British or American English?: A Handbook of Word and Grammar Patterns (Studies in English Language)

Speakers of British and American English display some striking differences in their use of grammar. In this detailed survey, John Algeo considers questions such as: •Who lives on a street, and who lives in a street? •Who takes a bath, and who has a bath? •Who says Neither do I, and who says Nor do I? •After 'thank you', who says Not at all and who says You're welcome? •Whose team are on the ball, and whose team isn't? Containing extensive quotations from real-life English on both sides of the Atlantic, collected over the past twenty years, this is a clear and highly organized guide to the differences - and the similarities - between the grammar of British and American speakers. Written for those with no prior knowledge of linguistics, it shows how these grammatical differences are linked mainly to particular words, and provides an accessible account of contemporary English in use. Containing Extensive Quotations From Real-life English On Both Sides Of The Atlantic, Collected Over The Past Twenty Years, This Is A Clear And Highly Organized Guide To The Differences - And The Similarities - In The Grammar Of British And American Speakers. Written For Those With No Prior Knowledge Of Linguistics, It Shows How These Grammatical Differences Are Linked Mainly To Particular Words, And Provides An Accessible Account Of Contemporary English As It Is Actually Used.--jacket. British And American As National Varieties -- Differences Between British And American -- The Basis Of This Study -- Sources Of Comparative Statistics And Citations -- Conventions And Organization Of This Study -- Verbs -- Determiners -- Nouns -- Pronouns -- Adjectives -- Adverbs -- Qualifiers -- Prepositions -- Conjunctions -- Interjections -- Complementation -- Mandative Constructions -- Expanded Predicates -- Concord -- Propredicates -- Tag Questions -- Miscellaneous. John Algeo. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 313-324) And Index. This is a clearly organized guide to the differences - and similarities - between the grammar of British and American speakers of English. Assuming no prior knowledge of linguistics, and containing extensive quotations from real-life English on both sides of the Atlantic, it provides an accessible account of contemporary English in use British has some verbs lacking or comparatively rare in American, many of which are denominal.