formal vs informal vocab

7/25/2019 Formal vs Informal Vocab

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Formal vs Informa

vocabularyLecture 1


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Formality vs Informalit

Formalityis all about your relation with theyou are writing or speaking to. If you use forlanguage it may be because you wish to shorespect, politeness, or to put yourself at a d(ocial language).

Informal language can show friendliness, eqa feeling of closeness and solidarity with somYou should neveruse informal language jusuent or cle!er.


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Scales of Formality

Very formal Neutral Very inf

ospring children kids

abode/ residence house/ at place

alcoholicbeverages

drinks boo!e


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Short" monosyllabic informa#ords

Informal !ariants of words are often short and monos

"hey also include slang words.

It cost me ten $uid. #$%

I&ll help you peel the spuds. #$%

'y bikes been stolen. #$% I always go by tube. #$%

ome and meet my 'um and *ad. #$%

%i+ an&t stop see you, bye+ # $%

"he milk&s in the fridge. #$%


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&lippings

-hortening a word tends to make it less formafridgeand bye.

I&ll meet you in the lab(oratory).

hat&s on tellytonight$ e should put an ad(!ertisement) / an

advert(isment) in the (news)paper.

-hall I tele(phone) him$

0er sister&s a vet(erinary surgeon).


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'ractice time(

Formal Informal

'urchase" loo" $uid" apprehend" guy" handy"resume" terri)c" commence" reckon" thus


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&heck your results

No# )nd a formal/ informal/neutral synonym for #ords from this list*

+herefore toilet convenient catch/ststart man start again

poundthink fantastic buy


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,e#rite these sentences ininformal -nglish

.hen are you going to collect your bicycle 0ost of these children are very clever*

I think itll commence $uite soon*

.ould you like to go out for a meal

0y at is )ve minutes from #here I #ork" thus itconvenient*

.hats the matter

+he man in the market #anted t#enty pounds fo

.here did you purchase that book

+heyll never apprehend him*

Im 2ust going to the toilet*


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,e#rite this letter in mosuitable formal -nglis

Dear Mr Collins

We're really sorry to say that we can't lend you th

ve hundred quid that you need, but it may be po

give you a loan for some of the money. f you areinterested, do you fancy getting in touch with ou

o!ce to " up an appointment with the assistant

#e will be happy to tal$ to you about it. %ours sin


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.ork #ith the monolingdictionary to )nd the neu

e$uivalent3ip 4 pal 4 cha

cheerio s#ot

+a

brainy


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Say #hether you feel the follo#ing remsentences are 53" too formal" or too infor each situation described*

"eenage boy to teenage girl at a disco1

Dyou fancy an appointment one night next weekend?

2arent to another parent at a school parents meeting

How many ospring do you have at school?

*inner guest to host/ hostess1

No thanks, never consume alcoholic !everages when

-tudent to uni!ersity professor1

#ill there !e la! demonstrations next week?

3usiness letter to a newspaper oce1

should like to in$uire a!out the current charges for ad

paper" %y company is considering &


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Formality in notices" instruction

You would often see rather formal words in notices, instructio'ake sure you know the meaning of the words used so that y

someone what the notice says, using less formal words.

+his public houseis closed untilfurther notice*

4rticlesdeposited mustbe paid for in

advance.

6o#hi

i

.e regret #ecannot accept

che$ues*

6o not

address thedriver unless

the bus isstationary*

+ickp

bef


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0ini 7$ui!

"he opposite of stationary, to !oard

-ay otherwise1 to !e sorry' &"", to !uy '&"", to speak to ' 4

5ame some informal !ariants of greetings and farewells

67press the notices in neutral or informal language1

&hildren arere$uested not to

deposit litter in theplay area

-8pensesonly b

reimbursedproductiodated rec


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formal vs informal vocab

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