Grammar Differences Between American and British English! This lesson provides the differences between British and American English in Grammar with ESL images.
Present Perfect and Past Simple
“Do” for An Action/ Tag Questions
Group Nouns/ The
Other Differences Between British and American English
WILL OR SHALL
- British English:
Will or shall can be used with I/we:
E.g. I will/shall be late this evening.
The questions shall I…? and shall we…? are used to ask for advice, etc.
E.g.: Which way shall we go?
- American English:
Shall is unusual
E.g. I will be late this evening.
Should I…? and should we…? are used to ask for advice, etc.
E.g. Which way should we go?
NEED
- British English:
You can use needn’t (do) or don’t need to (do):
E.g. We needn’t hurry or We don’t need to hurry.
- American English:
Needn’t is unusual. The usual form is don’t need to:
E.g. We don’t need to hurry.
DEMAND
- British English:
After demand, insist etc. you can use “should”:
E.g. I demanded that he should apologies.
We insisted that something should be done about the problem.
- American English:
The subjunctive is normally used. “Should” is unusual after demand, insist etc.:
E.g. I demanded that he apologize.
We insisted that something be done about the problem.
Utterly useful! Thank you!