Grammar · Clauses, Connectors & Sentence Style
British vs American Grammar
Have you got or do you have? At or on the weekend? Learn the small grammar differences between British and American English with the film Yesterday.
Grammar › Clauses, Connectors & Sentence Style › British vs American Grammar
The rule in one sentenceBritish and American English use almost the same grammar, but a few small patterns change, like have got and at the weekend in Britain, and have and on the weekend in the US.
About the film
Yesterday is a British film from 2019. Jack Malik is a singer from a small town in England, and he has got big dreams but very few fans. After a strange blackout, he wakes up in a world where nobody knows the Beatles, and soon an American manager in Los Angeles has big plans for him.
What does it do?
English in Britain and English in the United States are the same language, and speakers from both countries understand each other easily. However, a few small parts of the grammar are different, and you notice them constantly in films, songs and television series.
Neither version is wrong or old-fashioned; they are simply two different habits. The sensible choice is to pick one style and use it consistently in the same piece of writing. In this lesson, amber is British and blue is American.
Tiles one and three sound British, while tiles two and four sound American. All four are completely correct, and they describe exactly the same situation.
In England: Have you got time at the weekend? In Los Angeles: Do you have time on the weekend?
It is the same question with the same meaning. Only a few small words change, depending on which side of the Atlantic you are on.
Visual guide
Teacher Teddy’s illustrated guide to this rule is being drawn — the full swipe-through infographic will appear here soon.
How to make it
British — have got
Jack’s got a lot of songs.
He hasn’t got much money.
The negative is hasn’t got or haven’t got.Have you got a pen?
Short answer: Yes, I have. / No, I haven’t.American — have
Jack has a lot of songs.
He doesn’t have much money.
The negative uses don’t or doesn’t.Do you have a pen?
Short answer: Yes, I do. / No, I don’t.When to use each one
British — in the UK
American — in the US
Words that help: British or American?
When you hear these words in a film or a podcast, you can often guess which country the speaker comes from.
British → you hear
American → you hear
Common mistakes
❌ Do you have got a guitar?
✅ Have you got a guitar?
Don’t mix the two. Use Have you got…? or Do you have…?
❌ I’ve got a new guitar last year.
✅ I got a new guitar last year.
With last year, use got. Have got is only about now.
❌ We can meet at weekend.
✅ We can meet at the weekend.
In British English, say at the weekend, with the.
❌ Jack has gotten a guitar at home. (in American English)
✅ Jack has a guitar at home.
For things you own now, Americans say has, not has gotten.
One more thing
This part is a little harder. You can come back to it later.
Got or gotten? When get means become or receive, American English often uses gotten after have. British English uses got.
✅ His songs have got very popular. (British)
✅ His songs have gotten very popular. (American)
Both versions are correct, but try to stay with one style throughout the same text, so your writing feels consistent.
Practice: British or American?
Eight questions. Each one tells you which kind of English to use, and you get the answer with a short explanation.
1. British English: ___ you got a guitar?
British questions use Have you got…?
2. American English: ___ you have a guitar?
American questions use Do you have…?
3. British English: Jack plays a show ___ the weekend.
British English says at the weekend.
4. American English: Jack plays a show ___ the weekend.
American English says on the weekend.
5. British English: After the accident, Jack wakes up in ___.
British English says in hospital, with no the.
6. American English: His songs have ___ very popular.
American English often uses gotten after have.
7. British English: ___ I play you a song?
British English uses shall for offers.
8. American English: The band ___ ready to play.
American English sees the band as one thing → is.
Your turn
Choose one ending. Then listen to your sentence.
Every sentence here is correct. Pick the one that is true for you. Say it out loud too!
Keep going
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Practise listening at your level
Hear this grammar used for real — Intermediate English listening practice. Full movie reviews in slow, clear English, levelled for Intermediate learners. One new episode every week, free, with a transcript. IntermediateFree playlistWatch on YouTube