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Class 9 English — Formal and informal register

Choose formal or informal wording to suit who you are writing to.

Name: ________________________

  1. 1.Which sentence is the most formal?

    • a) They put off the meeting.
    • b) Meeting's off for now.
    • c) The meeting's been put off.
    • d) The meeting has been postponed.

  2. 2.In a formal letter of complaint, which sentence is better?

    • a) I want a refund.
    • b) Give me my money back.
    • c) I would be grateful if you could arrange a refund.
    • d) Refund me quickly please.

  3. 3.Which closing suits a formal letter?

    • a) Later
    • b) Cheers
    • c) Sincerely
    • d) Bye for now

  4. 4.Match each everyday phrase to its formal equivalent.

    • find out
    • put off
    • ask for
    • get better
    • look into
    • put up with
    • improve
    • investigate
    • request
    • postpone
    • tolerate
    • discover

  5. 5.Sort each line by how formal it is.

    Groups: Formal · Informal

    • We regret the delay.
    • Sorry it took so long.
    • Hey, can you send me that report?
    • I am writing to request a copy of the report.
    • Let me know what you decide.
    • Kindly inform me of the decision.

  6. 6.Sort each word by how formal it is.

    Groups: More formal · More everyday

    • buy
    • purchase
    • commence
    • residence
    • home
    • start

  7. 7.Rewrite "kids" with the more formal word.

  8. 8.Which feature belongs to informal writing?

    • a) full forms such as do not and cannot
    • b) long noun phrases
    • c) formal vocabulary such as commence
    • d) contractions such as don't and can't

Answer key — Class 9 English — Formal and informal register

  1. 1. d) The meeting has been postponed.
  2. 2. c) I would be grateful if you could arrange a refund.
  3. 3. c) Sincerely
  4. 4. find out → discover; put off → postpone; ask for → request; get better → improve; look into → investigate; put up with → tolerate
  5. 5. I am writing to request a copy of the report. → Formal; Hey, can you send me that report? → Informal; Kindly inform me of the decision. → Formal; Let me know what you decide. → Informal; We regret the delay. → Formal; Sorry it took so long. → Informal
  6. 6. purchase → More formal; buy → More everyday; commence → More formal; start → More everyday; residence → More formal; home → More everyday
  7. 7. children
  8. 8. d) contractions such as don't and can't