These two varieties of English are very similar that most American

and British speakers can understand each other without great difficulty.

There are, however, a few differences of grammar, vocabulary and

spelling. The following guide is meant to point out the principal differences

between American English (AE) and British English (BE).

Use of the Present Perfect

The British use the present perfect to talk about a past

action which has an effect on the present moment. In American English both

simple past and present perfect are possible in such

situations.

• I have lost my pen. Can you borrow me yours? (BE)

• I lost my pen. OR I have lost my pen. (AE)

• He has gone home. (BE)

• He went home. OR He has gone home. (AE)

Other differences include the use of already, just and

yet. The British use the present perfect with these adverbs of

indefinite time. In American English simple past and present perfect are both

possible.

• He has just gone home. (BE)

• He just went home. OR He has just gone home. (AE)

• I have already seen this movie. (BE)

• I have already seen this movie. OR I already saw this movie. (AE)

• She hasn't come yet. (BE)

• She hasn't come yet. OR She didn't come yet. (AE)

Possession

The British normally use have got to show possession. In

American English have (in the structure do you have) and have got

are both possible.

• Have you got a car? (BE)

• Do you have a car? OR Have you got a car? (AE)

Use of the verb Get

In British English the past participle of get is got.

In American English the past participle of get is gotten,

except when have got means have.

• He has got a prize. (BE)

• He has gotten a prize. (AE)

• I have got two sisters. (BE)

• I have got two sisters. (=I have two sisters.)(AE)

Will/Shall

In British English it is fairly common to use shall with the

first person to talk about the future. Americans rarely use shall.

• I shall/will never forget this favour. (BE)

• I will never forget this favour. (AE)

In offers the British use shall. Americans use

should.

• Shall I help you with the homework? (BE)

• Should I help you with the homework? (AE)

Need

In British English needn't and don't need to are both

possible. Americans normally use don't need to.

• You needn't reserve seats. OR You don't need to reserve seats. (BE)

• You don't need to reserve seats. (AE)

Use of the Subjunctive

In American English it is particularly common to use subjunctive

after words like essential, vital, important, suggest, insist, demand,

recommend, ask, advice etc. (Subjunctive is a special kind of present

tense which has no -s in the third person singular. It is commonly used in

that clauses after words which express the idea that something

is important or desirable.) In British English the subjunctive is formal

and unusual. British people normally use should + Infinitive or

ordinary present and past tenses.

• It is essential that every child get an opportunity to

learn. (AE)

• It is essential that every child gets an opportunity to

learn. (BE)

• It is important that he be told. (AE)

• It is important that he should be told. (BE)

• She suggested that I see a doctor. (AE)

• She suggested that I should see a doctor. (BE)

• She insisted that I go with her. (AE)

• She insisted that I should go with her. (BE)

Collective Nouns

Collective nouns like jury, team, family, government etc., can take both

singular and plural verbs in British English. In American English they

normally take a singular verb.

• The committee meets/meet tomorrow. (BE)

• The committee meets tomorrow. (AE)

• The team is/are going to lose. (BE)

• The team is going to lose. (AE)

Auxiliary verb + do

In British English it is common to use do as a substitute

verb after an auxiliary verb. Americans do not normally use do

after an auxiliary verb.

• May I have a look at your papers? You may (do) (BE)

• You may. (AE)

• You were supposed to have finished your homework before you went to

bed.

• I have (done). (BE)

• I have. (AE)

As if/ like

In American English it is common to use like instead of as

if/ as though. This is not correct in British English.

• He talks as if he knew everything. (BE)

• He talks like/as if he knew everything. (AE)

In American English it is also common to use were instead of

was in unreal comparisons.

• He talks as if he was rich. (BE)

• He talks as if he were rich. (AE)

The indefinite pronoun One

Americans normally use he/she, him/her, his/her to refer back to

one. In British English one is used throughout the

sentence.

• One must love one's country. (BE)

• One must love his/her country. (AE)

Mid position adverbs

In American English mid position adverbs are placed before auxiliary

verbs and other verbs. In British English they are placed after

auxiliary verbs and before other verbs.

• He has probably arrived now. (BE)

• He probably has arrived now. (AE)

• I am seldom late for work. (BE)

• I seldom am late for work. (AE)