Eduardo Ezequiel Mata Adarmes 26.901.

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WORKSHOP Nº2

BRITISH AND AMERICAN ENGLISH

There is an old saying that America and Britain are “two nations divided by a common language.”

No one knows exactly who said this, but it reflects the way many Brits feel about American English.
My British friend still tells me, “You don’t speak English. You speak American.”

But are American and British English really so different?

Now, we’re going to take a look at how British and American English contrast in

 pronunciation 
 spelling
 vocabulary
 and uses of grammar.

If you’re thinking, “What if I get them confused? Why does English have to be so complicated?”
Don’t worry! Confusion and mistakes are part of the process!

Vocabulary

The most noticeable difference between American and British English is vocabulary. There are
hundreds of everyday words that are different. For example, Brits call the front of a car
the bonnet, while Americans call it the hood.

Americans go on vacation, while Brits go on holidays, or hols.

New Yorkers live in apartments; Londoners live in flats.

There are far more examples than we can talk about here. Fortunately, most Americans and Brits
can usually guess the meaning through the context of a sentence

Somewhere along the way in your English-learning journey, you’ve probably noticed that British
and American English are a bit different. 

Maybe you’ve had personal experience with an American or British work colleague, conference
attendee, or tourist. Maybe you’ve been spending quarantine bingeing both American and British
television shows on Netflix.

But how different are British and American English, really?

The answer is “quite” different, as they say in Britain, or “pretty” different, as they more
commonly say in the United States.
British English and American English differ in a few important ways.

NOW LET´S PRACTICE TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCES

EXERCISE N 1

The texts below have words missing. Write words in the gaps depending on where the speaker is
from. There are clues at the bottom to help you.

1st text. The speaker is from New York

*Hi dudes and dudettes, I’m Chad from New York City. Fill in the gaps for me please!

It was getting near lunchtime and I needed some (1) __ gas______, so I left the (2)
_____freeway______ and drove towards the nearest town. There was a (3) _____gas______
station just outside the town and I decided to stop and have a look round. I put the car in a (4)
_____parking______ and took a (5) ______cab_____ to the center. It was noon and very hot, so I
stopped at a little (6) _____diner______ with tables on the (7) ____sidewalk_______. I started
talking to a (8) _____truck______ driver, who gave me a history of the town, and afterwards he
took me on a guided tour. It made a nice break.

Clues (These are the same for the 2 nd paragraph)

1. The fuel you put in a car to make it go.

2. A main road.
3. The fuel you put in a car to make it go.
4. A place to leave a car.
5. A car you can travel in if you pay the driver.
6. A place to buy and eat food. (Not a restaurant)
7. The place for walking by the side of the road.
8. A big vehicle used for transporting things.
2nd text. The speaker is from London

*Hello everyone. I’m Basil from London. Could You please fill in the gaps for me? Jolly good!! *

It was getting near lunchtime and I needed some (1) _____petrol______, so I left the (2)
____motorway_______ and drove towards the nearest town. There was a (3) _____petrol______
station just outside the town and I decided to stop and have a look round. I put the car in a (4)
_____car park______ and took a (5) _____taxi______ to the center. It was noon and very hot, so I
stopped at a little (6) _____cafe______ with tables on the (7) _____pavement______. I started
talking to a (8) _____lorry______ driver, who gave me a history of the town, and afterwards he
took me on a guided tour. It made a nice break.

EXERCISE Nº 2:

Decide whether the sentence is written in British or American English. UNDERLINE YOUR CHOICE

1. What about another chocolate biscuit?

X British English American English

2. We´ll have to stop at the next gas station.

British English X American English

3. I got this book at the new bookstore.

British English X American English

4. He loves travelling by train.

X British English American English

5. There has been an accident on the sidewalk.

British English X American English

6. Put this box into the garbage can, please.

British English X American English

7. Ronny is in the eighth grade, not in seventh.

British English X American English

8. Let´s meet at the weekend.

X British English American English

9. His billfold is pure leather.

British English X American English

10. The lift is out of order.

X British English American English

11. Sales tax is not included.

British English X American English

12. The car had to stop because of a flat tire.

British English X American English

13. Shouldn´t we take the tram?

X British English American English

14. It was the worst railroad disaster in the history of our country.

British English X American English

15. His sister attends the primary school in our town.

X British English American English

16. Cellphones are not allowed in the hospital.

British English X American English

17. Jim is our new neighbor.

British English X American English

18. Should we really put the bottles into the boot of the car?

X British English American English

19. Andy and Tom, would you read the dialog, please?

British English X American English

20. I think I´ll change Mary´s nappy.

X British English American English