ENGLISH PILL 202/365: BRITISH AND AMERICAN ENGLISH – 5 DIFFERENCES IN GRAMMAR

1.
British English: The present perfect is used for recent past actions. (I’ve just seen Jim.)

American English: The past simple or present perfect is used for recent past actions. (I just saw Jim. OR I’ve just seen Jim.)

2.
British English: The past participle ‘gotten’ is not used. (Your French gas got better since I last saw you.)

American English: The past participle ‘gotten’ is used. (Your French has gotten better since I last saw you.)

3.
British English: ‘Have got’ and ‘have’ are both used in negatives and questions. (Have you got my book? OR Do you have my book?)

American English: ‘Have’ is more common in negatives and questions (Do you have my book?)

4.
British English: Collective nouns are more commonly used with a plural verb. (The crew are / is on deck. The crowd are / is shouting.)

American English: Collective nouns are more commonly used with a singular verb. (The crew is on deck. The crowd is shouting.)

5.
British English: ‘Can’t’ is used to say that something is not possible. (Sally can’t be here. All the lights are out.)

American English: ‘Can’t’ and ‘must not’ are both used to say that something is not possible. (Sally can’t / must not be here. All the lights are out.)