THE USAGE OF THE PRESENT PERFECT IN BRITISH AND AMERICAN ENGLISH

Resumo

The purpose of this study is to explore the differences between the usage of the present perfect by British and American speakers in oral English. The history of the English language and its journey across the Atlantic have been briefly analyzed in order to better understand the reasons behind the use of the present perfect in present day English. Grammar textbooks and theories from scholars, regarding both British and American English, have been compared to assess the similarities and differences between the two. To further analyze the subject, real examples of fictional, formal and informal discourse have been compared and crosschecked with grammar theories. The ways in which the usage of the present perfect varies between British and American English has been categorized. Although the difference was slight, it was found that, in the examples analyzed, the present perfect was more frequently used in British English. Therefore, it was concluded that the hypothesis is relevant, however, to obtain more precise results, a study in a scientific environment, where the speakers would be subjected to exactly the same situations, should be conducted.