One of the most striking differences between American English and English is their differences in grammar.
Video American and British English grammatical differences
Subject-agreement agreements
In English English (BrE), collective nouns can take a singular form ( formal agreement ) or plural verb form notional agreement ), according to whether the emphasis is on the body as a whole or on each member; compare the designated committee with the committee can not approve . The term Government always takes a plural verb in the British civil service convention, perhaps to emphasize the principle of collective responsibility of the cabinet. Compare also the lines of Elvis Costello's following song "Oliver's Army": Oliver's Army is here to stay/Oliver's Army is on the way . Some of these nouns, for example staff , are actually combined with plural verbs most of the time.
In American English (AmE), collective nouns are almost always single in construction: committees can not approve . However, when a speaker wants to emphasize that individuals act separately, multiple pronouns can be used with singular or plural verbs: teams take their seats , rather than teams taking seats . Such sentences are likely to be rearranged when the team members take their seats . Although there are exceptions such as usage at The New York Times , the names of sports teams are usually treated as plural even though the name of the name is single.
Differences occur for all people's nouns, both general terms like team and companies and proper nouns (eg where place names are used to refer to sports teams). Example,
BrE: SuperHeavy is a band that should not work or First Aid Kit is a band full of contradictions ; Ame: The Clash is a famous band .
BrE: FC Red Bull Salzburg is an Austrian association football club ; AmE: The New York Red Bulls are an American football team .
I am done I'm not done yet I will do it I may be done I can do it I can do it I have to do it I should have done it.
- Except in negatives, pronouns may be omitted in informal conversation.
Transitivity
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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