can u find differences between Eng and America??

[NguyenThanhNam]

I know there are many differences between Eng and American but I think it's very difficult to realize them
Can u help me and explain more.Thanks!!!

[Răng]

Are you talking about England and America the countries or English and Americans the people? They are almost completely totally different! Except for the fact that their language are somehow similar :p

[NguyenThanhNam]

I want to ask About LANGUAGE!! okie?

British and American English

These two kinds of english are very similar. There are few differences of grammar and spelling, and rather more differences of vocabulary. Pronuncation is sometimes very different, but most Britist and American speakers can understand each other.

1.Grammar

US: He just went home..............................GB: He's just gone home
US: do you have a problem?......................GB: have you hot a problem?
US: I've never really gotten to know him....GB: I've never really got to know him
US: It's important that he be told...............GB: It's important that he should be told
US: Hello, is this Harold? (telephone).........GB: hello, is that Harold?
US: it looks like it's going to rain................GB: It look as if it's going to rain
US: He looked at me real strange.(infomal).GB: He looked at me really strangely.

2.Vocabulary

there are very many differences. sometimes the samewords has different meanigs (GB mad = 'crazy'; US mad= 'angry'). often different words are used for the same idea (GB lorry;US truck ). Here are a few examples:

US/GB

apartment / flat..... Cab/ taxi......Can / tin.......candy / sweets...... check/ bill (in restaurant)......closet (or cabinet) / cupboard..... cookie / biscuit..... corn / maize..... crazy / mad..... elevator / lift...... fall / autumn...... first floor/ groung floor..... second floor / first floor....... french fries / chips...... garbage ( or trast) / rubbish...... gas (oline) / petrol...... highway / main road...... intersection / crossroads..... mad / angry...... mail / post...... motor / engine...... movie / film...... one-way / single(ticket).... round trip / return (ticket)......pants / trousers.... pavement / road surface..... railroad / rail way...... sidewalk / pavement...... store / shop....... subway / underground...... truck / lorry...... vacation / holiday(s)...... zipper / zip.

Expressions with prepositions and particles:
US: Check something out..............GB: check something
US: do something over..................GB: do something over
US: fill in/out a form..................... GB:fill in a form
US: meet with somebody...............GB: meet somebody
US: visit with somebody ................GB: visit some body
US: Monday through Friday.............GB: Monday to Friday
US: home........................................GB: at home
US: Mondays..................................GB:on Mondays

..............................
(It's too late now... I will continue tomorow...............

3.Spelling

US: Aluminum...............GB: Aluminium
US: Analyze..................GB: Analyse
US: Catalog..................GB: Catalogue
US: Center...................GB: Centre
US: Check....................GB: Cheque
US: Color.....................GB: Colour
US: Defense.................GB: Defence
US: Honor....................GB: Honour
US: Jewelry..................GB: Jewellery
US: Labor.....................GB: Labour
US: Pajamas................GB: Pyjamas
US: Practice..................GB: Practise
US: Theater..................GB: Theatre
US: Tire........................GB: Tyre
US: Traveler.................GB: Traveller

Many verbs end in '-ize' in American English, but in 'ise' or 'ize in British English. For examples: US Realize GB realise/ realize
:p

This topic is now fogotten... poor me!

Great post, since I don't know alot about British English (and often don't understand British English speaking movies). Just have a few questions for you...
You say in GB they say biscuit instead of US' cookies, then how do they call US' biscuit? Same question with chips and zip (as in "zip code").
And if they say cupboard instead of closet, then how do they call the place where you put your clothes???

[lucchoang]

Sometimes, there are intonation differences and different stress points:
American: ROtating, adverTAIZment
British:roTAting,adVERti*sement (i=short i, not ai like American pronunciation)
British speakers sometimes aspirate initial h's as in the word herb--
Am: [erb] // Brit [herb]
From what I've seen, (standard) British English tends to be a little more formal and indirect, using questions with more modal verbs like "Might I ask who you are?" or "negative questions" like "Don't you have any salt?"
In american english many times you can use past simple for present perfect. For example: "have you finished your homework yet" and "did you finish your homework yet" are same.

And in american english "shall" is unusual. they use "should" more often.
and "do not need to" is more usual than "needn't"..


Of course, there are many vocabulary differences; you may want to do a web search on "British American English Differences" to find a list of them.
Here is an article that reviews some of the differences...
http://esl.about.com/library/weekly/aa110698.htm

American English is much more easy and simple than British English.Therefore students who study abroad in American have less stress when having a conversations.

[Artemis]

@ phuongthan2811: said who???

There is no such language easier than the others. Every language has its adcantage and disadvantage.

[keomut]

Let's buy Oxford advenced's learner English
It's a very helpful dictionary

Where can i buy it? i've search a lot but i can't find.
Helps meeeee!

[dark_girl]

Originally posted by phuongthanh2811@09-06-2005 @ 14:34
American English is much more easy and simple than British English.Therefore students who study abroad in American have less stress when having a conversations.

That's right! And I agree with your opinion. In the UK, if you use slang word, it means you are a bad person! Maybe it just happends in my school and my city but it's also strange.

In England, if you say wanna, they will ask you repaet until you say wan to! that's stupid, but that's their tradition, nomore change!