Worldlink 3B

AMERICAN AND BRITISH ENGLISH

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
International
intermittent
intercontinental
Atlanta

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.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
EXERCISE
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

You broke the window, _________________________________________________

They didn't see you, ___________________________________________________
My mother cooks very well, _____________________________________________
He can do that for you, _________________________________________________
They should have been able to do it, ______________________________________
He used to live in Madrid, _______________________________________________
You would like to come with us, __________________________________________
He hadn't met you before, _______________________________________________
This street runs north and south, _________________________________________
2. Write suitable sentences which match the given question-tags.
_________________________________________________________ ,
_________________________________________________________ ,
_________________________________________________________ ,
_________________________________________________________ ,
_________________________________________________________ ,
_________________________________________________________ ,
_________________________________________________________ ,
_________________________________________________________ ,
_________________________________________________________ ,
PROHIBIDA SU REPRODUCCION TOTAL O PARCIAL TRONWELL S.A.

?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?

would you?
isn't he?
can't you?
musn't they?
had he?
wouldn't she?
should you?
were they?
don't you?

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

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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Worldlink 3B
KEY-CHECK
CONFIRMING INFORMATION
EXERCISE 1.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

didn't you
did they
doesn't she
can't he
shouldn't they
didn't he
wouldn't you
had he
doesn't it

EXERCISE 2.
ASK YOUR TEACHER TO CHECK YOUR ANSWERS.
EXERCISE 3.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

c
f
d
g
i
b
h
a
e

EXERCISE 4.
ASK YOUR TEACHER TO CHECK YOUR ANSWERS.

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