http://www.englishforums.com/search/pro.htm?q=tag%3aBritish+EnglishSearch results for 'tag:British English' matching tag 'British English'en-USXMOD (Build: 3616.28671)http://www.englishforums.com/English/SpeakToSpeakWith/jnjwz/post.htm#999124Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:02:28 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:999124cliveHi, Generally, I agree with what has been said, but I would also like to add a comment. speak with - I tend to view this as a feature of N. American English. speak to - This is more common in Canadian English, and (as far as I know, unless things have changed in my long absence) in British English. Whether or not the other person also spoke is usually obvious from the context or simply unimportant. Best wishes, Clivehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/HaventDontHave/lqvpp/post.htm#998787Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:42:38 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:998787gleb_chebrikoffGreetings, Meowth, You can express the same idea in three ways: a. I haven't a ticket. b. I haven't got a ticket. c. I don't have a ticket. Of all these alternatives, a is chiefly used in British English and is elevated as well as very uncommon from the point of view of the present-day use of English. Considering that William Somerset Maugham wrote 'Of Human Bondage' as far back as in 1915, this usage perfectly fits into his writing style. Respectfully, Gleb Chebrikoffhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/ACoupleOfYears/lqvdc/post.htm#998620Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:24:13 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:998620mrpernicketySo as MrPernikety said, both are ok, and "of" can be left out in informal American English (and maybe in British English too, but I'm not sure). Yeah, I remember Amy's advice. If my memory serves me right, she advised me to use "a couple" without "of" in informal conversation As far as British English is concerned, I guess Mr. Pedantic and Clive know best.http://www.englishforums.com/English/ACoupleOfYears/lqvdc/post.htm#998612Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:06:30 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:998612kooyeenHi, quoted from Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary (http://www.learnersdictionary.com): a couple informal 1 : two or a few of something Note: In informal U.S. English, a couple can be used like a couple of before a plural noun. Ex: I lost interest in the book after a couple chapters. So as MrPernikety said, both are ok, and "of" can be left out in informal American English (and maybe in British English too, but I'm not sure).http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferentThan/lkqjz/post.htm#972700Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:56:47 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:972700gleb_chebrikoffDear friend, * London is different of Hong Kong - incorrect; London is different from/to Hong Kong - correct; *In Argentina, Christmas celebrations are completely different as the ones in England - incorrect; In Argentina, Christmas celebrations are completely different from/to the ones in England - correct; (Note that most teachers and careful users prefer from ) ? My new school is very different than the old one - the correctness is questionable; My new school is very different from/to the old one - correct ( Different than is used in American English but is rarely used in British English) Respectfully, Gleb Chebrikoffhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/SingularOrPluralPronouns/lkxql/post.htm#972214Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:54:11 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:972214gleb_chebrikoffDear friend, both a correct, but the first option is generally more common among British English speakers. The choice of the pronoun largely depends on your intention: if you wish to speak of a class as a number of individuals, you should resort to a plural pronoun, but if you want to mention a class as a single unit as such, your choice is a singular pronoun. The same applies to some other collective nouns: The committee hasn't reached a decision yet. - Implication: a single unit as part of parliament, etc. The committee haven't reached a decision yet. = The members of the committee... Respectfully, Gleb Chebrikoffhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/WhenToUseTowardAndTowards/2/wvwcc/Post.htm#971617Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:52:45 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:971617avangiHe means towards is British English, while toward is American English. Hi, I hear a lot of US born "native speakers" of English add the "s," but in the forties, when I was in "grammar school," they gave us 'ell for it.http://www.englishforums.com/English/Seasons/lkcdw/post.htm#969074Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:30:36 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:969074cliveHi, can I say "don´t forget to pack a pair of warm hot trousers?" warm trousers - Good for cold weather hot trousers - Sounds like they make you uncomfortable. Perhaps they make you sweat. Better take them off and put on lighter ones that make you feel more comfortable. trousers - British English pants - American English Clivehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/Spelling/lkdgp/post.htm#968929Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:03:15 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:968929billjRe: 'I am undeer the impression that 'honor' is spelled "honour" in british english. Is that so?' Yes it is, but do also check your basic spelling: 1. under (not undeer) 2. B ritish (not british) 3. E nglish (not english) Bill Jhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/CorrectPunctuationInDates/lkbwr/post.htm#968311Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:27:27 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:968311cool breezeIt depends on whom you ask. I'm sure nearly all Americans would use a comma after May 29 and probably the majority of Britons too. However, some British newspapers such as The Guardian have a dislike for commas in dates and write the date as it is in your post. This is a fairly recent development. On the whole, in British English fewer commas and full stops/periods are used these days than in American English. For example, Mr . Bell looks dated to many Brits and for many years I haven't received a letter beginning with Dear Cool Breeze , from a Brit. Americans still often put a comma where I put it. CBhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/TheCorrectUsageOfGot/ljchq/post.htm#963673Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:28:08 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:963673yankeeThey're all correct, Anon. The word gotten is generally used as the past participle of the verb "get" in American English, and got is used as the past participle in British English. Thus your first sentence seems to be AmE, and the second one seems to be BrE. For the third and fourth sentences, there is no difference between AmE and BrE.http://www.englishforums.com/English/Ploural/lwhjl/post.htm#960400Tue, 03 Nov 2009 05:00:45 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:960400cliveHi, A small further comment. I should have written you sooner. Sounds like American English to me. I should have written to you sooner. British English. Clivehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/TheCdKeepsSkipping/lhxmb/post.htm#958667Sun, 01 Nov 2009 06:25:14 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:958667exodejavuFirst of all, thanks for your contributions! So ... British English speakers also use "skip"? All of the six dictionaries for learners of which I take physical possession were published after the year 2004. It just so happened that all the five of them (Longman, Macmillan, Oxford, Cambridge, and Collins Cobuild) published by British publishers do not include this use of "skip" which is under discussion, so it got me thinking whether it is not a common use in the UK. But ... Keep in mind the publication date of the dictionaries. If one was published before the widespread use of CDs, it would be included, of course. Why "before"? Isn't it "after"? Regards,http://www.englishforums.com/English/CorrectBritishEnglish/lhqvb/post.htm#958117Sat, 31 Oct 2009 14:25:49 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:958117mister micawberIt is now normally written as one word in all varieties of English when it is meant as the simple negation.http://www.englishforums.com/English/BritishEnglish/lhgdd/post.htm#954972Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:23:23 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:954972dawood usmaniGo to the following link and listen to how British people pronounce this. Phonics http://www.howjsay.com/index.php?word=phonics&submit=Submit http://www.thefreedictionary.com/phonicshttp://www.englishforums.com/English/PunctuationAbbreviatedName/lhrkb/post.htm#953334Mon, 26 Oct 2009 08:35:46 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:953334cool breezeThere's no one right answer to your question. It's a matter of style and usage varies. In British English people don't usually put a period even after Mr and Dr. That was very common about 40 years ago, though. CBhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/3Questions/lgjcv/post.htm#950864Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:00:32 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:950864cliveHi, I have got 3 questions : 1.) My task was to fill word in "Could you give me a ___ to the station ?" I wrote "ride" and my teacher said its wrong and there should be "lift" . Is "ride" ok ? Yes, we say it all the time in N. America. 'Lift' is British English. 2.) If you would have to write "elegant dress" without using "elegant" which word would be better - "spectacular" or "smart" ? smart. Other words are better, eg sophisticated, chic. 3.) Is it possible to write sentence " I never take a watch when I´m on holiday." ? Yes. Best wishes, Clivehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/EGIE/lvkvq/post.htm#946265Sun, 18 Oct 2009 18:19:59 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:946265anonymous(1) There are many island nations, e. g., Japan, Iceland, the Philippines, etc. (2) Mr. Smith is very wealthy, i. e., rich. (3) There are many island nations ( e. g., Japan....). (4) Mr. Smith is wealthy (i. e., rich). (5) There are many island nations -- e. g., Japan....etc. (6) Mr. Smith is wealthy -- i. e., rich. (a) I would suggest No. 1 and No. 2. (b) I have given the American practice. If you are following British English, please be aware that they may write eg (no periods) and i.e. (no comma). Perhaps a British-English user will answer you.(c) When you read it aloud, you should say the words. Don't say the letters. Say "for example" rather than just "e" "g." Many native speakers, however, say only...http://www.englishforums.com/English/DifferenceBetweenSick/lzjgh/post.htm#946049Sun, 18 Oct 2009 13:32:00 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:946049cool breezeOnly sick can be used attributively, in other words, before a noun: a sick person. In British English, sick is often used to refer to nausea or other rather mild problems with one's health while ill denotes something serious which may require treatment in hospital. In AmE sick is widely used about seriously sick patients. When ill means "bad", "poor" or "poorly", it can be used attributively: His ill manners caused a lot of problems. His ill health made him lose all interest in life. There are lots of idioms in which only one of the words is used: He called in sick . I don't want to speak ill of him. CBhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/Public/lvqrm/post.htm#943033Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:48:21 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:943033anonymousPleasehelp: Many usage experts explain that "public" takes a singular verb in American English; a plural verb in British English. You will also notice this with other words, such as "government."http://www.englishforums.com/English/WordStress/lvjdp/post.htm#941064Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:10:23 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:941064nona the britFor British English all ok except: 1-4th 6 - 2nd (1st is for the noun) 11 - 3rd 18 - 3rd 19 - 3rdhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/NeedBritishEnglish/ldlpk/post.htm#937079Sat, 10 Oct 2009 21:51:30 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:937079anonymousThank you SO much. I could never have figured this out by myself. Englishforums. com. is a wonderful resource for language lovers.http://www.englishforums.com/English/NeedBritishEnglish/ldlpk/post.htm#937066Sat, 10 Oct 2009 21:36:57 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:937066cliveHi, I can't understand this passage from a biography: Bismarck, who was RUNNING HIMSELF IN as minister-president and had his hands full, was quite happy to allow them (to rage). What do the capitalized words mean? Thank you for any guidance that you can give me. I take it to mean 'who was familiarizing himself with his new job as minister-president, getting used to it'. In England, when you bought a new car, you used to have to 'run it in' for about the first 1,000 miles.That meant driving it carefully, not revving the engine too high, etc. I'd guess that's where this expression in your praragraph comes from. Best wishes, Clivehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/NeedBritishEnglish/ldlpk/post.htmSat, 10 Oct 2009 18:53:11 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:936914anonymousI can't understand this passage from a biography: Bismarck, who was RUNNING HIMSELF IN as minister-president and had his hands full, was quite happy to allow them (to rage). What do the capitalized words mean? Thank you for any guidance that you can give me.http://www.englishforums.com/English/ApologizeOrApologise/4/dbmmk/Post.htm#936643Sat, 10 Oct 2009 14:02:54 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:936643anonymousIt's not "Football"! Football is the sports with strong men and, well, footballs. Soccer is "Fussball" or "Foodbal" in english, closer to the german word! I'm English but most of the time I don't have a problem with the fact that American english has a few words that have different spellings (or sometimes meanings) to British english. BUT - American "Football" is the game where the players mostly carry the ball in their hands. It's a rip-off of the british game of rugby - except that rugby players don't need shoulder pads and helmets (unlike the "strong men" of American Football!) Soccer (also known as Football in most of the world apart from the USA) is...http://www.englishforums.com/English/SpanishEnglishInEngland/lcmxq/post.htmWed, 07 Oct 2009 17:35:29 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:932279anonymousHello, may I know more about the Spanish English in England? What is the difference of pronounciation and phonetic between the Spanish English with the British English? And do the Spanish English in England is much different than those in US? Let's take Fernando Torres or Fabregas in England and Penlope Cruz in US as example.http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowBritishEnglish/lcjlm/post.htm#931433Wed, 07 Oct 2009 04:44:56 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:931433anonymousBasically, people tell time with pretty much the same way in the US as it is in Britain. If you are having high tea in London and someone asked you what time it was, you may either say: "quarter past 3 " or simply "it's 3:15". We could say: "half past 3" or "3:30" If you are listening traffice report on the radio, the news anchor ma say: "it's half past the hour".http://www.englishforums.com/English/HowBritishEnglish/lcjlm/post.htmWed, 07 Oct 2009 03:12:19 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:931357anonymousI would like to learn the way british says time Thank youhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/PronunciationOfNumbers/2/lbjkm/Post.htm#929426Mon, 05 Oct 2009 20:16:08 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:929426bob mI think you may be asking for explicit, black and white answers, to questions which don't lend themselves to such answers. There seem to be two problems in that there are: *Differences between British and American usages. *Differences in formality/register. Personally, and as far as British English is concerned, I would always use the "ands".http://www.englishforums.com/English/TheHardestWordsPronounce/15/cqbvk/Post.htm#928167Sun, 04 Oct 2009 17:32:30 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:928167bob mI'd guess that the most difficult place name to pronounce would be the Welsh town: Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch. Though perhaps it's not exactly an "English word".http://www.englishforums.com/English/PronunciationOfNumbers/2/lbjkm/Post.htm#927977Sun, 04 Oct 2009 14:31:12 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:927977bob mIn British English one would say all the "ands" which you have asked about. Thus: two thousand six hundred and eighty four. I believe that American (and it seems Canadian) English is different. Americans may well make an exception for the year. I also agree with your English teacher as far as the decimals are concerned. At least for British English.http://www.englishforums.com/English/UsageDoubt/lbwrp/post.htm#926510Sat, 03 Oct 2009 15:00:59 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:926510avangiAnything of good quality. That is, it may be used poetically, as a metaphor. I'm not sure about British English.http://www.englishforums.com/English/UsageDoubt/lbwrp/post.htmSat, 03 Oct 2009 05:24:25 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:925971coolguy01Is the usage of the phrase "Dish fit for Gods" used for just food items or anything of good quality? Btw, does the word sedulous have a negative meaning in British English? Thanks a lot!http://www.englishforums.com/English/WelshAccentPreciseJoness/2/lrjhh/Post.htm#925138Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:24:57 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:925138colomboIf you have such major problems, then maybe you could start with an accent reduction course. I'll look it up. I'd never heard of them. I'm more interested in British English, so I'll google a bit. Thanks!http://www.englishforums.com/English/WelshAccentPreciseJoness/lrjhh/post.htm#925000Fri, 02 Oct 2009 13:10:21 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:925000kooyeenThe only way to hear a difference is listening to contrasting pairs, in my opinion. Minimal pairs, you know. Beat - bit fool - full etc. If you have such major problems, then maybe you could start with an accent reduction course. For American English, there's American Accent Training by Ann Cook, and it's so popular that it's very easy to find it online (warning: downloading it for free might be illegal in your country). There's a good one on British English too, but I don't remember the name.http://www.englishforums.com/English/WhileVsWhilst/4/vrpm/Post.htm#924755Thu, 01 Oct 2009 21:47:08 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:924755anonymousAmerican-English was British-English, except that it was altered significantly by all of the various influences (immigrants/languages from other countries) that learned to speak it in America. Everyone in the UK knows how to communicate in English and sure there are different dialects. However, in America, immigrants were learning english from immigrants...now guess what happened? That's actually a pretty racist/prejudicial way of putting things. It's also historically inaccurate in the extreme. The differences in orthography (spelling) and grammar between American and British English are not the result of "corruption by immigrants" or any other such nonsense. Some orthographic differences are the result of fiat --...http://www.englishforums.com/English/HaveHaveUsTakeTakeUs/lrqpp/post.htm#923643Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:36:10 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:923643califjimAre you sure they speak standard American or British English? It sounds like it might be from a sort of dialect of English. Where I live nobody puts that pronoun there. The only meaning it might have, to my ear, is a sort of enthusiastic emphasis, but I can't say for sure because I don't belong to the group of people who use that construction. CJhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/BusDriverFightsWithAKid/lrxkc/post.htm#923112Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:56:52 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:923112kooyeenNo, it's a slow and pretty "common" British accent, and if I was more used to listening to British English I guess I would understand everything. But I'm not used to British accents, so I can miss even the simple words, plus the vocabulary used in that clip sounds pretty advanced to me. So yeah, I can miss several parts, but it's me, it's not because of the accent, which sounds like "normal" British English to me.http://www.englishforums.com/English/HolyCows/kqndd/post.htm#918654Sun, 27 Sep 2009 06:49:18 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:918654molly mockfordAt 22:57:16 on Sat, 26 Sep 2009, Paul (Email Removed) wrote in (Email Removed): But it might be different in India. Could it be? The English used in India is British English or International English (if the latter is different from ... criticised as 'sacred cow' or 'holy cow'? (These doubts have nothing to do with Tharoor, merely questions of academic curiocity). But we're not looking at the English word itself, so much as the cultural overlay. It is that which gives ambiguity to some words and phrases which might not appear ambiguous in another cultural context. The cultural issues connected with "cows", for instance, must surely differ amongst Hindus than amongst non-Hindus, and amongst Indians generally...http://www.englishforums.com/English/HolyCows/kqndd/post.htm#917915Sat, 26 Sep 2009 16:57:51 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:917915john hallThe Indian Minister of State for External Affairs, Shashi Tharoor (author of ‘The Great Indian Novel’) was in the eye ... never be a reference to actual individuals. What does the group feel could be the possible connotations of this phrase? In British English I think holy cows would be "ideas which were sacrosanct" rather than referring to people. But it might be different in India. John Hall "Do you have cornflakes in America?" "Well, actually, they're American." "So what brings you to Britain then if you have cornflakes already?" Bill Bryson: "Notes from a Small Island"http://www.englishforums.com/English/IveAlwasyBooks/kpcgn/post.htm#917133Fri, 25 Sep 2009 23:44:41 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:917133cliveHi , Could you please tell me which one is more common among native speakers? 1) I've always been in her bad books. I say and hear this sometimes. It seems quite ordibary tovme. Perhaps it's a British English expression. 2) I've always been on the wrong side of her. I agree with GG's commwnts on this one. Clivehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/ShortEndOfTheDeal/kphnr/post.htm#911611Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:03:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:911611mister micawberWhat is 'the/a short end of the deal'? -- the disadvantageous side. Does this date expression 7/5 mean 7th of May? -- Or the 5th of July. No matter what any style guide tells you, there will always be confused readers if you use numerals only. Spell out (or abbreviate) the month in letters. Is there any difference in British English and American English?-- Yes, plenty– but little of it of much importance except a few stray vocabulary items like elevator/lift and apartment/flat .http://www.englishforums.com/English/ShortEndOfTheDeal/kphnr/post.htmMon, 21 Sep 2009 05:25:02 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:911149chariotWhat is 'the/a short end of the deal'? Does this date expression 7/5 mean 7th of May? Is there any difference in British English and American English? Thank you for your help.http://www.englishforums.com/English/InVsOn/kpbwx/post.htm#909382Sat, 19 Sep 2009 23:24:04 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:909382anonymousDon't worry: native speakers don't agree on prepositions, either. Some say in/on an elevator; some say in/on a chair; and in California, you stand IN line, but in New York you stand ON line. Furthermore, there are some differences between American and British English. I suggest you keep a notebook with lots of examples that you can get from reading newspapers online. Try to read American newspapers (for American English) or British newspapers (for British English). Which English is better? As we say in the United States, I would not touch that question with a ten-foot pole!http://www.englishforums.com/English/HaveGot/kxrdz/post.htm#904215Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:31:09 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:904215newguestThanks. As far as I know "Do you have ..." is American whereas "Have you got ..." is British English.http://www.englishforums.com/English/Clothing/knjgc/post.htm#901802Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:32:36 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:901802nona the britNo difference in British English. In american Englisg a jumper is a different type of garment - I think what we would call a pinafore.http://www.englishforums.com/English/Inversion/kncdh/post.htm#899738Sun, 13 Sep 2009 10:21:18 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:899738gleb_chebrikoffHello Superblack, The expressions Here... be in British English and There... be in American English with a personal pronoun as subject are used without inversion because there are no reasons for it - it is not a question like Where are you? , which would be reconstructed as ...where you are if it were an indirect question; besides, this idiomatic expression is pronounced with a rising tone on are , phonetically, it would be less convenient to alter this convention. Respectfully, Gleb Chebrikoff.http://www.englishforums.com/English/HelpingVerb/kmpdw/post.htm#899608Sun, 13 Sep 2009 08:37:11 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:899608tanitHi Anon, BrE = British English.http://www.englishforums.com/English/Cafe/klmlb/post.htmTue, 08 Sep 2009 22:37:53 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:892909encolpiusHello, dont you prounce the word café with the stress on the first syllable in British English? thankshttp://www.englishforums.com/English/Since/kkxqq/post.htm#891508Mon, 07 Sep 2009 23:51:21 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:891508mister micawberBut to some people, that sounds wrong, doesn't it?-- It doesn't sound 'wrong'; it sounds hyper-correct, i.e. the writer thought he should use it there to be correct...but he shouldn't. "Speakers of British English usually say it is a long time/two weeks etc since..., and speakers of American English it has been a long time/two weeks etc since..., but both uses are correct " I used to live in London, but I don't recall the English saying that way.What do you think?-- I know that Swan ( Practical English Usage } recognizes both.