| British (UK) | American (US) | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| colour, flavour, honour, labour | color, flavor, honor, labor | UK keeps -ou- |
| centre, theatre, metre, litre | center, theater, meter, liter | UK: -re / US: -er |
| organise, realise, apologise, analyse | organize, realize, apologize, analyze | US prefers -ze |
| travellling, cancellling, modellling | travelling, cancelling, modelling | UK doubles -l before suffix |
| defence, offence, licence | defense, offense, license | UK: -ce / US: -se |
| catalogue, dialogue, programme | catalog, dialog, program | UK keeps ending |
| cheque, grey, tyre, fibre | check, gray, tire, fiber | Irregular differences |
In British English, words often end in -our (colour), -re (centre), and -se (organise). In American English, the same words use -or, -er, and -ze. When adding endings to words like "travel", British English doubles the L (travelling), while American English does not (traveling). Learning these patterns helps you convert any word between the two varieties.
We use the First Conditional to talk about specific situations in the future that have a real possibility of happening. The formula: the if-clause uses Present Simple, and the result clause uses will + base verb. For example: "If it rains tomorrow, I will stay at home." You must never use "will" directly after "if" — it is wrong to say "If it will rain…".
When using the First Conditional, you do not always have to use "will" in the result clause. You can replace it with a modal verb to give a different meaning: can for ability or permission, must for obligation, or might for possibility. The if-clause always stays the same: Present Simple.
It is important to understand the difference between general facts and specific future events. The Zero Conditional describes things that are always true — both clauses use Present Simple. The First Conditional describes a specific future possibility that might happen once — if-clause uses Present Simple, result clause uses will.
| Type | Meaning | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zero | Always true — fact, law, general habit | If + Present Simple → Present Simple | "If you heat ice, it melts." (always, 100%) |
| First | Possible future — real but not certain | If + Present Simple → will + verb | "If it is hot tomorrow, we will go to the beach." |
If I arrive in New York safely, I will take a taxi from the airport. My friend warned me: "If you want to use the underground here, you must look for the 'Subway' signs." In London, we call it the Tube. Also, if I walk around the city, I will stay on the 'sidewalk' (we say pavement in the UK) so I don't get hit by a 'truck' (lorry)!
1. What must he look for if he wants to use the underground in New York?
2. How will he travel from the airport if he arrives safely?
3. What is the American word for 'pavement'?
4. What does 'lorry' mean in American English?
If I am hungry later, I will go to a diner. Food names are very different! If I ask for 'chips' in the US, the waiter will give me crisps in a bag. If I want hot potatoes, I must order 'fries'. For dessert, if I want a biscuit, I have to ask for a 'cookie'. If I don't remember this, my order will be completely wrong.
1. What will the waiter give him if he asks for 'chips' in the USA?
2. What must he order if he wants hot potatoes?
3. What is the UK word for an American 'cookie'?
4. What will happen if he doesn't remember the vocabulary?
Tomorrow, I am moving into my new 'apartment' (we call it a flat). The landlord said: "If you have heavy luggage, you can use the elevator." (I know that means 'lift'!). There is one dangerous trap: if I need to go to the street level in the US, I press '1' for the First Floor. In the UK, if I press '1', I will go to the floor above the Ground Floor!
1. What is the UK word for 'apartment'?
2. What can he use if he has heavy luggage?
3. What happens if you press '1' in a UK lift?
4. What is the street-level floor called in the US?
Social rules change too. If you are waiting for a bus in America, you stand in a 'line'. If you are in the UK, you must stand in a 'queue'. Also, tipping is essential in the USA. If I eat at a restaurant, I will leave a 20% tip. If I don't leave a tip, the waiter will be very angry! In the UK, tipping is usually optional.
1. Where do you stand if you wait for a bus in the UK?
2. What will happen if he doesn't leave a tip in a US restaurant?
3. How much tip will he leave in the USA?
4. What does the text say about tipping in the UK?
Last year, Sarah moved from the UK to the USA. Before she left, her brother said, "If you to New York, you to learn their words!" He was right. When she arrived, she rented a beautiful on the 10th floor. If she doesn't want to walk up the stairs, she takes the .
Food is also different. If she wants with her tea, she asks for them in the bakery. But if she orders 'chips' at a restaurant, the waiter her cold crisps in a bag. To get hot potatoes, she ask for 'fries'.
She doesn't drive a car, so she never buys (US word for fuel). Instead, if she needs to travel across the city, she the . If she walks outside, she stays on the .
Sarah is happy. "If my family me next month," she says, "I them to a diner, but I must warn them that they have to stand in a to get a table!"