What Are the British Words for the Following American Ones?

John Landrø EN-113 August 29 2005 Exercise 04

If you say words spelt in the following way would you expect the writer in each case to be British or American? Why?

1 labor 2 centre 3 hospitalized 4 movie theater 5 favour 6 thru

Lesson 04 Exercise 2 What are the British words for the following American ones?

AE closet BE …………… AE elevator BE ……………

AE vest BE …………… AE candy BE ……………

AE diaper BE …………… AE baby carriage BE ……………

AE drapes BE …………… AE truck BE ……………

Lesson 04 Exercise 3 Translate the following into British English.

1 I had a blow-out

………………………………………………………………………….……………………

2 Pass me the cookies.

……………………………………………………………………………………………….

3 It’s in the closet.

……………………………………………………………………………………………….

4 Open the drapes.

……………………………………………………………………………………………….

5 We’ve run out of gas.

……………………………………………………………………………………………….

6 It’s in the trunk.

……………………………………………………………………………………………… 2

7 One-way or round trip?

……………………………………………………………………………………………….

8 He left the faucet on.

……………………………………………………………………………………………….

9 We’re leaving in the fall.

……………………………………………………………………………………………….

10 I hate waiting in line.

Lesson 04 Exercise 4 Can you avoid some of the most common confusions arising between British and American speakers? Try the following quiz.

1 Where would you take (a) an American visitor (b) a British visitor who said they wanted to wash up – the kitchen or the bathroom?

2 Would (a) an American (b) a Brit be expected to get something hot or something cold if they asked for some potato chips?

3 Which would surprise you more – an American or a British man telling you they he wanted to go and change his pants?

4 You have just come into an unknown office block. If (a) an American (b) a Brit says the office you need is on the second floor, how many flights of stairs do you need to climb?

5 If (a) an American (b) a Brit asks for a bill, is he or she more likely to be in a bank or a café?