American English
Order a coffee in American English using a modal verb.
(answers vary but use more direct language like Can/May instead of Could):
Can I get a coffee? OR May I please have a coffee?
How would you say "mom" in British English?
Mum
Which is more common in American English: "must" or "have to"?
have to
What modal verb expresses past possibility?
ex) "It ___ rained last night."
Might have or Could have
Define a holiday. (American English)
A national celebration like New Year's, Valentine's Day, 4th of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.
Define a holiday. (British English)
Time off from work/school (a vacation).
Name 2 differences in spelling between American vs. British English.
(answers vary):
-or vs. -our, ll vs. l, -se vs. -ce, -ze vs. -se
Would it be better if all English speakers used the same vocabulary, spelling, and pronunciation?
Use at least two modals in your answer.
Answers vary (correct with at least 2 modals and a stated opinion)
Name 2 features of the American English accent.
Stretches/emphasizes vowels, tends to stress the first syllable, more direct/casual tone.
How do you say "do you have a pen?" in British English?
Have you got a pen?
What is one key difference in how Americans and Brits pronounce ‘water’ and ‘butter’?
In the t sound:
(Americans use a flap /t/ sound, while Brits use a clearer /t/ or glottal stop).
In British schools, students must wear a uniform, while in many American schools, they don’t have to.
What’s the difference between 'must' and 'have to' here?
Must = strong obligation.
Have to = general necessity.
Don’t have to = Lack of obligation (not prohibited, just optional).
You must eat the aubergine.
You have to eat the eggplant.
Name 3 items of clothing in British English that have different words in American English.
Jumper, trousers, trainers
Which modal verb do British speakers tend to use instead of "should" in suggestions?
Shall
A British person says, "You needn't worry."
What is the American equivalent?
You don’t need to worry.
Americans say "gotten" in some cases, while Brits typically just say "got." Can you give an example where "gotten" is correct ONLY in American English?
Examples: I've gotten better at speaking English. I've gotten better at soccer.
*British English doesn’t use "gotten" for improvement, while American English uses "gotten" for change over time.
Some British English speakers use ‘shall’ instead of ‘will.’ What subtle meaning difference does ‘shall’ create?
"Shall" can sound more formal, polite, or suggest obligation in British English.
Pronounce this word in American vs. British English: "park" and justify the difference in your accent using 2 modal verbs.
The "r" must sound softer in British English, while it has to be more pronounced in American English. "pahk" vs. "parrk."
(Rhotic vs. Non-Rhotic "r")
Debate: Would it have been better if English had never split into different varieties (British, American, Australian, etc.)?
*You must use at least two perfect modals (must have, could have, should have, etc.) in your answer.
(answers vary). Examples:
If English hadn’t split, people might have found it easier to communicate globally, but then we wouldn’t have had such rich linguistic diversity.
Spelling should have remained the same, but pronunciation would have changed anyway.