American vs British Past Tense

Learn the differences between American and British past tense forms with our video. Understand which version to use.

Understanding the differences between American and British English can be crucial for mastering the language. One common area of difference is the past tense of certain verbs. This video explores the variations between American and British past tense forms, focusing on "earnt" vs. "earned" and "learnt" vs. "learned".

American English:

• Earned: "I earned a bonus at work".
• Learned: "She learned how to play the guitar".

In American English, the past tense and past participle of these verbs end in "-ed".

British English:

• Earnt: "I earnt a bonus at work".
• Learnt: "She learnt how to play the guitar".

In British English, it's common to use the "-t" ending for these verbs. 

Both forms are correct, but they reflect different regional preferences.

Examples:

• American: "He earned his degree last year".
• British: "He earnt his degree last year".
• American: "They learned about the history of art".
• British: "They learnt about the history of art".

Understanding these differences can help you choose the correct form depending on the version of English you are using or encountering.