The differences between Americans and the rest of us

[H.E. Pennypacker]

The British say "what have you got?" We say "what do you have?"

Zero Cool is saying we're the ones with improper grammar! You can't use "have" and "got" in the same sentence. That's because they have the same meaning in that question.

 

[Diaz]

In America crisps are called chips and chips are called fries!

More like in wherever the hell you live, chips are called crisps, and fries are called chips!

We're the normal ones here, your words are [Highlight]WRONG[/Highlight]! :thumb:

 

[Zero Cool]

More like in wherever the hell you live, chips are called crisps, and fries are called chips!

We're the normal ones here, your words are [Highlight]WRONG[/Highlight]! :thumb:

No.

 

[CalcuoCuchicheo]

So you learn it hearing the English accent? That would confuse things I think, learning a language where the spoken version varies so much. When my dad visited relatives in Scotland last year, he couldnt understand them at all - and they were all speaking the same language, yet it was totally different!!

We are so misunderstood.......

Anyhoo, where did your dad go in Scotland?

I ask because there is quite a variation in accent & colloquialism throughout the various regions of Scotland.

 

[Duke]

^^It seems the English language is steadily becoming more Americanized through the wide reach of American films and television. Now this isn't neccessarily a bad thing but why can't they use proper spelling? Labour is not spelled labor and Jewellery is certainly not spelled jewelry (where the hell did this grammatical monstrosity originate out of anyway), there are accepted endings for a reason

I don't want to upset you, but do you as well ,like me, get terribly agitated every time i hear the Americans refer to the noble Football sport as soccer? And then also had the audacity to use the highly-praised, nigh holy term "Football" for their barbaric and debased form of rugby.

It gets my blood boiling thinking about it.

 

[Cooper]

Well, now we do refer to a liter of soda. But it's always a quart or half a gallon of milk.

we have pints of milk

 

[Taliq]

I don't want to upset you, but do you as well ,like me, get terribly agitated every time i hear the Americans refer to the noble Football sport as soccer? And then also had the audacity to use the highly-praised, nigh holy term "Football" for their barbaric and debased form of rugby.

It gets my blood boiling thinking about it.

Im with u there. how is there version football? they have to hold it in their hands when theyre runnin with it. Foolish i tells ye

 

[Zero Cool]

I don't want to upset you, but do you as well ,like me, get terribly agitated every time i hear the Americans refer to the noble Football sport as soccer? And then also had the audacity to use the highly-praised, nigh holy term "Football" for their barbaric and debased form of rugby.

I agree. American "Rugby" can in no-way be described as "Football". In Ireland however we have our own national game, Gaelic Football, therefore we often refer to Football as soccer too

 

[Duke]

I agree. American "Rugby" can in no-way be described as "Football". In Ireland however we have our own national game, Gaelic Football, therefore we often refer to Football as soccer too

This is disappointing.

I must make note of this.

 

[Illuminattile]

The British say "what have you got?" We say "what do you have?"

Zero Cool is saying we're the ones with improper grammar! You can't use "have" and "got" in the same sentence. That's because they have the same meaning in that question.

"Have you got" is grammatically correct in some senses.

Few people would say "I've a car", most would say "I've got a car". Fewer still would say "I do have a car".

 

[KAMIKAZI]

More like in wherever the hell you live, chips are called crisps, and fries are called chips!

We're the normal ones here, your words are [Highlight]WRONG[/Highlight]! :thumb:

He's gotta point... Why would anybody call fries "chips"? "Chips" is already taken.

Those are chips! :thumb:

 

[Tut]

English people are witty, charming, intelligent and good looking.

Americans are have none of these qualities.

Grab ya popcorn, fuckers.

 

[KAMIKAZI]

English people are witty, charming, intelligent and good looking.

Americans are have none of these qualities.

Grab ya popcorn, fuckers.

:thumb:

 

[haunted]

English people are witty, charming, intelligent and good looking.

Americans are have none of these qualities.

Grab ya popcorn, fuckers.

Hahaha man, you should be a comedian.

 

[KAMIKAZI]

If there's anyone to turn to to show us what's right and wrong, it's Pac

"Walked in the store what's everybody staring at
They act like they never seen a mutha fucker wearing black
Following a nigga and shit
Ain't this a bitch
All i wanted was some chips"

Do you think Pac was talkin about french fries? NO! We are the normal, you guys are alternative, deal with it! :thumb:

 

[Tut]

If there's anyone to turn to to show us what's right and wrong, it's Pac

"Walked in the store what's everybody staring at
They act like they never seen a mutha fucker wearing black
Following a nigga and shit
Ain't this a bitch
All i wanted was some chips"

Do you think Pac was talkin about french fries? NO! We are the normal, you guys are alternative, deal with it! :thumb:

I agree. We're in the wrong. In fact, when asked what my first language is, i'm going to say American, not English.

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

Football is called "football" because its kicked with one's foot at some point in a the game. I don't know why the USA uses "soccer" though.

You're right that the players run around with the ball in their hands but there is a reason for calling it football.

"Have you got" is grammatically correct in some senses.

Few people would say "I've a car", most would say "I've got a car". Fewer still would say "I do have a car".

There's no truth in that. Like I said, that's in the UK, not here. You will make whatever you want proper simply because you use.

As a matter of fact, a lot of people say "I have a car" instead of "I've got a got/I have got a car." Wha'ts next? "I am angry angry"? Using [two words that have] the same meaning twice in the same sentence is illogical.

 

[Illuminattile]

There's no truth in that. Like I said, that's in the UK, not here. You will make whatever you want proper simply because you use.

As a matter of fact, a lot of people say "I have a car" instead of "I've got a car/I have got a car." Wha'ts next? "I am angry angry"? Using [two words that have] the same meaning twice in the same sentence is illogical.

Firstly, I don't know why you think the British use "have you got" more than the Americans, or why you think the Americans use "do you have" more than the Brits. Both are proper English and neither are exclusive to one side of the Atlantic. In fact, the phrase "have you gotten" is exclusive to American-English.

Secondly, whether you think it's wrong or not is irrelevant, because it's not wrong. Maybe you should look at some grammar guides before saying something is grammatically incorrect.

There's no way in hell you or anyone else would ever say "What's the matter, does the cat have your tongue?" or "What's the matter, has the cat your tongue?"

 

[not really ken]

The Australians use the word "crook" to mean unwell or unhealthy, not the English.

lol, I got it the wrong way round

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

Firstly, I don't know why you think the British use "have you got" more than the Americans, or why you think the Americans use "do you have" more than the Brits.

I don't know what the British use, but I know that anyone in the USA who's sensitive when it comes to grammar does not use "have got." You'll never hear English professors, here in the USA, use that phrase.

Both are proper English and neither are exclusive to one side of the Atlantic. In fact, the phrase "have you gotten" is exclusive to American-English.

Secondly, whether you think it's wrong or not is irrelevant, because it's not wrong. Maybe you should look at some grammar guides before saying something is grammatically incorrect.

I sure as hell won't be using a British guide for my grammar (as you did in your example - BBC). I can easily pull a few American guides that show the use of "have got" is wrong.

There's no way in hell you or anyone else would ever say "What's the matter, does the cat have your tongue?" or "What's the matter, has the cat your tongue?"

I know for sure I wouldn't say "Does the cat have got your tongue?" I believe the use of "have got" is proper only in the following case:

I have a red bicycle. OR I've got a red bicycle. NOT I've a red bicycle.

In the contracted form (I've), the use of "have got" is proper. Take a look at the example. In the sentence "I've got a red bicylce," the "I have" is contracted.