Supplementary Material

AMERICAN AND BRITISH ENGLISH

(Supplementary Material for Gamma Upper Module)

American and British English are perhaps the two most typical varieties of the English languagepart of the same
language, they have evolved in different directions. This material will deal with certain differences concercing
the pronunciation of certain words, differences of spelling, as well as differences in vocabulary. Of course,
these two varieties have more similarities than differences, but knowing the basic differences will enable you
to better interact with a British speaker, given the fact that Tronwell favors the use of Standard American English
.
The general rule is an unstressed syllable beginning with a t right after a stressed syllable ending in n:
- International
- intermittent
- intercontinental
- Atlanta
- center
- entertainment
- Pontiac

Changes in the accentuation pattern of some words

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- Positive statements: negative tag

- Negative statements: positive tag
For example: He is here, isn't he?
You won't tell him anything, will you?

EXERCISE 1. Complete the following sentences adding the appropiate tag.

1. You broke the window, _________________________________________________ ?

2. They didn't see you, ___________________________________________________ ?
3. My mother cooks very well, _____________________________________________ ?
4. He can do that for you, _________________________________________________ ?
5. They should have been able to do it, ______________________________________ ?
6. He used to live in Madrid, _______________________________________________ ?
7. You would like to come with us, __________________________________________ ?
8. He hadn't met you before, _______________________________________________ ?
9. This street runs north and south, _________________________________________ ?

EXERCISE 2. Write suitable sentences which match the given question-tags.

1. _________________________________________________________ , would you?
2. _________________________________________________________ , isn't he?
3. _________________________________________________________ , can't you?
4. _________________________________________________________ , musn't they?
5. _________________________________________________________ , had he?
6. _________________________________________________________ , wouldn't she?
7. _________________________________________________________ , should you?
8. _________________________________________________________ , were they?
9. _________________________________________________________ , don't you?

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EXERCISE 3. Match the sentences in column A with the corresponding tags in column B.

A B

1. You won't forget our appointment, a) had he?

2. Mary couldn't come a little earlier yesterday, b) shouldn't you?

3. John didn't say so, c) will you?

4. They have some good news for you, d) did he?

5. You can trust me to do the job, e) weren't we?

6. You should hurry to catch your train, f) could she?

7. He could help you, g) don't they?

8. Peter hadn't met Mary before yesterday, h) couldn't he?

9. We were feeling tired, i) can't you?

EXERCISE 4. Build a sentence with the words given in parentheses. Write the corresponding tag.

1. (speak/English/well)

_____________________________________________ , _______________
2. (will/enjoy/the party)

_____________________________________________ , _______________
3. (be delivered/at ten o'clock)

_____________________________________________ , _______________
4. (visit/ you/yesterday)

_____________________________________________ , _______________
5. (go/to a disco/next Saturday)

_____________________________________________ , _______________
6. (have taken/the medicine/today)

_____________________________________________ , _______________
7. (be waiting/us/at midnight)

_____________________________________________ , _______________
8. (look for/job/this Monday)

_____________________________________________ , _______________
9. (have travelled/abroad)

_____________________________________________ , _______________

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KEY-CHECK

CONFIRMING INFORMATION

EXERCISE 1.

1. didn't you
2. did they
3. doesn't she
4. can't he
5. shouldn't they
6. didn't he
7. wouldn't you
8. had he
9. doesn't it

EXERCISE 2.

ASK YOUR LAB. TEACHERS TO CHECK YOUR ANSWERS.

EXERCISE 3.

1. c
2. f
3. d
4. g
5. i
6. b
7. h
8. a
9. e

EXERCISE 4.

ASK YOUR LAB TEACHERS TO CHECK YOUR ANSWERS.