3. Auxiliary and modal verbs (4)

3. Auxiliary and modal verbs (4)

In subjunctive constructions, for example after verbs like suggest, recommend, demand, insist, etc., should is often used in British English. In American English this is unusual. Click here to see the full text.

AE	BE
What do you suggest l do?	What do you suggest l (should) do?
l recommended that he be fired.	l recommended that he (should) be fired.
It's vital that he be informed.	It's vital that he (should) be informed.

3. Auxiliary and modal verbs (3)

3. Auxiliary and modal verbs (3)

In British English needn't is often substituted for don't need to, but in America needn't is unusual. Click here to see the full text.

AE	BE
We have plenty of time, we don't need to hurry.	We have plenty of time, we don't need to hurry (or we needn't hurry).

3. Auxiliary and modal verbs (2)

3. Auxiliary and modal verbs (2)

In both varieties of English, it is possible to use can and could with verbs of perception, i.e. see, hear, feel, smell, and taste, but this practice is much more common in British English. Click here to see the full text.

AE	BE
l saw Alan coming up the hill.	l could see Alan coming up the hill.
l smell something burning.	l can smell something burning.

3. Auxiliary and modal verbs (1)

3. Auxiliary and modal verbs (1)

In British English, shall and its contracted negative shan't can be substituted for will, indicating the future, when used with the pronouns / and we. In American English shall is unusual. Where shall is used in GB to ask for advice, should is employed in the US. Click here to see the full text.

AE	BE
We will probably go to Florida.	We will (or shall) probably go to Florida.
l won't be here tomorrow.	1 won't (or shan't) be here tomorrow.
Which bus should l take?	Which bus should (or shall) l take?

2. Use of Past Simple and Present Perfect tenses

2. Use of Past Simple and Present Perfect tenses

In American English these two tenses are often interchangeable in conditions where only the present perfect can be used in British English. For instance, when an action in the past has a result now (as in the first example below), the present perfect is normally employed. Other typical cases are with words like just, already, and yet, and with ever and never when referring to a period of time that continues until now. Click here to see the full text.

	AE	BE
	I've lost my keys. Have you seen them?	I've lost my keys. Have you seen them?
or	I lost my keys. Did you see them?
	John isn't here. He's gone to the bank.	John isn't here. He's gone to the bank.
or	John isn't here. He went to the bank.
	I'm not hungry. I've just had breakfast.	I'm not hungry. I've just had breakfast.
or	I'm not hungry. l just had breakfast.
	You can't speak to him. He's already left.	You can't speak to him. He's already left.
or	You can't speak to him. He already left.
	Have you finished that letter yet?	Have you finished that letter yet?
or	Did you finish that letter yet?
	Have you ever read Macbeth?.	Have you ever read Macbeth?
or	Did you ever read Macbetffl.
	I've never seen this man before in my life.	I've never seen this man before in my life.
or	I never saw this man before in my life.