Divided by a Common Language comparing British and American English

Vocabulary – take notes For each vocabulary word, write the word in British English and American English, and Korean if you need to

UK: Rubber US: Eraser

UK: Trousers US: Pants

UK: Pavement US: Sidewalk

UK: Mates US: Friends

UK: Lorry US: Truck

UK: Lift US: Elevator

UK: Pants US: Underwear

UK: Boot US: Trunk

UK: Biscuit US: Cookie

UK: Vest US: Tank Top

UK: Football US: Soccer

UK: Sweets US: Candy

UK: Full stop. US: Period

UK: Petrol US: Gasoline

UK: Note US: Bill

UK: Chemist US: Pharmacist

Questions: History Why did the United States declare independence from Britain? didn’t want to pay tax to Britain Boston Tea party … angry about British tea tax…we trashed a boat full of tea, throwing the tea into the ocean ‘taxation without representation’ Americans paid tax to Britain but couldn’t vote for British Prime Minister

Questions: History How did Noah Webster want to change the English writing system? independent American writing system reject British English, proud new American English style spell words as they’re pronounced Example – British colour American color - make words easier to write

Even today we use Webster dictionaries

Questions: Slang Explain the Cockney phrase: I hit my loaf on the apples and pears after arguing with the trouble and strife. Loaf – loaf of bread – head Apples and Pears – stairs Trouble and strife – wife I hit my head on the stairs after arguing with the wife.

Questions: Slang Explain the American phrase: He tried to be baller and rebound, so he bought the pretty girl an expensive drink, but he struck out. Baller – impressive, like a rich person Rebound – find a new love after a breakup Struck out – was rejected He tried to be impressive and meet a new love, so he bought a pretty girl an expensive drink, but she rejected him.

Brush up Your English I take it you already know Of tough and bough and cough and dough. Others may stumble but not you, On hiccough, through, lough and through. Well done! And now you wish, perhaps, To learn of less familiar traps.

Beware of heard, a dreadful word That looks like beard and sounds like bird, And dead--it's said like bed, not bead. For goodness's sake, don't call it deed! Watch out for meat and great and threat: They rhyme with suite and straight and debt.

A moth is not a moth in mother, Nor both in bother, broth in brother, And here is not a match for there, Nor dear and fear for bear and pear,

And then there's dose and rose and lose— Just look them up--and goose and choose, And cork and work and card and ward, And font and front and word and sword, And do and go and thwart and cart. Come, come, I've hardly made a start.

A dreadful language? Man alive, I'd mastered it when I was five.