Source: Dunbar Grammar School, Handbook 2004
Activity 3
Is the text above more formal or informal?
Look at the statements below. Are the true or false?
Formal language is always used in conversation with strangers and people like your boss - friends always use informal language.
When deciding what language is most appropriate, context and topic are important in deciding the level of formality of language.
Formal language can sound cold or unfriendly if it is used inappropriately.
Informal language contains very few phrasal verbs.
Informal language contains a greater number of idioms and colloquialisms than formal language.
Informal English consists of longer, more complex sentences than formal English.
Activity 4
Thinking about what makes affects your decision to use more or less formal language.
Read the two requests below and answer the questions.
Hello Sarah, it’s Claire. I was wondering if I could ask a favour. I realise it’s Friday night, but I would be forever grateful if you could baby-sit for two hours. Is there any way you could do it?
Hey guys, Jim here. Listen, I’ve got a favour to ask you. I know it’s Friday night but there’s a fat bonus in it for you if you carry on working for another couple of hours, just till the contract’s finished. How about it?
a) What is the relationship between the speakers and the listeners?
b) Why is the style of the requests inappropriate?
c) What does the level of formality you use depend on?
Activity 5
Practise making less formal language more formal.
Look at the phrases from the second request, below. Find similar phrases in the first text, as in the example.
1. Hey guys = Hello Claire
2. Jim here
___________________________________________
3. I’ve got a favour to ask you ___________________________________________
4. I know
___________________________________________
5. Couple of hours
___________________________________________
6. How about it?
___________________________________________
Activity 6
Do these features of language tend to be more formal or more informal?
Longer sentences
Shorter sentences
More complicated grammar
Simpler grammar
More imperatives
More modals
More conditionals
More passive verb forms
Slang
Phrasal verbs
Latinate words i.e. words which derive from Latin (e.g. commence rather than begin)
Anglo Saxon words
More vague
More precise
Activity 7
FORMAL: Our reasons for promoting school uniform are as follows …
INFORMAL: We like pupils to wear school uniform because …
1. Uniform allows strangers in the school to be easily identified.
____________________________________________________
2. School uniform provides a level playing field for students regarding clothing.
____________________________________________________
3. A poorly defined school dress code can lead to students being bullied.
____________________________________________________
Activity 8
You are now going to write a leaflet for school pupils about school uniforms. The leaflet should be in an informal and friendly style.
Remember to give headings to your paragraphs. You should write two paragraphs - one giving the reasons for promoting school uniform, and the other giving a description of the uniform itself.
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