say ‘on the week-end/on week-ends. The british say ‘at the week-end/at week-ends.
J. In Am.E ‘different than’ is also possible and ‘different to’ is not used. In Br.E ‘different from’ is as possible as ‘different to.’
K. Americans say write someone (without to)
-Please write me soon and tell me how you are
L. The past participle of get is gotten in Am.E:
-Your English has gotten much better since I last saw you.(Am.E)
-Your English has got much better since I last saw you.(Br.E)
M. Some verbs, which are irregular in Br. E, are normally regular in Am.E
Burn Burnt (Br.E) or Burned(Am.E)
Dream Dreamt (Br.E) or Dreamed(Am.E)
Lean Leant (Br.E) or Leaned(Am.E)
Learn Learnt(Br.E) or Learned(Am.E)
Smell Smelt(Br.E) or Smelled(Am.E)
Spell Spelt(Br.E) or Spelled(Am.E)
Spill Spilt (Br.E) or Spilled(Am.E)
Spoil Spoilt(Br.E) or Spoiled(Am.E)
N. (a) –er....than comparative
the....-est superlative
Adjectives with one syllable
taller than, the tallest
Adjectives with two syllables ending in:
-y dirtier than, the dirtiest
-le nobler than, the noblest
(b) more....than comparative
The most..... superlative
(1)Adjectives with three or more syllables
more beautiful than, the most beautiful
(2)Two-syllable adjectives with derivational endings (-ful, -less, -ish, -ous, -ing, -ed, etc.):
more useful than, the most useful
(c) Two-syllable adjectives with either Br. English form (–er....than comparative and the....-est superlative) or Am. English form (more....than comparative and The most..... superlative)
(1) adjectives ending in –er : clever, tender, bitter
(2) adjectives ending in –ow : narrow, sorrow, shallow
(3) adjectives ending in –some : handsome, wholesome, lonesome
(4) others : polite, profound, sincere, severe, common, pleasant, cruel, quiet, stupid
O. Agreement with collective nouns, the following are examples of collective nouns:
audience couple family public
class crowd government staff
committee faculty group team
When the collective noun refers to a collection of individuals, the verb may be either singular or plural:
My family is OR are loving and supportive. A singular verb is generally preferred in American English. A plural verb is used more frequently in British English, especially with the words government and public. (Am.: The government is planning many changes. Br.: The government are planning many changes.)
For numbers over 100 we use and to link the hundreds and the tens. When said aloud, and is pronounced /n/. The main stress falls on the final word of the number:
,three, hundred and, twenty-’nine
,five, hundred and ‘sixty
- In American English and is often left out:
,eight, hundred, ninety-’two
The time is expressed in different ways in British and American English:
It’s (a) quarter to eight. (Brit)
It’s seven forty-five. (Brit)
It’s (a) quarter to/of eight. (Am.)

It’s (a) quarter past one. (Brit)
It’s one fifiteen. (Brit)
It’s (a) quarter after one. (Am.)

It’s five (minutes) to four. (Brit)
It’s three fifty-five. (Brit)
It’s five to/of four. (Am.)
The twenty-four hour clock is used in Britain for timetables and in some official letters and notices. In the USA it is used only for military purposes and on ships.
Times are spoken as:
0300 (o) three hundred hours
1345 thirteen fourty-five
2305 twenty-three o five
There are two ways of saying midnight:
0000 o o double o
2400 twenty-four hundred hours
Subjuntive is a basic verb of a verb used after verbs, nouns, or adjectives which show importance.
Verbs that use subjunctive: advise, ask, beg, command, decree, demand, desire, insist, instruct, order, prefer, propose, recommend, request, require, stipulate, suggest, urge, warn.
Nouns followed by subjunctive: advice, command, demand, insistence, instruction, order, preference, proposal, recommendation, request, requirement, suggestion.
Adjectives followed by subjunctive: imperative,important, essential, (un)necessary, crucial, urgent.

Eg.:
-The doctor advised that my father stay at home for a home remedy (Am.E)
-The doctor advised that my father should stay at home for a home remedy (Br.E)
-The advice that my father stay at home for a home remedy is unavoidable.(Am.E)
-The advice that my father should stay at home for a home remedy is unavoidable.(Br.E)
-It is important that my father stay at home for a home remedy. (Am.E)
-It is important that my father should stay at home for a home remedy. (Br.E)


s. Date are wrtten and spoken as:
- June 4, 2009 (Am.E) = “June the fourth two thousand nine”
- June 4th, 2009 (Am. E) = “June the fourth two thousand nine”
- 4 June 2009 (Br.E) = “the fourth of June two thousand and nine”
- 4th June 2009 (Br.E) = “the fourth of June two thousand and nine”
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