English Grammar Today - American and British English

British and American English 62

[AmE] I haven’t really read anything like that in years. (BrE preferred form: for years) [AmE] I haven’t talked to my brother in three years. (BrE preferred form: for three years) ÚIn, into 177; For 129

In and on with street names BrE uses in with street names. AmE prefers on: [BrE] They were a lovely family. They lived in Walton Street.

[AmE] I used to live on Perot Street. ÚIn, into 177; On 245; At, on, and in (place) 50

Through AmE uses through in many situations where BrE prefers to or till when referring to the end points of periods of time: [AmE] A: Actually she leaves the house at eleven and gets home at four so …

B: And that’s Monday through Friday? (BrE preferred form Monday to Friday) A: Yeah. [an elderly woman is talking about her working life, BrE] A: I was doing twelve hours a day from Monday till Friday and twelve and a half on a Saturday. (AmE preferred form Monday through Friday) B: And how old were you?

A: Fourteen years old. ÚAcross or through? 6c

Adjectives and adverbs

62d

Really, real In informal spoken AmE, speakers often use real instead of really before an adjective.

This is considered non-standard by many AmE speakers: [AmE] That’s real funny! (BrE preferred form really funny) [AmE] I thought it was a real good movie. (BrE preferred form really good film) Well and good AmE speakers often use good where BrE prefers well. However, the AmE form is becoming more common in BrE, especially after greetings such as How are you?, How’s it going?:

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English Grammar Today

British and American English 62

[AmE] A: How are you?

B: I’m good. (BrE preferred form I’m well or I’m fine) It all worked out real good. (BrE preferred form really well) Likely AmE allows the use of likely as an adjective (in the same way as probable, possible, etc.), or as an adverb (in the same way as probably, possibly, etc.). In BrE, likely is normally only used as an adjective: [AmE] There will likely be other announcements before the end of this year. (likely as an adverb; BrE preferred form There are likely to be) [AmE] The focus on the economy will likely continue when the new President takes office.

(BrE preferred form is likely to continue) [AmE] And what’s likely to happen? (likely as an adjective, also common in BrE) ÚLikely and unlikely 195

Tags 62e Question tags are much more common in BrE than in AmE, but a wide range of question tags are used in both varieties: [BrE] She’s Swedish, isn’t she?

[AmE] Elvis wasn’t your favourite rock star, was he?

In informal situations, AmE speakers often use a tag with rising intonation in responses which show surprise or emotional involvement. The tag has the same form as the statement the speaker is responding to (affirmative statement → affirmative tag; negative statement → negative tag). This is not common in BrE: [AmE] A: I took the Chinese course last semester.

B: Oh, you did? (BrE preferred form Oh, did you? with fall-rise or rising intonation) A: Yeah.

[AmE] A: My sister still lives with my mom.

B: She does? (BrE preferred form Does she?)

A: Uh-huh.

Tags at the end of affirmative statements which have an affirmative form occur in both varieties but are quite rare in AmE:

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