DAILY BASIS ENGLISH COURSE

B2 Upper-Intermediate

Formal vs informal register

I was wondering whether you could send me the report by Friday sounds very different from Can you send me the report by Friday?
By the end of this class, students will be able to distinguish between formal and informal register, choose appropriate language for different situations, and rewrite messages to sound more suitable.
Contents

Introduction

A professional communication setting.

Compare the two versions and think about which context each one fits.

Can you send me the file today?

Could you please send me the file by the end of the day?

I would appreciate it if you could confirm your availability.

Register is not only about vocabulary. It also involves tone, directness, sentence structure, and the relationship between speakers.

Choose the correct answer.

1. Which sentence sounds more casual?

2. Which sentence sounds more polite and professional?

3. What changes between formal and informal language?

Score: 0 out of 3

Presentation

Laura compares two emails with Eric.

Laura: I wrote two versions of the same email, and I am not sure which one sounds more appropriate.

Eric: What is the situation?

Laura: I need to ask my professor for an extension.

Eric: In that case, the more formal version is probably safer.

Laura: The first version says, 'Hi, I need more time for the assignment.' The second says, 'I am writing to request a short extension for the assignment.'

Eric: The second one is much more suitable because it sounds respectful and specific.

Meaning

Formal language often sounds less direct, more polite, and more carefully structured, while informal language tends to be shorter and more personal.

A linguagem formal costuma soar menos direta, mais polida e mais cuidadosamente estruturada, enquanto a linguagem informal tende a ser mais curta e pessoal.

  • Informal request: Can you send me the file?
  • Formal request: Could you please send me the file at your earliest convenience?
  • Informal apology: Sorry I am late.
  • Formal apology: Please accept my apologies for the delay.

Pronunciation + Form

More formal language often uses longer framing expressions such as I am writing to..., I would like to..., and I would appreciate it if....

Informal
Can you help me?
I need more time.
Sorry I missed the meeting.
Formal
Could you please assist me?
I am writing to request additional time.
Please accept my apologies for missing the meeting.
Useful Contexts
friend
teacher or manager
email or message

Practice

Complete the sentences with suitable formal or informal phrases.

I am writing to
a short extension.
Could you
confirm your availability?
Sorry I
your message earlier.
I would
it if you could reply by Friday.
That version sounds too
for a professor.
Score: 0 out of 5

Choose the best response.

1. Which sentence is most appropriate for a professor?

2. Which sentence sounds more informal?

3. Which expression softens a request?

4. Why does register matter?

Score: 0 out of 4

Production

Rewrite one informal message in a more formal way, then do the opposite with a formal message. Explain why each version fits its context.

  • asking a professor for an extension
  • inviting a friend to meet after work
  • apologizing to a manager for a delay
  • messaging a classmate about homework