Choosing Formal Vocabulary

English · Vocabulary · ages 10-11

Name ______________________ Date ____________

What is the formal word for 'enough'?
- plenty
- sufficient
- tons
Which word is the formal choice?
- request
- ask for
- want
The word 'discover' is more formal than 'find out'.
Circle one: True False
A school letter says: 'Please find out the meeting time.' Which formal word could replace 'find out' here?
- discover
- get
- see
Which sentence uses formal vocabulary correctly?
- I wanna get a copy of the report.
- Can I get a copy of the report?
- I would like to request a copy of the report.
You are writing a formal letter asking for information. Which phrase should you use?
- I wanna know stuff.
- I am writing to request information.
- Can you tell me?
You're writing an official report for school. Which sentence fits best?
- The class did not have sufficient time to complete the task.
- The class didn't have enough time to finish, ugh.
- We didn't got enough time.
Zara wrote a text to her friend: 'I would like to request that you inform me of the party time.' What's wrong?
- It's too informal for a text
- It uses no formal words at all
- It's too formal for a text message to a friend

Answer key

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

sufficient · 'Sufficient' is the formal equivalent of 'enough'.
request · 'Request' is the single, formal word for the everyday phrase 'ask for'.
True · 'Discover' is one precise, formal word; 'find out' is the everyday phrase.
discover · 'Discover' is the formal choice that fits an official school letter.
I would like to request a copy of the report. · 'Request' and 'would like' fit the formal tone of an official report.
I am writing to request information. · A formal letter calls for 'request' rather than casual phrasing.
The class did not have sufficient time to complete the task. · 'Sufficient' and 'complete' keep the sentence formal throughout, matching the report's tone.
It's too formal for a text message to a friend · A text to a friend calls for everyday words like 'tell me', not formal ones like 'request' and 'inform'.