9. Use of 'one'

9. Use of 'one'

The pronoun one, used to talk about people in general, including the speaker and the listener, is much less used in the US than in GB. When it is used in American English, however, he, him and his are generally used later in a sentence to refer back to it, where British English would continue to use one or the possessive one's. Click here to see the full text.

AE	BE
One cannot prosper unless he works.	One cannot prosper unless one works.
One should always be kind to his mother.	One should always be kind to one's mother.

Pronunciation

Pronunciation

The first point to settle in any discussion of pronunciation differences is: which pronunciations are we talking about? Although a dialect is defined in terms of grammar and vocabulary while accent is a matter of pronunciation, different regional accents generally coincide with dialect regions. It is therefore worth bearing in mind that phonologists have identified 16 modern dialect regions in England alone (with others in Ireland, Scotland and Wales) and 26 in the United States. This being so, it is obvious that the distinctions described below are by no means absolute. They apply mainly to those abstract notions, Standard American English or GA (General American) and Standard British English or RP (Received Pronunciation). To see the content, click here.

1. Pronunciation of 'r'

2. Pronunciation of 'a'

3. Pronunciation of 'o'

4. Pronunciation of 'u'

5. Pronunciation of 't'

6. Pronunciation of particular words

8. Prepositions

8. Prepositions

The use of prepositions occasionally varies, especially in adverbial expressions. When a preposition is used in one variety of English but not in the other, this is signified by (-). Here are some well-known examples. Click here to see the examples.

AE	BE
It's twenty of twelve, I've got to go.	It's twenty to twelve, I've got to go.
They arrived at ten after two.	They arrived at ten past two.
What time is it? It's half past nine.	What time is it? It's half (-) nine.
His was different from (or than) mine.	His was different from (or-to) mine.
I'd like for you to go now.	I'd like (-)you to go now.
How many people were in the course?	How many people were on the course?
What do you do on the weekend (or on weekends)?	What do you do at the weekend (or at weekends)?
She lives on the same street.	She lives in the same street.
I'll write (-) you as soon as l get back.	I'll write to you as soon as l get back.
They met with the directors to discuss it.	They met (-) the directors to discuss it.
The boss wants to talk with you.	The boss wants to talk to you.
My aunt came over to see us.	My aunt came round to see us.
He parked in back of the restaurant.	He parked behind the restaurant.
You'll have to do it over.	You'll have to do it again.

Grammar and Usage

Grammar and Usage

In grammar and syntax, American and British English are remarkably similar. Examples of the main differences are listed below. The influence of American English on British English, however, is constantly growing - through films, television, pop music, the internet, and so on - so that even such contrasts as these are likely, if not to disappear, at least to diminish in importance. It should be noted that, in many of the following cases, two different forms are possible in one variety of English, while only one of the forms is normal in the other variety. To see the content, click here.

1. Irregular verbs (1)

1. Irregular verbs (2)

1. Irregular verbs (3)

2. Use of Past Simple and Present Perfect tenses

3. Auxiliary and modal verbs (1)

3. Auxiliary and modal verbs (2)

3. Auxiliary and modal verbs (3)

3. Auxiliary and modal verbs (4)

3. Auxiliary and modal verbs (5)

4. Expressions with 'have' and 'take'

7. Collective nouns

7. Collective nouns

In British English, collective nouns like government, staff, committee, company, firm, audience, family, team, etc., can take either a singular or a plural verb. In American English such nouns usually take a singular verb. The same is true of certain proper nouns, for example the names of countries or companies. Click here to see the full text.

AE	BE
The government intends to cut taxes.	The government intends (or intend) to cut taxes.
The committee hasn't made a decision yet.	The committee hasn't (or haven't) made a decision yet.
Italy is scheduled to play Brazil in the opening match.	Italy is (or are) scheduled to play Brazil in the opening match.
Air France has announced additional lights.	Air France have (or has) Air France have (or has)