Unit 2 American VS British English Discussion In which aspects ( 方面 ) are the American English and British English different? pronunciation spelling,

Unit 2

American VS

British English

DiscussionIn which aspects ( 方面 ) are the American English and British English different? pronunciation

spelling, grammar,

vocabulary

holiday

jumper

rubber

programme

lorry

autumn

car park

vacationsweatereraser

program

truck

fall

parking lot

Read the dialogue, try to find some examples to show the differences between American English and British English.

READING

Differences:

B.E &A.E

1. spelling

2. pronunciation

3. grammar

4. vocabulary

Am. Br.

color colour

center centre

organize organise/ze

program programme

traveler traveller

meter metre

behavior behaviour

spelling

Am. Br.

again [ә’gein] [ә’gen ]

clerk [klə:k] [klα:k ]

dance [dæns ] [ dα:ns]

pronunciation

Am. Br.

Sam just went home. Sam’s just gone home.

Call me at 5555 5678 Call me on 555 5678

That skirt fit badly. That skirt fitted badly.

Hello, is this Wang Li?

(on the phone)

Hello, is that Wang Li?

(on the phone)

I live on Dongsheng Road. I live in Dongsheng Road.

She has an interesting book.

She has got an interesting book.

grammar

Am. Br.

pants trousers

candy sweets

living room sitting room

soccer ball football

vacation holiday

bathroom toilet/WC

gas petrol

baggage luggage

mail post

vocabulary

Li Hua: Hello, is this Dai Jun?

Dai Jun: Yes. Hi, Li Hua, how are you?

Li Hua: I’m okay now, but I just had the worst morning

ever!

Dai Jun: What happened?

Li Hua: I went to the shopping center near Huaihai Road, to change the new shoes I bought, the ones that fit badly, for bigger ones. One saleswoman was in the bathroom and the other was watching a TV program behind the counter. Neither of them would help me! Finally, I got help, but they only had the shoes in a color I didn’t like. I wanted to complain, but when I asked to see the manager, they told me, ‘Oh, sorry, she just went home .

Dai Jun: What a terrible shop! What did you do?

Li Hua: They gave me a number to phone the manager at , so I called when I got home. Now I feel a bit better, but I still don’t have new shoes!

is that

centre fitted

toiletprogramme

colour

she’s just gone home

on

Use the information from above to change the underlined words and phrases from American to British English. Then, practise the new dialogue with a partner.

Sam: Hi David .How are you?

David: Fine, have you just gone back from New York?

Sam: yeah, I went back here last Monday .

David: How is your summer holiday, Sam?

Sam: Excellent, during my summer holiday I joined a soccer ball club and I can play it better now.

David: Good! I also practised playing football this summer too.

Sam: Ok. Please call me on 33543165 if the students’ union organise a soccer ball match.

David: Good idea! You may call me on 25682275.

Sam: See you!

David: Goodbye!

Read the dialogue and find out “ Is it American English or British English?”.

British English

___________

___________

_______________

_________

Tell me about it. I'm all ears.

I’m listening to you carefully.

DefinitionLead-in A Lead-in BGuess WC B&A English Assignment ◎◎◎◎◎◎ Consolidation◎Frank Shi Jiangsu Danyang Senior High School @ 2005

Colloquialisms

• A colloquialism is an informal expression used in spoken English. Colloquialisms are never used in formal English or in writing, but are often used in conversations.

Read these colloquialisms and look

at the matching pictures. Choose the

correct meaning for each one from

the box below.

joke with someone something easy to understand

listening carefully boring/afraid to have

fun

I can tell you that. That’s a no-brainer!

something easy to understand

1. no-brainer 不必花脑筋的事物A: How do you use this program? It looks quite complicated.你怎么用这个软件呢 ? 看起来蛮复杂的。 B: No. Looks can be deceiving. This thing is actually a no-brainer. Let me show you.不会 ! 外表有时是会骗人的。这个东西其实很容易 ( 不必花脑筋的 ) 。我玩给你看 !

Don’t be a wet blanket. Have some fun!

boring / afraid to have fun

2. a wet blanket 令人扫兴的人。这一表达的来源是：当发生火灾的时候，为了扑火，把湿毛毯盖到火上。后用来指在社交场合泼冷水，令人扫兴的人。如：I’m sorry to be such a wet blanket, but

I’m afraid I have to go home now.

I can’t decide whether I should

invite my girlfriend’s brother Tom

to the party. After all he is her

brother. But he’s such a wet

blanket. I’m afraid he’ll spoil the

party for all my other guests.

throw a wet blanket on 这个说法相当于中文里的一句俗语：给人当头泼凉水。人们逐渐引伸了这个说法用 a wet

blanket 来比喻把周围兴高采烈的人们都弄得热情冷却的一个人。然而 wet

blanket 并不只是用来说人，也可以指事情 . 如：

My friends and I were going to the beach this weekend for some sun and swimming. But the weather forecast threw a wet blanket on our plans — it says it’ll be rainy and cold. 他说：我和朋友们原来打算这个周末去海滨晒太阳、游泳，但是天气预报却给我们当头泼了一瓢凉水。据说天要下雨而且很凉。

Go on, tell me. I’m all ears.listening carefully

3. all ears 形容很专心地倾听 , 全神贯注。When someone is all ears, he or she is listening with complete attention ． Whenever you tell Johnny some gossip, he’s all ears.每当你说闲话给约翰尼听时，他总是全神贯注。

Are you serious? Don’t pull my leg.

joke with someone

4. to pull one’s leg 意思是逗别人，开别人玩笑。 My roommate said this girl had told him she wouldn’t mind going out with me. But when I invited her to a movie, I learned he was just pulling my leg.我的室友说，那个女孩愿意和我一起出去玩。可是，当我请她去看电影的时候，我才发现我那同学是逗我，开我的玩笑。”

Part B

1.Mrs Black’s garden is the best in our town. She has real green fingers.________________________________

2. He just can’t do anything right. He is all thumbs.__________________________________________________

She is good at gardening.( 园艺能手）

He is very clumsy and can’t do things skillfully. （笨拙）

3. You are telling me I’m lazy. Ha, look what a mess your room is! That is like the pot calling the kettle black!______________________________________________________________________.

4. I wish I had brought my umbrella. It’s raining cats and dogs._______________________________

That is like criticizing someone else for a fault

you have yourself. （五十步笑百步）

It is raining heavily. ( 下倾盆大雨 )

5. Don’t make a mountain out of a

molehill. It’s not that serious.

_________________________________

____

Don’t exaggerate something. ( 小题大做 )


A. You two go on ahead. I don't want to be a third wheel.

B. He is in hot water with his girlfriend recently.

C. The children started to act up immediately the teacher left the room.

D. I know none of medicine . Do you mind if I pick your brains since you're

so knowledgeable in this area?


• A: Excuse me, where is the rest room?• B: What? You’re being in the room.• A: I mean…• B: You mean…• A: I mean the men’s restroom.• B: The men’s room. You mean “ Water closet”. Ha…• A: Ha…


1.Though you are busy, could you just lend me an ear for a moment?

2.If Huston rockets can win this basketball game by twenty points, I will eat my hat.

3.I ‘ve never expected lily to act as cool as a cucumber in the traffic accident.

It means: to listen and pay attention to

It means: You are 100 percent certain that something will happen.

It means :very calm and controlled in difficult situations.

More ColloquialismsMore Colloquialisms

1. lend me an ear : to listen and pay attention to 倾听：注意；仔细地听 2. eat my hat: You are 100 percent certain that something will happen.

3. as cool as a cucumber: very calm

and controlled in difficult situations.

像黄瓜一样凉爽就是当一个人碰到困难和麻烦时很冷静、很放松。


4.All the family members come to persuade Jim to change his idea, but he is as stubborn as a mule.

5.As a green hand , Robert nearly drove into the grocery on roadside.

6.Because Tod failed in his maths exam, he was as quiet as a mouse when his father scolded him.

It means : refusing to change one’s opinion

It means: one who is new in a certain field

It means: making very little noise


4. as stubborn as a mule: refusing to

change one’s opinion

倔得像头骡子5. green hand : one who is new in a

certain field

生手 , 没有经验的人6. as quiet as a mouse: making very little noise

非常安静 , 不声不响

ExercisesFill in the blanks by using the following colloquialisms.lend me an ear eat my hat a no-brainer a wet blanket

pull my leg green fingers rain cats and dogs green hand

make a mountain out of a molehill as quiet as a mouse

1. Kate, don't be_______________ at the party. Let's dance together.

2.Alice: Can you tell me what this sentence means?

Tim: This one? Oh, it is _________________. I can tell you.

3.Jim ,when I explain the language points ,you should _________________.

4.Rob is always late for school. If he can arrive at school on time today, I will________________.

5. Mum; Oh ,you got wet all over .How is it ,Daniel?

Daniel: Mum ,don’t you know it _______________________ on my way home?

a no-brainer

a wet blanket

lend me an ear

eat my hat

rained cats and dogs

lend me an ear eat my hat a no-brainer a wet blanket

pull my leg green fingers rain cats and dogs green hand

make a mountain out of a molehill as quiet as a mouse

6. Bob: Hey ! Ellen, you got an A for your history exam.

Ellen: Don’t _____________ . Are you serious?

7. Look at Mr. Smith’ garden. He has_____________.

8. Boss: Who is that dull boy? He even doesn’t know where

his office is.

Manager: This is his first day here. He is a _____________ .

9. Eric: Shall I stay in hospital for several days?

Doctor: Don’t _______________________________. You just got a fever.

10.Teacher:Boys and girls, when you are reading in the reading room ,you should remain____________________. Are you clear?

Students: Yes.

pull my leg

green fingers

green hand

make a mountain out of a molehill

as quiet as a mouse

Little Humor

1. LITTLE GIRL : Hi , I’d like some sweets , please. STORE OWNER :No problem . All the candy we sell is sweet.

LI TTLE GIRL : I see , so you sell sweet sweets.2. Br. BOY : Could I use your bathroom? Am. BOY: Of course , let me give you a clean towel （毛巾）。 Br. BOY : Oh , I’m sorry , I meant the toilet.

3. Br. BOY : What a lovely autumn day ! Am. LADY: Yes , it’s a nice fall day , isn’t it ?

• 1. Read the colloquialisms aloud and try to

remember them.

• 2. Find more examples of the different

British and American English.

• 3. Finish the reading task on page 98.

Documents

Unit 2 American VS British English Discussion In which aspects ( 方面 ) are the American English and British English different? pronunciation spelling,