Formal Informal Language Formal Informal Register Vocabulary Contractions

Formal & Informal Language • • • Formal & Informal Register & Vocabulary Contractions Question Tags Breaking the Rules! Subjunctive Mood RU G COMIN ? 2 NITE

Register is created by the way that language and grammar are used. Hey! What’s up? Good morning. How are you today? I wish to purchase some refreshment. I want to buy a drink. Register can be formal or informal.

Audience and Context The register depends on situation and audience. The same person will use different registers in different contexts. At home with family In school with head teacher In the palace with the monarch You’re going to wear that, are you? When will we be allowed on the field? I wonder, might I be permitted to stroke the corgi? Informal More Formal Very Formal

Register Formal language is often used for: Situation Audience Official or formal situations People you don’t know Generalised or impersonal writing People in official/important roles Written communication more than spoken People as a group The ice w contain as placed in a e the cou r and observe d rse of o ne hou over r. your t s e u q e e to r k i l ward a d l s u ’ k o e w e We xt w e n t a e presenc y. n ceremo Please alight at the next station.

Register Informal language is often used for: Situation Audience Everyday conversation Family, friends and people you know well Social media and texts People similar to you Most spoken communication People you meet in day-to-day life like u o Y. t s eakfa r b you? g t ’ n i n o o d d I’m oast, t r u o y jam on RU COMIN G 2 NITE? We’re having milkshakes. Want one? Hi. Two c hotdog hips, a burger. No sau a ce, than nd a ks.

Formal and Informal Vocabulary Formal and informal registers tend to use different vocabulary. Informal Formal Could you assist me? Can you help me? It is time to depart. It is time to go. You need to purchase a ticket. You need to buy a ticket. I hate to inconvenience you. I hate to bother you. With formal vocabulary, words are often longer.

Formal and Informal Vocabulary put place cease stop ask enquire inform tell need require obtain get Formal Informal Can you sort these synonyms into formal and informal vocabulary?

ANSWERS Formal and Informal Vocabulary put place cease stop ask enquire inform tell need require obtain get Can you think of any Formal Informal other formal and informal pairs? Can you sort these synonyms into formal and informal vocabulary?

I’d what’s mustn't Contractions we’re Contractions appear in informal language. you’re haven’t Spoken language often contains contractions… but written formal language uses the longer versions of the word/s. We might write: It is a shame that I cannot go to the party. but we are more likely to say: It’s a shame I can’t go to the party. a What are the formal versions of the contractions above?

Contractions I can’t believe it’s not butter. Where do you want to go to today? Should’ve gone to Specsavers. Taste the rainbow. It’s finger lickin’ good. It does exactly what is says on the tin. Informal Formal Which of these are formal and which are informal? ANSWERS

Question Tags can be used in informal language. Tags are questions added to a clause to encourage a listener to respond. main clause Tag She can swim , can’t she? main clause Tag He is from next door , isn’t he? The tag changes a statement into a question.

Question Tags can be used to soften a command clause. main clause Tag Stop moaning , won’t you? main clause Tag Pass me a plate , will you? In very informal speech right and yeah can be used as tags. main clause Tag We’re having pizza , yeah? main clause Tag You like ketchup, right?

Question Tags You think this room is tidy. You have a brother. He could try being more careful. They’ve moved house. I’m always losing my stuff. Try changing these statements into questions using question tags.

Breaking Grammar Rules! Informal language sometimes breaks grammar rules. This is effective when used sparingly for writing realistic dialogue. . . or in text messages and on social media. Sorry I’m late…Long story. I am sorry that I am late. There is a long story explaining why. The lunch I brought from home belonged to my sister. The lunch, which I brought from home, belonged to my sister. Ellipsis (omitting words) has not changed the meaning but the grammar is now incorrect. This is common in informal spoken language. The relative pronoun has been dropped from this relative clause. It still makes sense to the listener, although is less formal.

Subjunctive Mood The subjunctive form is used in very formal language. It is used to: • give commands The school insists that students wear full school uniform. • express wishes I wish my bedroom were much bigger. • explore hypotheticals If I were you, I would not irritate the cat. Verbs appear in base form or plural form (ending does not change according to person)

Verbs The base form of a verb (the infinitive) is often led by the word to. to walk…to answer…to be Verbs usually change (inflect) according to who is doing them (person) I walk…you walk…he/she/it walks…they walk …and when they happen (tense). I walk…I walked Most verbs do not change very much but irregular verbs do. Verb: to be I am…you are…he/she/it is…they are I was…you were…he/she/it was…they were

Subjunctive Mood The subjunctive is useful for giving formal commands. The word that is often used with the subjunctive. We ask that students walk in school. I demand that he answer my question. We request that doorways be kept clear. . The Head insists that… Can you think of a command using the subjunctive mood? Verbs in base form (walk, answer, be) Command Verbs ask command demand insist request suggest

Subjunctive Mood The subjunctive mood is used to express wishes and… explore hypothetical ideas. I wish it were Saturday. I wish I were able to grant wishes. If I were you, I would not push my head through those railings. If she were last in a race, she would be devastated. Useful Words were if wish

Subjunctive Mood We demand that students be in the choir. ANSWERS (be or are) I insist that she feed her rabbit. (feed or feeds) If you were lost, you should have asked for directions. (was or were) I wish I were the fastest runner in the class. (was or were) If I were a horse I would spend my days galloping. (was or were) Complete these sentences so that they are in the subjunctive form.

End RU CO MIN G 2 NI TE?