Learning American and British English grammar is very important to enhance our accent. Both accents are very important for an English speaker. If you are interested in speaking both accents, then you have to clear up these minor differences between American and British English. Let’s learn together:
American and British English Grammar
In this section, we will learn the differences with verbs in American and British English grammar. After learning the entire lesson, we will be able to easily understand which accent is used by an English speaker.
1. Differences with Verbs
Verbs are used in both accents. But here we are trying to gain knowledge about the difference between American and British English grammar. We will explain each verb in both English accents: American and British English. Also, we will provide easy use of these verbs in sentences to help you memorize them easily in both accents.
1. Linking Verb + Noun Phrase
The British can use a noun phrase after a linking verb, such as be, seem, look, feel.
Mainly GB:
- It looks a lovely evening.
- She seemed (to be) a competent pilot.
The Americans do not use this pattern except with be and become.
US:
- It looks like/It looks to be a lovely evening.
- She seemed to be a competent pilot.
2. Do for an action
The British sometimes use do to refer to an action.
GB:
- He practises the piano, but not as often as he might (do).
- You should reply if you haven’t (done) already.
This usage is not found in American English.
US:
- He practices the piano, but not as often as he might.
- You should reply if you haven’t already.
But Americans use do so.
GB/US: You should reply if you haven’t done so already.
3. Do for emphasis
The British can use do to emphasize an offer or invitation in the imperative form.
GB: (Do) have a glass of wine.
This usage is less common in American English.
US: Have a glass of wine.
Americans also avoid the emphatic Do let’s… and the negative Don’t let’s…
- GB/US: Let’s not invite them.
- GB only: Don’t let’s invite them.
NOTE: Let’s don’t invite them is possible in informal American English but not in Britain.
4. Question tags
Americans use tags much less often than the British. The British may use them several times in a conversation, but this would sound strange to an American. Americans use tags when they expect agreement. They do not often use them to persuade or argue.
- GB/US: Mary likes ice-cream, doesn’t she?
- GB only: You’ll just have to try harder, won’t you?
Americans often use the tags right? and OK?
Mainly US:
- You’re going to meet me, right?
- We’ll take the car, OK?
5. Have, have got and have gotten
a. Have and have got:
- GB: I’ve got / I have some money.
- US (spoken): I’ve got some money.
- US (written: I have some money.
b. Negatives and questions with have and have got
| GB/US | We don’t have much time. | Do you have enough money? |
| Mainly GB | We haven’t got much time. | Have you got enough money? |
| GB only | We haven’t much time. | Have you enough money? |
c. Negatives and questions with have to and have got to
| GB/US: | You don’t have to go. | Do you have to go? |
| GB only: | You haven’t got to go. | Have you got to go? |
d. Got and gotten
GB:
- He’s got a new job. (= He has a new job.)
- Your driving has got better. (= It has become better.)
US:
- He’s got a new job. (= He has a new job.)
- He’s gotten a new job. (= He has found a new job.)
- Your driving has gotten better. (= It has become better.)
e. Get someone to do something and have someone do something
- GB/US: We got the waiter to bring another bottle.
- Mainly US: We had the waiter bring another bottle.
6. Present Perfect and Past Simple
Both the British and the Americans use the present perfect for something in the past that is seen as related to the present.
GB/US:
- I’ve just met an old friend.
- Dave has already eaten his lunch.
- Have you ever seen St. Paul’s Cathedral?
- I’ve never had a passport.
But Americans sometimes use the past simple in such contexts, especially with just, already, yet, ever, and never.
Mainly US:
- I just met an old friend.
- Dave already ate his lunch.
- Did you ever see the Empire State Building?
- I never had a passport.
7. Gone and Been
The British use been for ‘gone and come back’, but the Americans mostly use gone.
- GB/US: Have you ever been to Scotland?
- US only: Have you ever gone to Florida?
8. Will and Shall
The British use will or shall in the first person. Americans do not often use shall.
- GB: We will/shall contact you.
- US: We will contact you.
The British use shall in offers, but Americans prefer should.
- Mainly GB: Shall I meet you at the entrance?
- Mainly US: Should I meet you at the entrance?
The British can also use Shall we… ? in suggestions.
- Mainly GB: Shall we go for a walk?
Americans would say How about a walk? or Would you like to take a walk?
9. Need and Dare
Need and dare can be ordinary verbs. The British can also use them as modal verbs.
- GB/US: He doesn’t need to see the inspector.
- Mainly GB: He needn’t see the inspector.
- GB/US: Do we dare to ask?
- Mainly GB: Dare we ask?
10. Can’t and mustn’t
In Britain, one use of must is to say that something is necessarily true. The negative is can’t. Americans can also use mustn’t.
- GB/US: There’s no reply. They can’t be home.
- US only: There’s no reply. They mustn’t be home.
11. Learned and Learnt
Some verbs have both regular and irregular forms: learned or learnt, dreamed /dri:md/ or dreamt /dremt/ etc. The irregular forms are not very usual in America. The British say dreamed or dreamt; the Americans say dreamed.
The verbs dive and fit are regular in Britain, but they can be irregular in America.
- GB/US: dive – dived – dived fit – fitted – fitted
- US only: dive, dove, dived fit-fit-fit
NOTE: Fit is irregular in America only when it means ‘be the right size’.
- GB: The suit fitted him very well.
- US: The suit fit him very well.
It is always regular when it means ‘make something the right size’ or ‘put something in the right place’.
- GB/US: The tailor fitted him with a new suit.
12. The Subjunctive
We can sometimes use the subjunctive in a that-clause. In Britain, the subjunctive is rather formal. Americans use it more often.
- Mainly GB: My parents prefer that my brother lives/should live at home.
- Mainly US: My parents prefer that my brother live at home.
So, that was today’s lesson on the difference between verbs in American and British English grammar. I hope you learned something new after visiting this page. We provides a very helpful infographic chart on this lesson. Please take a short look at the below image, which will help you learn more easily.
Our Next Chapter is: American and British English Differences with Noun Phrases
