American and British people both speak English. But sometimes there are some important differences between British English and American English.
Often, Americans don't say each word separately. They say words together. Americans may say "I dunno" instead of "I don't know". However, the British are more careful. They usually say all the words and keep them separate.
Sound is not the only difference. Words sometimes have different meanings too.Americans drive trucks, but in England, people drive lorries.
In England, if you are going to call your friends, you "phone them up". In America, you "give them a call".
There are also some differences in grammar. For example, Americans usually use the helping verb "do" when they ask a question. They say "Do you have a pen?" But the British often leave out the helping verb.
Most languages are like this. Languages change over time. When people live in separate places, the languages change in different ways. This is what has happened to English.Many people in Canada speak French but their French is very different from the French of France.
| A. Many expressions are also different in the two countries. B. It can also happen to other languages like French. C. For example, the vocabulary for cars and driving is very different. D. They say "Have you a pen?" E. First of all, they sound very different. |
