American
English
There are a few grammatical
differences between British and American English:
In American English
the past simple is often used to give new information
or to announce a recent happening:
-
I lost
my key. Can you help me look for it?
The past simple
is used with just
and already:
-
I'm not hungry. I just
had lunch.
-
`Don't forget to post the letter.' `I already
posted it.'
Americans use
the past simple with yet:
-
I didn't
tell them about the accident
yet.
In American English
the forms I have
/ I don't have
/ do you have?
are more usual than
`I've got / I
haven't got / have you got?':
-
We have
a new car.
-
Do
you have
any change?
Americans often use the infinitive (without to)
in structures with insist/suggest
etc.:
-
They insisted
that we have
dinner with them.
-
Jim suggested
that I buy
a car.
This structure is also
used in British English.
Americans say
`the
hospital':
-
The injured man was taken to the
hospital.
Americans say
`on
a team':
-
He's the best player on
the team.
Quite
is not often used with this meaning in American English.
In American English
quite
usually means `completely' as in section
c.
Americans say
`on
the week-end / on
week-ends'.
In American English
`different than'
is also possible.
`Different to'
is not used.
Americans say
write someone
(without to):
-
Please write
me soon and tell
me how you are.
These verbs (burn,
learn
etc.) are normally regular in
American English:
burned,
learned
etc.
The past participle
of get
is gotten
in American English:
-
Your English has gotten
much better since I last saw you.
,Note
the American spelling of these words:
traveling,
traveled
canceling,
canceled
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