1. Formal & Informal Language
Formal & Informal Register & Vocabulary
Contractions
Question Tags
Breaking the Rules!
Subjunctive Mood
RU COMING 2NITE?

2. Register
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.

3. 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

4. Register Situation Audience Formal language is often used for:
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
We would like to request your presence at next week’s award ceremony.
The ice was placed in a container and observed over the course of one hour.
Please alight at the next station.

5. Register Situation Audience Informal language is often used for:
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
RU COMING 2NITE?
I’m doing breakfast. You like jam on your toast, don’t you?
Hi. Two chips, a burger and a hotdog. No sauce, thanks.
We’re having milkshakes. Want one?

6. Formal and Informal Vocabulary
Formal and informal registers tend to use different vocabulary.
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.
Informal
Formal
With formal vocabulary, words are often longer.

7. Can you sort these synonyms into 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?

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

9. Contractions I’d what’s we’re you’re mustn't haven’t
Contractions appear in informal language.
mustn't
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?

10. Contractions I can’t believe it’s not butter.
ANSWERS
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
Informal
Formal
Informal
Formal
Which of these are formal and which are informal?

11. Question Tags She can swim 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?
The tag changes a statement into a question.
main clause
Tag
He is from next door
, isn’t he?

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

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. Subjunctive Mood The subjunctive form is used in very formal language.
It is used to:
give commands
express wishes
explore hypotheticals
The school insists that students wear full school uniform.
I wish my bedroom were much bigger.
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)

16. 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
Verb: to be I was…you were…he/she/it was…they were

17. Verbs in base form (walk, answer, be)
Subjunctive Mood
Verbs in base form (walk, answer, be)
The subjunctive is useful for giving formal commands.
The word that is often used with the subjunctive.
We ask that students walk in school.
Command Verbs
ask
command
demand
insist
request
suggest
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?

18. Subjunctive Mood The subjunctive mood is used to express wishes and…
explore hypothetical ideas.
I wish it were Saturday.
Useful Words
were if
wish
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.

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

20. End
RU COMING 2NITE?