Padd Solutions

Some adjectives go with certain prepositions. There is no real pattern – you need to learn them as you meet them. Here are some examples but remember that there are many other adjective + preposition combinations that are not covered here.

With ‘at’

I’m quite good at English but I’m bad at maths and I’m terrible at physics.

With ‘for’

Jogging is good for your health but smoking is bad for you.

The town is famous for its cheese.

As well as ‘good for’, ‘bad for’ and ‘famous for’ we also say ‘qualified for’ ‘ready for’, ‘responsible for’, ‘suitable for’ and several others.

With ‘of’

I’m perfectly capable of doing it myself, thank you.

I’m very fond of this old sweatshirt.

As well as ‘capable of’ and ‘fond of’ we also say ‘aware of’, ‘full of’, ‘tired of’ and several others.

With ‘with’

We’re very pleased with your progress.

You’re not still angry with me are you?

As well as ‘pleased with’ and ‘angry with’ we also say ‘bored with’, ‘delighted with’, ‘satisfied with’ and several others.

With ‘to’

She’s the one who’s married to a doctor, isn’t she?

You’ll be responsible to the head of the Finance department.

Notice that you can be responsible for something but responsible to someone.

Other common adjective + preposition combinations include ‘interested in’ and ‘keen on’. It’s a good idea to make a note of new combinations in your vocabulary notebook as you meet them. Remember too that a preposition is followed by a noun or a gerund (‘ing’ form).

While there are certainly many more varieties of English, American and British English are the two varieties that are taught in most ESL/EFL programs. Generally, it is agreed that no one version is "correct" however, there are certainly preferences in use. The most important rule of thumb is to try to be consistent in your usage. If you decide that you want to use American English spellings then be consistent in your spelling (i.e. The color of the orange is also its flavour - color is American spelling and flavour is British), this is of course not always easy - or possible. The following guide is meant to point out the principal differences between these two varieties of English.

In British English the present perfect is used to express an action that has occurred in the recent past that has an effect on the present moment. For example:

I've lost my key. Can you help me look for it?

In American English the following is also possible:

I lost my key. Can you help me look for it?

In British English the above would be considered incorrect. However, both forms are generally accepted in standard American English. Other differences involving the use of the present perfect in British English and simple past in American English include already, just and yet.

I've just had lunch

I've already seen that film

Have you finished your homework yet?

I just had lunch OR I've just had lunch

I've already seen that film OR I already saw that film.

Have your finished your homework yet? OR Did you finish your homework yet?

There are two forms to express possession in English. Have or Have got

Do you have a car?

Have you got a car?

He hasn't got any friends.

He doesn't have any friends.

She has a beautiful new home.

She's got a beautiful new home.

While both forms are correct (and accepted in both British and American English), have got (have you got, he hasn't got, etc.) is generally the preferred form in British English while most speakers of American English employ the have (do you have, he doesn't have etc.)

The past participle of the verb get is gotten in American English. Example He's gotten much better at playing tennis. British English - He's got much better at playing tennis.

Probably the major differences between British and American English lies in the choice of vocabulary. Some words mean different things in the two varieties for example:

Mean: (American English - angry, bad humored, British English - not generous, tight fisted)

Rubber: (American English - condom, British English - tool used to erase pencil markings)

There are many more examples (too many for me to list here). If there is a difference in usage, your dictionary will note the different meanings in its definition of the term. Many vocabulary items are also used in one form and not in the other. One of the best examples of this is the terminology used for automobiles.

American English - hood

British English - bonnet

American English - trunk

British English - boot

American English - truck

British English - lorry

Once again, your dictionary should list whether the term is used in British English or American English.

For a more complete list of the vocabulary differences between British and American English use this British vs. American English vocabulary tool.

There are also a few differences in preposition use including the following:

American English - on the weekend

British English - at the weekend

American English - on a team

British English - in a team

American English - please write me soon

British English - please write to me soon

Past Simple/Past Participles

The following verbs have two acceptable forms of the past simple/past participle in both American and British English, however, the irregular form is generally more common in British English (the first form of the two) and the regular form is more common to American English.

Burn

Burnt OR burned

Dream

dreamt OR dreamed

Lean

leant OR leaned

Learn

learnt OR learned

Smell

smelt OR smelled

Spell

spelt OR spelled

Spill

spilt OR spilled

Spoil

spoilt OR spoiled

Spelling

Here are some general differences between British and American spellings:

Words ending in -or (American) -our (British) color, colour, humor, humour, flavor, flavour etc.

Words ending in -ize (American) -ise (British) recognize, recognise, patronize, patronise etc.

The best way to make sure that you are being consistent in your spelling is to use the spell check on your word processor (if you are using the computer of course) and choose which variety of English you would like. As you can see, there are really very few differences between standard British English and standard American English. However, the largest difference is probably that of the choice of vocabulary and pronunciation.

Most dictionaries include both spellings and will make note of the two spellings. Usually the differences are noted in one of two ways:

In many US dictionaries the difference is included in the headword with the variation in parentheses:

For example colo(u)r

In British Dictionaries, the Dictionary makes note of the difference in brackets immediately after the headword:

For example watch, plural watches; glass, plural glasses

The table provides a list of the main differences between British and American spelling:

British -American

-our (honour) -or (honor)

-re (centre) -er (center)

-ogue (dialogue) -og (dialog)

-ence (defence) -ense (defense)

-ise 1 (recognise) -ize (recognize)

American English spelling sometimes does not double the consonant at the end of a word, while British English spelling does, especially when the consonant is an 'l'.

For example travel, traveller, travelling (British) and travel, traveler, traveling (American)

Remember that THE SIMPLE PAST TENSE describes an action which took place at a definite time in the past. THE PRESENT PERFECT TENSE emphasizes the effects of a past action. It does not point to a definite past time.

I ---> have ---> studied.
He ---> has ---> studied.

I have studied my lesson ---> I have not studied my lesson ---> I haven't studied my lesson

He has gone to town ---> He has not gone to town ---> He hasn't gone to town

They have taken the examination ---> They have not taken the examination ---> They haven't taken the examination.

I have studied my lesson ---> Have I studied my lesson?

He has gone to town ---> Has he gone to town?

They have taken the examination ---> Have they taken the examination?