Fill in the Blanks Describing changesOnline version Changes vocabularu by MIRYAM AIMEE PEREZ SANTIAGO 1 barely noticeable subtle ongoing substantially rapid shift way increase changes Changes to the English language may not always be immediately , but because over 500 million people now use it as their first language , it is constantly envolving . Some changes , often made in an attempt to simplify the language , are perceptible . However , over time we notice that people are not using " shall " as much in the first person , or " no ? " is being used instead of questions tags , which seem to be on the out . The use of Americanisms by British youth is clearly on the , with expressions such as " Can I get a coffee ? " becoming very common . Interest in American TV shows and music has grown over the last 20 years , leading to this rise in American usage . Linguistics and lexicographers spot the most changes in the language and make decisions as to wheter a steady over time is enug to justify a new dictionary entry or even to a grammar rule . The most lasting to the language come as the result of major innovations in lifestyle . The digital revolution , just like the automobile revolution a hundred years before , has introduced a large number of new expressions and usages , from " trash " to " paste " to " tablet . "