Appendix 7 : American English

There are a few grammatical differences between British English and American English:

 

Unit	BRITISH	AMERICAN
7A-B and 13A	The present perfect or past simple can be used for new or recent happenings. The present perfect is more common: I've lost my key. Have you seen it? (or I lost my key. Did you see it?) Sally isn't here. She's gone out. The present perfect or past simple can be used with just, already and yet. The present perfect is more common: I'm not hungry. I've just had lunch. (or I just had lunch.) A: What time is Mark leaving? B: He's already left. Have you finished your work yet?	The present perfect or past simple can be used for new or recent happenings. The past simple is more common: I lost my key. Did you see it? (or I've lost my key. Have you seen it?) Sally isn't here. She went out. The present perfect or past simple can be used with just, already and yet. The past simple is more common: I'm not hungry. I just had lunch. (or I've just had lunch.) A: What time is Mark leaving? B: He already left. Did you finish your work yet?
17C	British speakers usually say: have a bath     have a shower     have a break     have a holiday	American speakers say: take a bath     take a shower     take a break     take a vacation
21D and 22D	Will or shall can be used with I/we: I will/shall be late this evening. Shall I ... ? and shall we ... ? are used to ask for advice etc. : Which way shall we go?	Shall is unusual: I will be late this evening. Should I ... ? and should we ... ? are more usual to ask for advice etc. : Which way should we go?
28	British speakers use can't to say they believe something is not probable: Sarah hasn't contacted me. She can't have got my message.	American speakers use must not in this situation: Sarah hasn't contacted me. She must not have gotten my message.
32	You can use needn't or don't need to: We needn't hurry. or We don't need to hurry.	Needn't is unusual. The usual form is don't need to: We don't need to hurry.
34A-B	After insist, demand etc. you can use should: I insisted that he should apologise. Many people are demanding that something should be done about the problem.	The subjunctive is normally used. Should is unusual after insist, demand etc. : I insisted that he apologize.* Many people are demanding that something be done about the problem.
51B	British speakers generally use Have you? / Isn't she? etc. : A: Lisa isn't very well today. B: Isn't she? What's wrong with her?	American speakers generally use You have? / She isn't? etc. : A: Lisa isn't very well today. B: She isn't? What's wrong with her?
70B	Accommodation is usually uncountable: There isn't enough accommodation.	Accommodation can be countable: There aren't enough accommodations.
74B	to/in hospital (without the): Three people were injured and taken to hospital.	to/in the hospital: Three people were injured and taken to the hospital.
79C	Nouns like government/team/family etc. can have a singular or plural verb: The team is/are playing well.	These nouns normally take a singular verb in American English: The team is playing well.
121B	at the weekend / at weekends: Will you be here at the weekend?	on the weekend / on weekends: Will you be here on the weekend?
124D	at the front / at the back (of a group etc.): Let's sit at the front (of the cinema).	in the front / in the back (of a group etc.): Let's sit in the front (of the movie theater).
113C	different from or different to: It was different from/to what I'd expected.	different from or different than: It was different from/than what I'd expected.
137A	British speakers use both round and around: He turned round. or He turned around.	American speakers use around (not usually 'round'): He turned around.
137C	British speakers use both fill in and fill out: Can you fill in this form? or Can you fill out this form?	American speakers use fill out: Can you fill out this form?
141B	get on = progress: How are you getting on in your new job? get on (with somebody): Richard gets on well with his new neighbours.	American speakers do not use get on in this way. American speakers use get along (with somebody): Richard gets along well with his new neighbors.
144D	do up a house etc. : That old house looks great now that it has been done up.	fix up a house etc. : That old house looks great now that it has been fixed up.
Appendix
1.3	The verbs in this section (burn, spell etc.) can be regular or irregular (burned or burnt, spelled or spelt etc.). The past participle of get is got: Your English has got much better. (= has become much better) Have got is also an alternative to have: I've got two brothers. (= I have two brothers.)	The verbs in this section are normally regular (burned, spelled etc.). The past participle of get is gotten: Your English has gotten much better. Have got = have (as in British English): I've got two brothers.
6.6	British spelling: travel → travelling / travelled cancel → cancelling / cancelled	American spelling: travel → traveling / traveled cancel → canceling / canceled

 

* Many verbs ending in -ise in British English (apologise/organise/specialise etc.) are spelt with -ize (apologize/organize/specialize etc.) in American English.