Formal and Informal English · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Formal and Informal English

English · Vocabulary · ages 7-10
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. Which sentence is formal?

    • Gimme that pen.
    • Could you please pass me the pen?
    • Give us that pen, mate.

  2. Which sentence is informal?

    • Dear Sir, I am writing to ask...
    • Hey mate, what's up?
    • I would be grateful if you could...

  3. 'Dear Sir or Madam' is an example of informal English.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. Rewrite 'I wanna go home' formally. Which is best?

    • I would like to go home, please.
    • Wanna go home now.
    • Home time, yeah?

  5. Which is the best formal way to say 'Can I have some?'

    • Gimme some.
    • May I please have some?
    • I want some now.

  6. Why would you use formal English in a letter to your headteacher?

    • Because you don't know them well and want to show respect
    • Because formal words are shorter
    • Because it is a secret code

  7. Tom is writing to a company to complain about a broken toy. Which opening is best?

    • Yo, fix my toy.
    • Hiya, my toy's broken lol
    • Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to complain about...

  8. Maya texts her best friend: 'Dear Friend, I would be most grateful if you could attend my party.' What's odd about this?

    • It is too informal for a friend
    • It is too formal for a friend
    • Nothing is odd about it
LightMySky · lightmysky.comW1-mt_86DyHo9zO3-s1

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Formal and Informal English W1-mt_86DyHo9zO3-s1

  1. Could you please pass me the pen? · 'Could you please...' is polite and careful. That's formal language.
  2. Hey mate, what's up? · 'Hey mate' sounds casual and friendly. That's informal language.
  3. False · 'Dear Sir or Madam' is actually a formal way to start a letter.
  4. I would like to go home, please. · 'I would like...please' keeps the same meaning but sounds formal and polite.
  5. May I please have some? · 'May I please have some?' asks the same thing but in a polite, formal way.
  6. Because you don't know them well and want to show respect · Formal English shows respect and care, which matters with people we don't know well.
  7. Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to complain about... · Writing to a company you don't know needs formal, polite language.
  8. It is too formal for a friend · Friends usually chat casually, so such formal words sound strange between close friends.
Worksheet · LightMySky