American English

There are a few grammatical differences between British English and American English:

UNIT 7A-B and 13A

BRITISH

The present perfect is used for an action in the past with a result now:

* I've lost my key. Have you seen it?

* Sally isn't here. She's gone out.

The present perfect is used with just, already and yet:

* A: What time is he leaving?

B: He has already left.

* Have you finished your work yet?

AMERICAN

The present perfect OR past simple can be used:

* I've lost my key. Have you seen it? or I lost my key. Did you see it?

* Sally isn't here. She's gone out. She went out.

The present perfect OR past simple can be used:

* I'm not hungry. I've just had lunch. I've just had lunch.

* A: What time is he leaving?

B: He has already left. He already left.

* Have you finished your work yet? or Did you finish your work yet?

UNIT 17B

BRITISH: have a bath/have a shower

AMERICAN: take a bath/take a shower

UNIT 22D

BRITISH

Will or shall can be used with I/we:

* I will/shall be late this evening. The questions shall I...? and shall we...? are used to ask for advice etc.:

* Which way shall we go?

AMERICAN

Shall is unusual:

* I will be late this evening. Should I...? and should we...? are used to ask for advice etc.:

* Which way should we go?

UNIT 32B

BRITISH

You can use needn't (do) or don't need to (do):

* We needn't hurry. or We don't need to hurry.

AMERICAN

Needn't is unusual. The usual form is don't need to:

* We don't need to hurry.

UNIT 34 A-B

BRITISH

After demand, insist etc. you can use should:

* I demanded that he should apologize.

* We insisted that something should be done about the problem.

AMERICAN:

The subjunctive is normally used. Should is unusual after demand, insist etc.:

* I demanded that he apologize.

* We insisted that something be done about the problem.

Many verbs ending in ~ise in British English (apologise/organise/specialise etc.) are spelt with ~ize (apologize/organize/specialize etc.) in American English.

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