英式英语和美式英语的区别.doc

American: elevator （电梯）
British: lift
American: sidewalk （人行道）
British: pavement
American: apartment （公寓）
British: flat
American: movie theater （电影院）
British: cinema
American: eggplant （茄子）
British: aubergine
American: cookie （饼干）
British: biscuit

American: french fries （薯条）
British: chips

American: chips （薯条或薯片）
British: crisps
American: pants （裤子）
British: trousers

American: trash can, garbage can （垃圾桶）
British: dustbin

American: two weeks （两周）
British: a fortnight

语言提示：pants（裤子）一词在英国有特殊含义，它指的是男士underwear（内裤）。
美式英语和英式英语的语法差异

美式英语和英式英语的语法大部分相同，不过还是有一些差异。虽然这些差异不一定都很明显，但如果能认出它们是很有帮助的。

美国人通常用have来表示拥有（财产）；而说英国人有时会有have got。

American: I have a car.

British: I've got a car.

American: Do you have a cellphone?

British: Have you got a mobile phone?

美国人经常用一般过去式表示最近发生的事。相比之下，英国人常用现在完成时。

American: Elijah already returned from London.

British: Ella has already returned from New York.

American: I just went shopping.

British: I've just been shopping.

在遇到例如 team 和 family 这样的集合名词时，说美式英语的人用动词的单数形式，而说英式英语的人则用复数形式。

American: My son's team is the best.

British: My daughter's team are the best.

American: Her family volunteers at the local library.

British: Her family volunteer at the local library.

美国人和英国人对于介词的用法也不尽相同。

American: My grandparents visit on the weekends.

British: My grandparents visit at the weekends.

American: Sofia played on our soccer team.

British: Sofia played in our football team.

美国人经常使用动词take+宾语表示日常活动。相比之下，英国人通常使用动词have+宾语。

American: Let's take a break.

British: Let's have a break.

American: I'm going to take a shower.

British: I'm going to have a shower.

文化提示：有时候人们会认为英式英语更正式，而美式英语更随意。然而事实并非如此；它们只是某些方面不一样罢了。

讨论表述事物的方法

使用这些表达来询问和解释如何表述事物。

A: What's the British English word for 'eggplant'? 英式英语里“茄子”用哪个词？
B: The British English equivalent is 'aubergine.' 英式英语里“茄子”是“aubergine”。

A: How do you say 'trash can' in British English? 英式英语里“垃圾桶”怎么说？
B: We call it the 'dustbin.' 我们管它叫“dustbin”。

A: Is it correct to say 'at the weekend' in American English? 美式英语里“at the weekend”（在周末）是正确的说法吗？
B: No, we don't really say it like that. We use 'on the weekend.' 不是的，我们一般不这么说。我们会说“on the weekend”（在周末）。

A: Can you tell me where the lift is? 你能告诉我lift（电梯）在哪吗？
B: Sure, it's right over there. But 'lift' has a different meaning in the US. Here, we say 'elevator.' 当然，就在那边。但是“lift”在美国有不同的意思。我们这管它叫“elevator”。
If you travel in China, you'll certainly hear people speaking Chinese. It's also likely, however, that you will hear a foreign language – English – spoken, for example, between a Brazilian consultant collaborating with a Chinese entrepreneur, or a Swedish translator meeting a Nigerian CEO. English is a world language that has created a new global munity of people who can municate with each other. Nearly 100 countries identify English as their main language, as an official language or as a language of government. About 1 billion people worldwide say they speak English.

Most people would agree that English plays a major role in the business world. Many panies require employees to speak English; and international meetings, travel and contracts are often carried out primarily in English. People who speak English may earn a better living and, in some industries, may work in more innovative environments.
Although business English has developed as a tool for survival, English also seems to have been willingly adopted into world culture through the internet, movies, TV shows, puter games and advertisements. Indeed, most countries have 'borrowed' the English word 'internet' itself. In Spain, people may say they play 'basketball,' and Koreans grab a quick cup of 'coffee.' Some US television programs that are popular in the States are even more popular in other countries. What's more, English-language media paint a positive image of the US and even have the power to improve international relations, according to one US television producer.

But is this positive image always accurate, especially when one language dominates to such an extent that it can set a global, cultural agenda? By the next century, half of the world's estimated 7,000 languages may already have disappeared, as people abandon them in favor of a global language such as English, Mandarin or Spanish. Although it's convenient to share an international language, we mustn't forget the smaller languages, and cultures, that are in danger because of the rapid ride of English.
叙述一个别人跟你讲过的故事

用诸如say、ask、tell和think这样的动词来帮助你叙述别人跟你讲过的故事。在这个例子中，请注意引号表示别人说过的话。还要注意在叙述时，过去时和现在时的不停转换。

Gavin, who's from the UK, says, 'I just bought a new lorry.' 加文是英国人，他说：“我刚买了一台新lorry（卡车）。”
And I thought, 'What's a lorry?' 我心想，“什么是lorry？”

你叙述故事时还可以不直接引用别人的话。请注意这时不能用引号。

So, I asked him what he meant. 所以我问他什么意思。
He begins by telling me that a lorry is the British English word for truck. 他就开始跟我说lorry在英式英语里是卡车的意思。
你可以用不那么常用的动词，比如admit、claim、confirm、 deny 和 insist 来更准确地表述故事。这类动词也可以让你的叙述更加丰富多彩。

Then, Gavin claims that he can use recycled cooking oil from restaurants as 'petrol' in his new truck. 然后加文说他的新车可以用餐馆回收的食用油当“petrol”（汽油）。
First, I confirmed that 'petrol' means 'gas' in American English 首先，我确定“petrol”就是美式英语里的“gas”（汽油）。
Then, I insisted that we use real gasoline. 然后，我坚持说我们要用真汽油。
At first Gavin denied I had a point, but he later admitted it. 起初加文不认为我的话有道理，但后来又承认了。
在叙述中使用问句可以增加戏剧性和悬念。

Anyway, we drive in his new truck to grab some french fries at the local burger place. And guess what? 总之，我们开着他的新卡车去当地的汉堡店买薯条。然后你猜怎么着？
Gavin asks the waitress … um, what was it? Oh, yeah: 'Can you cook my fries in extra oil?' 加文问服务员…… 嗯，什么来着？哦，对了：“炸薯条时可以多放点油吗？”
And I said, 'Are you kidding me?' 我说：“你开什么玩笑？”
Do you ever feel like someone misunderstands you when you're speaking English? And, vice versa, do you ever feel like you don't understand someone else? Guess what? You're not alone. Most people experience these misunderstandings, which are also known as 'munication breakdowns.' munication breakdowns usually occur because of differences in pronunciation, the way words are used or cultural misunderstandings.

Fortunately, there are strategies you can use to help avoid or repair a munication breakdown and keep a conversation going. First, don't worry. Everybody makes mistakes when speaking. Focus on the language you can say instead of what you can't say. For example, if you can't think of the word 'hood' when talking about your car, simply describe it: 'It's the thing you pop open to see the car engine.'

During a conversation, remember to look at the other person's facial expressions. Does he or she seem confused? Has the person said, 'Sorry – I'm not sure what you mean?' If so, make sure you are clearly pronouncing your words. Repeat what you have said. You can also repeat it using different language with the same meaning. Let's say you described a 'hood' as 'the thing you pop open to see the car engine.' If the other person is confused, you could say: 'It's the big metal cover you lift up to try to fix the parts of a car.'

On the other hand, when you're having trouble understanding what someone else is saying, inform the person of this. You can look confused. You can politely use expressions like:

'I'm having trouble understanding. Could you please slow down?'
'Sorry – I didn't catch that. Would you mind repeating what you just said?'
'Sorry – what was that?'
'I missed that. Could you say it again?'
If you're not sure you understand what the speaker just said, you could try to confirm your understanding by paraphrasing what you heard. Use expressions like these to confirm your understanding.
'If I understand you correctly, you're saying that _____.'
'If I'm following you correctly, they claim that _____.'
'Just to be sure I understand, she's denying that _____.'
If you're feeling uncertain about your language ability during a conversation, you might want to avoid using language that depends on culture, like humor or certain very informal words. Language that depends on culture can more easily create a munication breakdown.

Next time you're feeling nervous about a conversation or experience a munication breakdown, try these strategies. Even more important, perhaps just relax and enjoy the conversation. 

美国和英国的汽车词汇

从18世纪到20世纪，工业革命改造了产业界，但同时也改变了英语语言。英国和美国是工业革命的两个领导者，两国的工程师不断发明成百上千的新机器，并为这些机器创造出新的词汇。有时两个国家的工程师们会发明同一种机器，但是用不同的词命名。

这是汽车零件词汇差异的几个例子。请注意美式英语tire和英式英语tyre的拼写差异。

American: trunk
(后备箱)

American: windshield
（挡风玻璃）

British: boot

British: windscreen

American: hood
( 引擎盖）

American: tire
（轮胎）

British: bonnet

British: tyre

更多汽车(vehicle)词汇差异的例子：

American: gas, gasoline 
（汽油）

American: parking lot 
（停车场）

British: petrol

British: car park

American: truck 
（卡车）

American: highway, freeway
（高速公路）

British: lorry

British: motorway, dual carriageway

在美国，highway和freeway路面宽、行驶速度快、有多条车道。在英国，motorways是有六条道的高速路，而dual carriageways有四条道。

有时同一个词在英式英语和美式英语中含义不同。比如，美国人说的trunk可以指car trunk也可以指elephant trunk。然而在英国trunk通常指的是elephant trunk或clothes trunk。

更多美英两国含义的不同的词汇：

American: A boot is a piece of clothing worn on your foot.
British: A boot can be a car boot or a piece of clothing worn on your foot.

American: A hood is a piece of clothing worn over your head or the hood of a car.
British: A hood is only a piece of clothing worn over your head.
描述语言的术语

你从小开始学说的第一种语言通常被称为你的first language。你的祖国使用的语言是你的native language。你还可以用一个不那么常见的术语mother tongue。

She was born in Japan, so Japanese is her native language. 她出生在日本，所以日语是她母语。

除first language以外你说得最流利、或者最经常说的语言叫做你的second language。

English is his second language. His first language is Norwegian. 英语是他第二语言。他的第一语言是挪威语。

如果你两种语言说得同样好，你就是bilingual。

He's bilingual; he speaks German and French fluently. 他是双语人士；他的德语和法语说得很流利。

用 dialect、accent 和 pronunciation 来表示某人语言的构成。其中包括发音、词汇、语法和对话结构。

There are hundreds of dialects in the English language. 英语语言有数百种方言。
I like your accent. What part of the States are you from? 我喜欢你的口音。你是美国哪个地方来的？
People have trouble understanding me, so I'm working on my pronunciation. 别人听不太懂我说话，所以我正在努力纠正发音。

语言提示：有些人认为有standard（标准）或proper（正规）英语一说，但其他人认为英语有几百种可以接受的varieties。accent通常是件好事：每个人说话都有accent，甚至母语人士也有口音。
用fluently或proficiently来描述一个人说某种语言的水平。这两个词都有形容词和副词形式。

Swahili is my mother tongue, but I speak English fluently. 斯瓦西里语是我的母语，但我英语也很流利。
I'm fairly proficient in German, but I still have things to learn. 我虽然精通德语，但还是有很多东西要学。

用这类词来谈论语言在你生活中的作用。

Many people are keen to learn Spanish. 很多人喜欢学西班牙语。
In Germany, English-language education is mandatory. 在德国，英语教育是强制性的。
During my undergraduate education, I studied for a bachelor's in German. 我本科学历学的是德语。

简化关系从句

你可以用that is、that are、who is、who are、which is和which are来reduce或缩短关系从句。要简化句子，只要省略关系代词+be。

看例句。注意省略关系代词+be是如何把两个相连的从句变成一个短语的。

He's part of a group of parents that is encouraging schools to offer English as a second language. 他是一个家长组的成员，这些家长鼓动学校开设英语作为第二语言课程。
He's part of a group of parents encouraging schools to offer English as a second language. 他是鼓动学校开设英语作为第二语言课程的家长组成员。
更多简化关系从句例子。

Charlotte, who was born in the northern part of Belgium, speaks Flemish as her native language. 出生在比利时北部的夏洛特母语是弗莱芒语。
Charlotte, born in the northern part of Belgium, speaks Flemish as her native language. 夏洛特出生在比利时北部，她的母语是弗莱芒语。

They speak Caribbean English, which is a variety of English based on 17th-century English and African languages. 他们说的是加勒比海英语，这是在17世纪英语和非洲语言的基础上发展起来的各式英语。
They speak Caribbean English, a variety of English based on 17th-century English and African languages. 他们说的是加勒比海英语——在17世纪英语和非洲语言的基础上发展起来的各式英语。
请注意：关系从句中只有带that、who或which + be的才可以简化。虽然有这些代词、但动词不同，以及带whose、when或where的从句不可简化。

She's the only one who speaks Urdu fluently. 她是唯一一个可以流利说乌尔都语的人。
I went to a school that taught German as a second language. 我上是一个提供德语作为第二语言课程的学校。
Matheus whose mother tongue is Portuguese, also speaks English and Spanish. 母语是葡萄牙语的马修斯同时也能说英语和西班牙语。
写作
段落结构

很多时候一段英语文字是由几个表达同一中心思想的段落组成。每一段又有一个段落中心思想，连同其它段落的中心思想一起支持作者的主要观点。

此例中，作者第一句就表达了中心思想: I've been learning English all my life。

I've been learning English all my life. I started studying it when I was 7 at a private international school in Hong Kong. Then my family moved to Seattle, and I began practicing it at school and after school with friends. I became very proficient in English when I worked on my undergrad degree in advertising and in my first job. In fact, I think that my constant efforts to learn English made a big difference when I interviewed for advertising positions in the US.
如该例所示，作者应通过提及上一段来平顺过渡到下一段的主旨。你觉得作者第三段的主要内容应该是什么？

I've been learning English all my life. I started studying it when I was 7 at a private international school in Hong Kong. Then my family moved to Seattle, and I began practicing it at school and after school with friends. I became very proficient in English when I worked on my undergrad degree in advertising and in my first job. In fact, I think that my constant efforts to learn English made a big difference when I interviewed for advertising positions in the US.

During my interviews, it became obvious that the people who spoke English fluently were the ones who got the jobs. Candidates who had extensive experience or impressive titles in their native countries didn't necessarily get the jobs. Indeed, the VP of media at an advertising agency in Hong Kong interviewed for my first job. Unfortunately for him, his English proficiency was severely limited. I was hired because I had an undergraduate degree in advertising and English fluency. For many people, English not only leads to better job opportunities but to a better life in general.
English in my life

I've been learning English all my life. I started studying it when I was 7 years old at a private international school in Hong Kong. Then my family moved to Seattle, and I used it at school and after school with friends. I became very proficient in English when I worked on my undergrad degree in advertising and in my first job. I think that my constant efforts to learn English made a big difference when I interviewed for advertising positions in the US.

During these interviews, it became obvious that the people who spoke English fluently were the ones who got the jobs.
Candidates who had extensive experience or impressive titles in their native countries didn't necessarily get the jobs. Indeed, the VP of media at an advertising agency in Hong Kong interviewed for my first job. Unfortunately for him, his English proficiency was limited. I was h