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英式英語和美式英語：相同表達中措詞的區別

具有相同含義的英語表達在英式和美式英語中措詞可能有所不同。比如，“像家裡一樣舒適的地方”的英式表達是a home from home，而美式英語裡寫成a home away from home；當英國人祈求好運時說“touch wood 摸木頭”，而美國人則說“knock on wood 敲木頭”。兩種英語分支同大於異，然而為避免誤會，最好分清二者的區別。試做六道小題，學習英式英語和美式英語的同義表達中措詞的差別。

1. An American English speaker would use the expression 'I could care less.' What would a British English speaker say?

(A) I don't care less.

(B) I won't care less.

(C) I shan't care less.

(D) I couldn't care less.

2. A British English speaker would say, 'Could you please hold the fort?' What would an American English speaker say?

(A) Could you please hold up the fort?

(B) Could you please hold around the fort?

(C) Could you please hold down the fort?

(D) Could you please hold in the fort?

3. An American English speaker would say, 'Take it with a grain of salt.' What would a British English speaker say?

(A) Take it with a knob of salt.

(B) Take it with a pinch of salt.

(C) Take it with a nip of salt.

(D) Take it with a grit of salt.

4. An American English speaker would say, 'I'm sorry. My bad.' What would a British English speaker say?

(A) I'm sorry. My worse.

(B) I'm sorry. My mistake.

(C) I'm sorry. My evil.

(D) I'm sorry. My atrocious.

5. A British English speaker would say, 'That's thrown a spanner in the works.' What would an American English speaker say?

(A) That's thrown a wrench in the works.

(B) That's thrown a screwdriver in the works.

(C) That's thrown a hammer in the works.

(D) That's thrown a jackhammer in the works.

6. An American English speaker would say, 'Don't sweep it under the rug.' What would a British English speaker say?

(A) Don't sweep it under the floorboards.

(B) Don't sweep it under the floor towel.

(C) Don't sweep it under the mat.

(D) Don't sweep it under the carpet.

答案

1.(D) 2.(C) 3.(B) 4.(B) 5.(A) 6.(D)

英式英語與美式英語：語法的區別

雖然英式英語和美式英語的詞彙基本一樣，但是在語法上它們還是有細微的區別的。比如，在問別人“你有筆嗎”時，英國人是會說“Have you got a pen?”還是“Do you have a pen?”。試做《英語小測驗》，豐富你的英語知識。

1. An American English speaker says 'I already did it' to you. What might a British English speaker say instead?

(A) I already done it.

(B) I've already done it.

(C) I'd already done it.

(D) I already did it?

2. How does British English compare to American English in regards to collective nouns? E.g. team, group, family, jury etc.

(A) Both British and American only use singular verbs following a collective noun.

E.g. The team is losing.

(B) British English uses a plural verb following a collective noun, whereas American English will only use a singular verb. E.g.:

British: The team are losing.

American: The team is losing.

(C) British English uses a singular verb following a collective noun, whereas American English will only use a plural verb. E.g.:

British: The team is losing.

American: The team are losing.

(D) British English uses either a singular or plural verb following a collective noun, whereas American English will only use a singular verb. E.g.:

British: The team is / are losing.

American: The team is losing.

3. How do British and American English treat the verbs 'dream', 'burn', 'smell', and 'learn' among others in regards to their past simple and past participle forms?

(A) There is no difference between American and British English. These verbs are conjugated with –ed endings: dreamed, burned, smelled, learned.

(B) There is no difference between American and British English. These verbs are conjugated with –t endings: dreamt, burnt, smelt, learnt.

(C) American English prefers the-ed ending: dreamed, burned, smelled, learned. But, British English can use the –t ending: dreamt, burnt, smelt, learnt.

(D) American English prefers the-t ending: dreamt, burnt, smelt, learnt. But, British English can use the –ed ending: dreamed, burned, smelled, learned.

4. An American English speaker would ask 'Do you have a pen?' How could a British English speaker ask also using the verb 'have'?

(A) Do you have a pen?

(B) Do you have a pen?

Have you got a pen?

(C) Do you have a pen?

Are you having a pen?

(D) Have you gotten a pen?

Are you having a pen?

5. In a formal situation, how might an American English speaker and a British English speaker talk about calling someone in the future?

(A) American English: I will call you early tomorrow morning.

British English: I shall call you early tomorrow morning.

(B) American English: I will call you early tomorrow morning.

British English: I’m gonna call you early tomorrow morning.

(C) American English: I will call you early tomorrow morning.

British English: I must call you early tomorrow morning.

(D) American English: I will call you early tomorrow morning.

British English: I call you early tomorrow morning.

6. In British English the verb 'get' is conjugated 'get / got /got'. E.g. I get money. I got money. I've got money. How is this done in American English?

(A) It is the same: get, got, got.

(B) American English uses: get, got, gotten.

(C) American English uses: get, gotten, got.

(D) American English uses: get, getten, gotten.

答案

1.(B) 2.(D) 3. (C) 4.(B) 5.(A) 6.(D)