British vs American English: EIGHT important differences (UK vs. USA)

Summary

In this video, Marina delves into the key differences between British and American English, highlighting variations in vocabulary, grammar, spelling, and usage. She compares everyday terms like 'apartment' vs. 'flat,' 'movie' vs. 'film,' and discusses how tenses and collective nouns differ. The video also touches on cultural nuances, such as the use of 'shall' in the UK versus 'should' in the US, and presents practical insights for learners choosing which version of English to focus on based on their goals. Marina also emphasizes consistency in language use, especially for exams like TOEFL and IELTS.

Takeaways

• 😀 The choice between British, American, or Australian English depends on your goals, and each version has its own unique qualities.
• 😀 If you're taking the TOEFL exam, it’s based on American English, while the IELTS exam is considered British English.
• 😀 Words like 'apartment' (US) and 'flat' (UK) are common examples of differences in vocabulary.
• 😀 In the US, the term 'college' refers to university-level education, while in the UK, the term 'university' is used instead of 'college'.
• 😀 There are differences in holiday terms: in the US, it's 'vacation', while in the UK, it's 'holiday'.
• 😀 A 'mailbox' in the US is called a 'postbox' in the UK, and 'cookies' in the US are known as 'biscuits' in the UK.
• 😀 The US uses 'movie', while the UK uses 'film' to refer to the same thing, though 'film' has a more historical context in the US.
• 😀 British English favors using the present perfect tense, whereas American English tends to use the simple past more often.
• 😀 British English commonly uses tag questions like 'doesn't she?' while American English avoids them for the most part.
• 😀 There are differences in how collective nouns are used: British English can treat them as singular or plural (e.g., 'police are'), while American English treats them as singular (e.g., 'the police is').
• 😀 In British English, 'have' and 'take' can both be used with actions like 'shower' or 'vacation', while in American English, 'take' is preferred for these actions.
• 😀 Spelling differences: British English uses 'colour' and 'favour' with a 'u', while American English drops the 'u'. Similarly, British English uses 'organise' and 'realise' with 's', while American English uses 'z'.

Q & A

What is the main difference between British and American English regarding exams like TOEFL and IELTS?

The TOEFL exam is considered an American test, so it primarily uses American English, while the IELTS exam is considered British and generally uses British English. However, candidates are not penalized for using the other accent as long as they remain consistent in their usage.

What is the British term for an 'apartment' in American English?

In British English, the term 'flat' is used instead of 'apartment'.

In American English, what is the term used for what British people call 'biscuits'?

In American English, 'biscuits' refer to a soft bread roll, whereas in British English, 'biscuits' are what Americans call 'cookies'.

How do British and American English differ when referring to a movie?

In American English, the term 'movie' is commonly used, while in British English, people refer to it as a 'film'. However, using the word 'movie' in Britain would still be understood.

What is the difference in how 'present perfect' is used in British and American English?

In British English, the present perfect tense is commonly used to talk about past actions with present relevance, like 'I've eaten.' In American English, the simple past tense is often used in similar contexts, such as 'I already had lunch.'

What is a 'tag question' and how does its usage differ between British and American English?

A 'tag question' is a short question added at the end of a statement, such as 'She looks so beautiful, doesn't she?' This is very common in British English but not as much in American English, where people rarely use tag questions in informal conversation.

What is the distinction between 'got' and 'gotten' in British and American English?

'Got' is used in both British and American English when referring to possession, such as 'I've got your message.' However, 'gotten' is typically used in American English when talking about personal changes or experiences, like 'He's gotten more serious about his career.' British English tends to use 'got' in this context.

How do British and American English treat collective nouns?

In British English, collective nouns like 'police' can be treated as either singular or plural depending on the context, such as 'The police are here.' In American English, collective nouns are usually treated as singular, for example, 'The police is here.'

What is the difference in how 'have' and 'take' are used in British and American English?

In British English, both 'have' and 'take' can be used with actions like vacations, showers, and breaks, for example, 'have a shower' or 'take a shower.' In American English, 'take' is typically used in these contexts, such as 'Let's take a break' or 'Let's take a shower.'

What is the difference between the use of 'should' and 'shall' in British and American English?

'Should' is commonly used in both British and American English, but in British English, 'shall' is often used in place of 'should' in more formal or traditional contexts, like 'Shall we go?' Americans typically prefer 'should' in these situations.