Formal vs Informal English Usage

This video tutorial by BBC Learning English explores the differences between formal and informal English. It begins with an introduction to the topic, followed by an analysis of an informal email. The tutorial highlights key features of informal language, such as vocabulary choices, abbreviations, and contractions. It also discusses the use of active versus passive structures and the importance of sentence complexity in formal writing. The video concludes with a summary and directs viewers to additional resources for further practice.

Why is it important to distinguish between formal and informal English?

• To impress friends

• To avoid giving a bad impression

• To sound more intelligent

• To confuse others

Which of the following is an informal greeting?

• Hey, how's it going?

• Greetings

• Good afternoon

• Hello

What was the main issue with the email example provided?

• It was too long

• It had spelling errors

• It was too formal

• It was too informal

Which word is more formal than 'find out'?

• Discover

• Investigate

• Search

• Enquire

What is the formal equivalent of 'jobs'?

• Vacancies

• Roles

• Positions

• Tasks

What is the formal equivalent of 'at the mo'?

• Presently

• Currently

• Right now

• At the moment

Which of the following is a formal way to refer to a university?

• University

• Institution

• College

• Uni

What is a common feature of informal language?

• Use of formal vocabulary

• Use of abbreviations

• Use of complex structures

• Use of passive voice

In formal writing, which voice is often preferred?

• Indirect voice

• Direct voice

• Passive voice

• Active voice

Which of the following is a formal way to say 'they promoted me'?

• I was promoted

• I got promoted

• They gave me a promotion

• I received a promotion