Matching Formal and Informal

Introduction:
This task shows you examples of formal and informal sentences and allows you to compare them. To make a sentence more formal you can:

  • Use 'There' as a subject; e.g. 'There is a serious risk of...'
  • Use 'It' as a subject; e.g. 'It is impossible to...'
  • Use 'One' as a subject; e.g. 'One may ask whether...' ('One' is a formal version of 'You' [plural] in general)
  • Use the passive voice; e.g. 'Many things can be done in order to...'

Instructions:
Match the formal phrases in the boxes on the right with the informal phrases on the left:

  1. Click in the table cell containing the Formal phrase you want to move.
  2. Click in the table cell where you want the phrase to go. The phrases will swap position.
  3. If a phrase is in the right position, it will have a green background and a tick.
  4. When all the formal phrase table cells are green and have ticks, you have finished.

       Score: / 13

Informal

Formal  
1 Everybody must… Goods can be ordered directly from...
2 In our daily lives we experience the influence of … Goods cannot be seen or touched...
3 We simply/just order goods from… It is essential/crucial/vital that all parties...
4 Let us consider… Students learn in different ways...
5 It’s high time we all did the right thing. Downloading songs infringes on the interests of their authors.
6 We can’t see and touch the goods. Daily life is influenced by...
7 When we download songs we cheat their authors of income. The current situation requires action from all citizens...
8 We, Chinese, do things our own way. Personally, I favour...
9 I love/ I like/ prefer… It is important to consider...
10 We face a huge danger of being cheated… Chinese people tend to do things in a certain way.
11 You may ask… Many things can be done/are possible...
12 Students have their own styles of learning… There is a serious risk of fraud...
13 We can do many things… One may ask...

Related Exercises:

 

Last updated on: Friday, March 23, 2012