As with the Portuguese language, the English language also has more than one variant.
While in Portuguese we have, for example, Brazilian Portuguese, Portuguese from Portugal and Portuguese from Africa, the English language has two main variants: American English (American English) and British English (British English).
However, the differences between British and American English are not as marked as those that occur between the variants of Lusophony.
The differences between American and British English can be subdivided into different categories: pronunciation, spelling, grammar and vocabulary.
Differences between GB and US spellings
With regard to the spelling (set of rules that define the correct way to write) of the English language, it is also possible to establish a certain pattern between the differences.
Look at the images below and learn about the main spelling differences between the two main variants of the English language.
Terminations up and -ce
Terminations -er and -re
Sequences -or and -our
Terminations -ed and -t
Sequences -k and -what
Terminations -yze, -ize, -yse, -yes
Sequences -ll and -l
Terminations -g and -who
Other spelling differences
Differences between GB and US grammar
When it comes to grammar, the differences are quite varied.
Let's look at the main examples.
Verbal agreement
One of the differences between American grammar and British grammar is related to the verbal agreement of sentences.
In British grammar, for example, when we refer to a group, we can make the agreement in the singular or in the plural. In American grammar, only the agreement in the singular is correct.
Examples:
- American English: Brazil was the World Cup champion in 2002. (Brazil was the 2002 World Cup champion.)
- British English: Brazil was the World Cup champion in 2002. or Brazil were the World Cup champion in 2002. (Brazil was the 2002 World Cup champion.)
Was: 1st person singular of the verb to be no Simple Past.
Were: 3rd person plural of the verb to be no Simple Past.
Use of Present Perfect (Perfect gift)
Another difference between the two language variants has to do with the use of the Present Perfect.
In the United States, this tense is used to refer to an action that took place in the recent past and extended to the present. In the UK it is often used in place of the Simple Past.
Furthermore, in British English this tense is commonly used with adverbs.
In sentences with already (already), just (only; just) or yet (yet), the British usually use the Present Perfect and the Americans, the Simple Past.
Examples:
- American English: I already saw this movie. (I've seen this movie.)
- British English: I have already seen this movie. (I've seen this movie.)
saw: Simple Past
have...seen: Present Perfect
Also read about:
- Present Perfect
- Simple Past
- Past Perfect
- adverbs in english
- Hours in English
Use of have and have got
Regarding verbs, another difference between UK English and US English has to do with how to express possession.
While in the United States the use of have/has, in the UK the forms have got/has got are most used.
Examples:
- American English: I have a house on the beach. (I have a beach house.)
- British English: I have got a house on the beach. (I have a beach house.)
It is important to note that both forms exist in both countries and have the same meaning.
Differences in vocabulary
The differences between US English and UK English also cover the use of different words to refer to the same things.
Look at the table below and see some examples.
Differences between GB and US pronunciations
One of the most striking differences between the two main variants of the English language is the peculiarities of the British vs. American accent.
The pronunciation of some specific letters tends to characterize the variants.
The letter T that occurs in the middle of the word is an example of this. While in British English it is pronounced as /t/, in American English it sounds similar to /r/, that is, in the case of the word water (water), for example, look at how each country is pronounced.
- England: /uotâr/
- United States: /uórâr/
Video
Check out the video below with some more examples of different pronunciations between English from England and English from the United States.
Exercise
Do the crossword below and improve your knowledge of US and UK vocabularies.
On the left is a list of British English terms. To complete the crossword, you must write the equivalent in American English considering the number of each image and the number of each block of text in the crossword.
When completing the filling, find out what the secret message is.
Answers:
- PANTS (translation: pants; British English equivalent: trousers)
- METRO (translation: subway; British English equivalent: underground)
- CORN (translation: corn; British English equivalent: maize)
- SOCCER (translation: football; British English equivalent: football)
- COOKIES (translation: cookies; British English equivalent: biscuits)
- TRUCK (translation: truck; British English equivalent: lorry)
- CANDIES (translation: sweets; British English equivalent: sweets)
- CLOSET (translation: wardrobe; British English equivalent: wardrobe)
- ZIPPER (translation: pants; British English equivalent: trousers)
- MOVIE (translation: movie; British English equivalent: film)
- ERASE (translation: rubber; British English equivalent: rubber)
- TRASH CAN (translation: trash can; British English equivalent: dust bin)
- GAS (translation: gasoline; British English equivalent: petrol)
- LINE (translation: queue; British English equivalent: queue)
- PACIFIER (translation: pacifier; British English equivalent: dummy)
- FALL (translation: autumn; British English equivalent: autumn)
- FRIES (translation: French fries; British English equivalent: chips)
- CAB (translation: taxi; British English equivalent: taxi)
- ELEVATOR (translation: elevator; British English equivalent: lift)
- JELLY (translation: jelly; jam; British English equivalent: jam)
Secret message: England and America are two countries separated by the same language. (England and the United States are two countries separated by the same language.)
Improve your English skills with the following contents:
- When to use In, On, and At
- How to learn English on your own
- Simple Present exercises
