Differences Between American and British English

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美式英語(yǔ)與英式英語(yǔ)之間的差異
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While there are certainly many more varieties of English, American English and British English are the two varieties that are taught in most ESL/EFL programs. Generally, it is agreed that no one version is "correct" however, there are certainly preferences in use. The three major differences between between American and British English are: ? ? ?
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雖然英語(yǔ)種類繁多，但是美式英語(yǔ)和英式英語(yǔ)是大多數(shù)ESL / EFL（作為第二語(yǔ)言的英語(yǔ)教學(xué)）教學(xué)中的兩種主要類型。一般認(rèn)為沒(méi)有任何一個(gè)版本是“正確”的，但是肯定有使用偏好。美式英語(yǔ)和英式英語(yǔ)主要有的三大區(qū)別：

Pronunciation - differences in both vowel and consonants, as well as stress and intonation

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·發(fā)音——元音和輔音的差異，以及重音和語(yǔ)調(diào)。

Vocabulary - differences in nouns and verbs, especially phrasal verb usage and the names of specific tools or items

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·詞匯——名詞和動(dòng)詞的差異，特別是動(dòng)詞短語(yǔ)的用法和具體的工具或物品的名稱。

Spelling - differences are generally found in certain prefix and suffix forms

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·拼寫——通常指某些前綴和后綴形式的差異。

The most important rule of thumb is to try to be consistent in your usage. If you decide that you want to use American English spellings then be consistent in your spelling (i.e. The color of the orange is also its flavour - color is American spelling and flavour is British), this is of course not always easy - or possible. The following guide is meant to point out the principal differences between these two varieties of English.

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最重要的經(jīng)驗(yàn)是盡量在用法上保持一致。如果您決定使用美式拼寫，那么在拼寫時(shí)保持一致（例如：orange既表示顏色也表示味道——表示顏色時(shí)是美式拼寫，表示味道時(shí)是英式拼寫），這當(dāng)然不是一件容易的事，也不可能是件容易的事。以下指南意在指出這兩種英語(yǔ)之間的主要差異。

MINOR GRAMMAR DIFFERENCES

略微的語(yǔ)法差異

There are very few grammar differences between American and British English. Certainly, the words we choose might be different at times. However, generally speaking, we follow the same grammar rules. With that said, there are a few differences.

美式英語(yǔ)與英式英語(yǔ)之間的語(yǔ)法差異很小。當(dāng)然，我們每次使用的單詞可能不同。 但是，一般來(lái)說(shuō)，我們會(huì)遵循相同的語(yǔ)法規(guī)則。這樣說(shuō)的話，也有一些差異。

USE OF THE PRESENT PERFECT

現(xiàn)在完成時(shí)的使用

In British English the present perfect is used to express an action that has occurred in the recent past that has an effect on the present moment.

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在英式英語(yǔ)中，現(xiàn)在完成時(shí)用來(lái)表示動(dòng)作剛剛發(fā)生而對(duì)現(xiàn)在仍有影響。
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For example：

例如：

?I've lost my key. Can you help me look for it?
（我丟了我的鑰匙，你能幫我找到嗎？）

In American English the following is also possible:

在美式英語(yǔ)中以下情況也可能發(fā)生：

I lost my key. Can you help me look for it?


In British English the above would be considered incorrect. However, both forms are generally accepted in standard American English. Other differences involving the use of the present perfect in British English and simple past in American English include already, just and yet.

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在英式英語(yǔ)中，上述表述被認(rèn)為是不正確的。但是，這兩種形式通常都被標(biāo)準(zhǔn)的美式英語(yǔ)接受。英式英語(yǔ)中的現(xiàn)在完成時(shí)和美式英語(yǔ)中的一般現(xiàn)在時(shí)的其他使用差異包括：already, just, yet。

British English:

英式英語(yǔ)：

I've just had lunch.

I've already seen that film.

Have you finished your homework yet?

American English:

美式英語(yǔ)：

I just had lunch OR I've just had lunch

I've already seen that film OR I already saw that film.

Have you finished your homework yet? OR Did you finish your homework yet?

POSSESSION

所有物

There are two forms to express possession in English. Have or Have got

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英語(yǔ)中有兩種方式表示所有物的說(shuō)法。Have or Have got。

Do you have a car?

Have you got a car?

He hasn't got any friends.

He doesn't have any friends.

She has a beautiful new home.

She's got a beautiful new home.

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While both forms are correct (and accepted in both British and American English), have got (have you got, he hasn't got, etc.) is generally the preferred form in British English while most speakers of American English employ the have (do you have, he doesn't have etc.)

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兩種用法都正確（英式英語(yǔ)和美式英語(yǔ)中都可以使用），英式英語(yǔ)通常使用have got (have you got, he hasn't got等)；而美式英語(yǔ)中通常用have (do you have, he doesn't have等)。

The Verb Get

動(dòng)詞Get

The past participle of the verb get is gotten in American English.

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美式英語(yǔ)中，動(dòng)詞get的過(guò)去分詞為gotten.

美式英語(yǔ)：He's gotten much better at playing tennis.（他網(wǎng)球打的好多了。）

英式英語(yǔ)：He's got much better at playing tennis.

'Have got' is used predominately in British English to indicated 'have' in the sense of possession. Strangely, this form is also used in the United States with the British participle 'got', rather than 'gotten'! Americans will also use 'have got to' in the sense of 'have to' for responsibilities.

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英式英語(yǔ)中主要使用“have got”，表示持有意義上的“have”。 奇怪的是，這種形式在美國(guó)也有使用，用“got”的英式分詞寫法，而不用“gotten”！ 美國(guó)人也會(huì)用“have got to”來(lái)表示“不得不”承擔(dān)的責(zé)任。

I've got to work tomorrow.
（我明天不得不去工作。）

I've got three friends in Dallas.
（我在達(dá)拉斯市有三個(gè)朋友。）

VOCABULARY

詞匯

The largest differences between British and American English lie in the choice of vocabulary. Some words mean different things in the two varieties for example:

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英式英語(yǔ)和美式英語(yǔ)之間最大的區(qū)別在于詞匯的選擇。在這兩種英語(yǔ)中，有些詞語(yǔ)表示不同的東西，例如：

Mean: (American English - angry, bad humored, British English - not generous, tight fisted)

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Mean :(美式英語(yǔ)——?生氣，冷漠，英式英語(yǔ)——吝嗇，摳門）
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美式英語(yǔ)：
Don't be so mean to your sister!
（你不要對(duì)你的姐姐如此冷漠！）

英式英語(yǔ)：
She's so mean she won't even pay for a cup of tea.
（她是如此的吝嗇，甚至不愿買一杯茶。）

There are many more examples (too many for me to list here). If there is a difference in usage, your dictionary will note the different meanings in its definition of the term. Many vocabulary items are also used in one form and not in the other. One of the best examples of this is the terminology used for automobiles.

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這樣的例子很多（太多了，在這里我無(wú)法一一列舉）。字典會(huì)標(biāo)注出單詞的不同含義。許多詞匯也以一種形式存在，沒(méi)有其他形式。其中最好的例子就是汽車方面的術(shù)語(yǔ)。

美式英語(yǔ)——
hood
（引擎蓋）

英式英語(yǔ)[/cn[cn]] ——
bonnet

美式英語(yǔ)——
trunk
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（后備箱）

英式英語(yǔ)——
boot

美式英語(yǔ)——
truck
（貨車，卡車）

英式英語(yǔ)——
lorry

Once again, your dictionary should list whether the term is used in British English or American English.

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再說(shuō)一次，你的字典會(huì)列出這個(gè)單詞是用在英式英語(yǔ)中還是美式英語(yǔ)中。

For a more complete list of the vocabulary differences between British and American English use this British vs. American English vocabulary tool.

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更全面的關(guān)于英式和美式英語(yǔ)詞匯差異列表可以使用British vs. American English vocabulary tool。

SPELLING

拼寫

Here are some general differences between British and American spellings:

以下是英美式拼寫上的一些差異：

Words ending in -or (American) -our (British) color, colour, humor, humour, flavor, flavour etc.

Words ending in -ize (American) -ise (British) recognize, recognise, patronize, patronise etc.

以 -or（美式）-our（英式）結(jié)尾的單詞：color, colour, humor, humour, flavor, flavour 等等。

以-ize（美式）-ise（英式）結(jié)尾的單詞：recognize, recognise, patronize, patronise 等等。

The best way to make sure that you are being consistent in your spelling is to use the spell check on your word processor (if you are using the computer of course) and choose which variety of English you would like. As you can see, there are really very few differences between standard British English and standard American English. However, the largest difference is probably that of the choice of vocabulary and pronunciation.

確保拼寫一致的最好方法是在文字處理器（當(dāng)然是如果您正在使用計(jì)算機(jī)）上使用拼寫檢查，然后選擇您想要的英語(yǔ)類型。正如你所看到的，標(biāo)準(zhǔn)的英式英語(yǔ)和標(biāo)準(zhǔn)的美式英語(yǔ)之間的差異確實(shí)很小。但是，最大的區(qū)別大概是詞匯和發(fā)音。