there are a lot of grammar books in the book store, but some of them don't indicate that it is American grammar book or British grammar book. The Cambridge grammar books. Does it fix to the American grammar style? That always make me concerned about that i study the wrong grammar.
2006-09-06 05:53:15 · 4 answers · asked by vanminh20030 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
Cambridge is definitely British. A good American grammar series is by Betty Azar, I think they're all called "Understanding and Using English Grammar" and they come in at least three colors for three diffferent levels. If you're advanced (and your writing suggests you are), another good one is The Advanced Grammar Book by, I think, Steer and Schmid. You can also see if they mention the TOEFL anywhere in the book; that's a good tip-off that it's American.
Oh, and An A-Z of English Grammar and Usage does point out distinctions, but it's more a grammar for teachers than students.
But, as pointed out above, the grammar isn't very different. A few things I have noticed are at the weekend (Br) vs. on the weekend (Am); call me on (phone number) (Br) vs. call me at (phone number (Am); get, got, have got (Br) vs. get, got, have gotten (Am). There are certain situations in which Br people are more likely to use the present perfect and Am the simple past. And, Br people are more likely to speak of a team, group, company etc in the plural, Am in the singular. (Manchester United are doing really well (Br); Barnes and Noble is a great bookstore.)
2006-09-06 06:14:13 · answer #1 · answered by Goddess of Grammar 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
because American Grammar and British Grammar went different directions when we separated from them in the revolutionary war. Noah Webster wrote the first truly American dictionary and he spelled the words differently than they had been spelled in Britain. Since the two groups were no longer together, they developed different styles and usage.
2006-09-06 12:57:43 · answer #2 · answered by stick man 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The grammar is the same. It's the spelling that is different.
2006-09-06 12:56:35 · answer #3 · answered by jackiehonikman 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wall, them thar Brits kaint talk as good as us Americans kin. We gots good grammer over heer on this cide ov that thar pond y'all call Alantic Oshean.
2006-09-06 12:56:15 · answer #4 · answered by Eye Mugly 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋