Express Your Views: Formal and Informal English

1) Formal language is the type of language which is used publicly for some serious purpose, for example, in official reports, business letters and regulations. Formal English is nearly always written. Exceptionally it is used in speech.

2) Informal language i.e colloquial language is the language of private conversation, of personal letters etc. It is generally the language of advertisement, popular, newspaper, public communication.

Differences of vocabulary between Formal and Informal language:

i) Much of the vocabulary of formal English is French, Latin and Greek origin. We can translate them by using words or phrase of Anglo-Saxon origin.

Compare :

Formal		Informal

Commence	Æ	Begin
Continue	Æ	Keep up
Conclude	Æ	End
Amid	Æ	in the midst of

ii) Many phrasal and prepositional verbs are characteristic of informal style:

Formal or common core word		Informal equivalent

discover	Æ	find out	Informal term has emotive qualities, not present in formal language, because formal language often insists on greater preciseness. The informal word job, for instance has no formal equivalent; instead we have to choose a more precise and restrictive term, according to the context : employment, post, position, appointment, profession, vocation etc.
explode	Æ	blow up
encounter	Æ	come across
invent	Æ	make up
enter	Æ	go in (to)
tolerate	Æ	Put up with
investigate	Æ	look into
surrender	Æ	give in

iii) There are grammatical differences between formal and informal English; for example, the use of who and whom, and the placing of a preposition at the beginning or at the end of a clause:

Formal : She longed for a friend in whom she could confide.

Informal : She longed for a friend in {who} she could confide in.

Formal : In what country was he born?

Informal : what country was he born in?

iv) Usage : Formal

Amount words :

withcont Nouns	Æ	Many people ...............................................
	Æ	A majority of ...............................................
	Æ	The majority of ............................................
	Æ	A minority of ...............................................

with mass Nouns : Much of the informations .............................

informal : a lot of, lots of

In Informal style a lot of/ lots of is preferred to many or much in positive statements.

Many people derive much pleasure from attending music festivals {formal}.

Music festivals give a lot of fun to lots of people {informal}.

But in questions and after negatives (very) many and much are not restricted to {formal} English.

He doesn’t smoke very much.	Informal / formal
Do many people attend the meetings?	Informal / formal

v) First Person Pronouns; We (for I),

As we showed in Chapter 2. {formal} Here we stands for I.

“We” sometimes refer to “you” Example: a doctor to a patient: How are we (= you) feeling today then?

vi) Pronouns with indefinite references :

You never know what many happen {in formal}.

“One” never knows what many happen {formal}

Here “one” means people in general including you and me. you” is its {informal} equivalent:

“They” can also be used indefinitely in {informal} English, but with a different meaning from one and you. It means roughly people (excluding you and me)

They say it’s going to rain tomorrow (People say)

vii) Choice of “this” and “that”

‘This’ and ‘that’ can replace each other with no difference of meaning in back pointing. But ‘this’ is commoner in {formal} English.

This is what I want (forward or back-pointing)

That is what is thought (back pointing only)

Here is the news (forward pointing)

And that’s the end of the news (back – pointing)

viii) Time and place :

The prepositions in (or within) can have the meaning ‘before the end of’ ={formal use}

He travelled round the world in eighty days.

Phone me again within a week.

“Within” is more formal than ‘in’ and often indicates a location bounded by limits or by giving distance (within 3 miles etc.)

time – when adverbs :

a) again, just = at this very moment.

Now, nowadays, then = at that time Today.

b) afterwords, before (hand), first, formerly, just = a very short time ago / before late, lately, next, previously, recently, since, soon, subsequently; then = after that, ultimately.

of these “subsequently and ultimately are {formal}

ix) Frequency : Occasionally, now and then {informal}

Once Per day, on several occasions = {formal}

frequency phrases generally have no Preposition.

One exception is phrases with occasions.

x) Manner, means and instrument : With what did he write it. She cooks turkey in the way my mother did. = {formal}

What did he write with = {formal}

She cooks the way my mother did {informal}

They hunted him as a tiger stalks its prey {formal}

xi) Cause : On account of {formal}

xii) Purpose : So as to. in order that {more formal}

xiii) Reason and consequence : Consequently, the weather having improved, thus, hence {formal}.

Being a man of fixed views {formal}, he refused ....................

So = {informal} accordingly {formal}

xiv) Conditions : In case of {formal}

xv) Contrast :

Formal or common core		Informal equivalent
Whereas despite Notwithstanding Nevertheless even though		allthough, though all the same

xvi) Degree : To what degree / extent {formal}

He’s not much of one {informal}

xvii) Proportion :

As time went on, things got worse and worse.

As you go farther north, so the winters become longer.

In addition,

tor, as well, = meaning in

addition to

xviii) Short Question :

With whom = Personal

Pre + what, which = Personal and non-personal

What, which + Prep = Personal and non-personal

Who, whom + Prep = {formal} = Personal

xix) Hypothetical meaning :

a) If it were to rain, ............................{formal}

b) Were to / was to + infinitive {informal}

If it were to rain, the match ..................................

xx) The subjunctive : So be it then!

xxi) Certainty : indubitably, unquestionably etc. ......

xxii) Wish : The manager wishes to thank you.

The manager wants to thank you. {informal}

xxiii) Permission :

May we smoke?

Are we permitted to smoke

{formal}

xxiv) Obligation : Require, shall

The university requires all students to submit ...................	{formal}
I’ve got to finish this essay by tomorrow	{informal}

xxv) Invitation :

May I invite you to .................................?

May I have the pleasure of this dance?

xxvi) Reported commands : Verbs, forbid, prohibit {formal}

They were forbidden to smoke.

xxvii) Promise : Our firm will undertake to let you ...............

xxviii) Greetings on introduction : How do you do ?

Hello {informal}

xxix) Beginning and ending of letters :

Dear Sir, Your faithfully,

{informal letter} : Example

Dear George,

...............................

..............................

Yours (ever)

Janet.

xxx) I regret that ..........................{formal}

I am sorry I was unable to come to the meeting {Informal}

Good wishes, toasts etc :

I wish you every success in your new carrier	{informal}
Pl. give my kindest regards to your wife	Give my life to your children
Good health, Your health
May we congratulate you ...........
Pl. accept my deepest sympathey ...	I was extremely sorry to hear about .................

xxxi) Vocatives : Ladies and gentleman!

xxxii) Listening and adding : firstly / lastly etc.

xxxiii) Explanation : ie, eg, viz.

xxxiv) Contrast : however, although, -- yet.

xxxv) Participial and verbless clauses : Being a farmer, he has .............

xxxvi) Substitutes : Every body looked after themselves

Every body looked after himself {more formal}

Indefinite expression of amount, especially no, none and any, often cause concord problem:

I have ordered the shrubs, but none (of them) has / have yet arrived.

Here has is typical of {formal} English

Here have is typical of {informal} English

In informal style plural pronoun is often used as a replacement of everybody, everyone, somebody, someone, anyone, anybody, no one, no body:

Everyone thinks they have the answer.

Has anybody brought their camera?

	In {formal} English the tendency is to use “he” when the sex is not stated : Everyone thinks he has the answer.

	I send cards to Mavis and Margery but neither (of them) has/ have replied. In fact, I doubt if either (of them) is/ are coming.

xxxvii} “Given” topic : fronting of object {formal} especially (written) English.

	Most of the problems a computer code solve easily. Topic = Object

	This subject we have examined. Topic = Object

	Everything that can be done the administration. = Object has attended to already

xxxviii} Subject = Verb inversion:

Slowly out of its hanger rolled the gigantic air craft {formal}

Away went the car like a whirlwind {formal}

Here’s the milkman Here comes the bus There are our friends	{Informal}

xxxix} Subject -operator inversion :

Under no circumstances must the door be left unlocked {formal}.

xl} Commands :

Let’s have a dinner {informal}

Let somebody else attempt this task {formal}

Somebody let me out {informal}

xli} Comparison:

He is taller than I {formal}

He is taller than me {informal}

We scored three more goals than they {formal}

We scored three more goals than them {informal}

Concord : see xxxvi

xlii} Demonstratives :

In formal use that / those can appear as relative antecedents

The butter we import is less expensive than those we produce ourselves {formal}

xliii) Interrogatives : Discussed earlier.

xliv) There is two patients in the waiting room {informal}.

There are two patients in the waiting room {formal}.

xlv} Uncontracted forms are formal : They aren’t ..............................

Contracted forms are {informal}, They are not .............

xlvi} Nominal-ing clauses :

I’m surprised at his/ John’s making that mistake (possessive)

I’m surprised at him/ Gohn’s making that mistake (objective)

xlvii} Subordination signalled by inversion :

Had I known ..........................{formal}

A “colloquialism” is a word or phrase that is used in speech, not in formal writing. Sometimes words begin as slang, become colloquialism, and after sometime become acceptable as standard English. British usage and American usage are not always the same. Some dictionaries use the label informal and others use the label Colloquial.

Colloquial Structure :		What did you do that for? (in formal)
	Formal :	Why did you do that?

	Colloquial :	Alison remembers who she saw yesterday.
	Formal :	Alison remembers whom she saw yesterday.

	Colloquial :	Harry can’t remember ..................(contraction)
	Formal :	Harry can not remember ........................

Informal Words	formal Words

Cop	for police officer
Kid	child
a shrinking violet	for a person who is shy or timid

exam	for examination
gonna	for going to
Math	for mathematics
tech	for technical/ technology
wanna	for want to

The subjunctive is rarely used in spoken English except in a few set phrases

such as “as if I were you” and “as it were”.

Most of the meanings that are shown in other languages by the subjunctive are shown in English by the modals, by should (especially by British speakers). Subjunctives forms express non- fact.

Subjunctive is often very formal. It is used in legal documents, parliamentary proceedings and bureaucratic communications.

Subjunctive :	It is recommended that our chairman be given a vote of thanks.
Subjunctive :	Robert’s employer suggested that he transfer to another division.

This can be stated with modal :

Robert’s employer suggested that he should transfer to another division.

Robert’s employer suggested a transfer for him.

Subjunctive : The report urged that the company hire another account.

The report urged the company to hire another account.

Subjunctive: I wish I had more help.

I wish I could have more help.

Common verbs that can be followed by the subjunctive

with subjunctive		with another contraction

Advice: I advise that she come Ask :		I advise her to come I advise her to coming I ask her to come ( in request sense)

Demand :	I demand that he come	I desire him to come.
Desire :	I desire that he come	I desire his coming

Forbid :	I forbid that he come	I forbid him to come I forbid his coming

Insist :	I insist that she come	I insist on her coming
Prefer :	I prefer that she come	I prefer her to coming
Plan :	I plan that she come	I plan for her to come I plan her coming
Propose :	,,
Recommend :	,,
Request :	,,
Require :	I require that he come	I require him to come I require his coming
Suggest :	,,
Urge :	,,

It is + Past Participle of the verbs above + that clause requires the subjunctive.

It is required that he come.

It is suggested that he come.

It is recommended that he come.

It is necessary that he come.

Further use of Informal English

1) Species noun : you can use either the singular or plural of a count noun following a plural species noun.

I like most kinds of cat /cats {informal}.

The second noun, when count, usually has no indefinite article : a strange kind of mammal rather than a strange kind of a mammal.

In informal English there is a mixed construction in which the determiner (if any) and the verb are plural, although the species noun is singular.

These kind of dogs are easy to train {informal}.

This kind of dog is easy to train {formal}

2) Time –when, omitting the preposition :

In informal English, we usually leave out the preposition in phrases pointing to a time related indirectly to the present moment, or to a time before or after a definite time in the past or future :

I saw her	the January before last. the day after her birthday

The festival will be held		the day after tomorrow. (in) the following spring.

3) Duration :

I have not seen you long. {formal}

I haven’t seen you for ages/ (for long} {informal}

4) Place :

The police were standing on guard around the building.

“about” and “around” in informal English often have a vaguer meaning of “in the area of”

You don’t see many trams about now a days. {informal} (meaning about the place).

5) Result :

I took no notice of him, so (that) he flew into a rage.

This is equivalent to : He flew into a rage because I took no notice of him.

In this context “so” is {informal}

Take this medicine, and (then) you’ll feel better. {informal}

Take this medicine regularly, you will feel better, then. (then here is informal)

6) Negative purpose :

In order / In order that {formal}

In informal English in case can introduce the idea of negative purpose.

He left early in case he should miss the last train ( .........so that he should miss) = {informal}

7) Contrast :

We are enjoying ourselves, although / though the weather is bad.

When we make contrasting statements by making one of them into a sub clause beginning “although/ though” it is informal.

8) Condition, contract :

All the same, Any way despite {formal}

Notwithstanding {formal}

Nevertheless {formal}

All the same {informal}

She looks pretty anyway {informal}

( Anywhy here means whatever the circumstances)

9) Degree :

Degree adverbs may act as Pre-modifier a lot, quite a lot, Pretty a bit, {informal}

10) Comparison :

(a) Jack must be six foot tall.

(b) Is he as tall as that? {formal} (that = 6 foot)

Is he that tall {informal}(that = 6 foot)

11) Addition : too, as well

They drank three bottles of wine, too/ as well . {informal}

In addition	, they drank three .......................	{formal}
as well as
Besides

12) Appearance :

He looks as if he is ill {informal}. Here looks refers to visual appearance only.

13) Negative Intensifier ; a bit, a wink, a thing

informal	They weren’t a bit apologetic. I didn’t sleep a wink. He didn’t give me a thing (means anything at all)

14) Permission :

Are we permitted to smoke in here? {formal}

Is it all right if we smoke in here? {informal}

15) Changing the subject : by the way

The airlines charge half-price for students

By the way have you bought your ticket for New York? {informal}

Incidentally have you bought your ticket for New York? {formal}

16) Reinforcement : in any case, any way.

In any case		{informal}
any way

Besides, {formal} =>	if they play ...........................

17) Positive Condition : then = and

Take this medicine, and you’ll feel better. {informal}

Take this medicine, you’ll feel better, than. {informal}

18) Negative condition : Put your over coat on, or .......................

You’d better put your over coat on, or else you’ll catch cold {informal}

19) Alternatives : else {informal}

20) Unlinked clauses :

Two neighbouring clauses may be grammatically unlinked.

In writing they may be separated by, -___ ; : etc.

But this does not mean that there is no connection of meaning between them; it means rather that the connection is implicit.

In {informal} speech the speaker frequently relies on such implied connections, whereas in (writing) he would make the connection clear by sentence adverbials or co-ordination

Informal Æ He loaded the pistol carefully; (then) he took aim ..............a shot rang. (Time)

He had to look for a job Æ (be cause) he had run out of money. (reason)

Take this medicine : (if you do) it’ll make you feel better. (condition)

21) Substitutes :

The dummy auxiliary verb “do” can act as a substitute for the whole of a clause apart form the subject.

(A) : who wants to play tennis this afternoon?

(B) : I do

I don’t

You can also omit the whole clause following the subject.

He can look as well as she {formal}

He can look as well as her {informal}

(A) : Who wants to play tennis?

(B) : Me {informal}

: Not me

Which may be one of the substitute words it, that, or so.

“Do that” is emphatic and informal.

They say he sleeps in his shoes and socks.

Why ever does he do that? {informal}

Why ever does he do so? {formal}

(D) With infinitive clauses you can omit the whole of the clause following to :

(A) Why don’t you come and stay with us?

(B) I’d love to, (do so).

You can borrow my pen, if you want to (do so)

In informal English the whole infinitive clause including to can be omitted.

You can borrow my pen, if you want (to) .

Shall I ask Peter (to do so)

22) Emphatic type :

In {informal} conversation, it is quite common for a speaker to front an element and to give it nuclear stress, thus giving it double emphasis :

Joe his name is.

Relaxation you call it.

An utter fool I felt too.

Excellent food they serve here.

23) Demonstratives :

A common type of sentence in {informal} English is one in which a wh-clause is linked by the verb ‘be’ to a demonstrative pronoun (this, that). These sentences are similar to wh-cleft sentences both in structure and in their focusing effect :

This is where I met my wife.

This is how you start the engine.

So that’s why he’s always talking about his mother fixation!

That’s what always happens when I ........................................

24) Adverbs with adjective form:

A few {informal} adverbs with adjective form have a personifying function :

He’s pretty (= quite) tall.

He was dead (= absolutely) drunk.

25) Comment clauses :

Comment clauses in {informal} English do have end-position.

He’s a pacifist you see.

I’m not sure what to do to be honest.

Comment clauses in {informal} English.

You know	You bet
I know	I see
I think	I suppose
I’m afraid	as you see
as I said	to be frank
So to say	So to speak
Put frankly	What’s more likely

In written English Comment clauses are marked off from the other clause by commas and in speech by a separate tone unit.

26) Interrogative and Relative pronouns :

In the objective case ‘Whom” is formal and ‘who’ informal.

He couldn’t remember		On which shelf he kept it {formal}
		which shelf he kept it on {informal}

I know the girl	Who he met {informal}
	Whom he met {formal}
	Who he spoke to {informal}
	Whom he spoke to {formal}
	To whom he spoke {most formal}

27) Nominal that clauses with ‘that’ omitted.

I told him	he was wrong	{informal}
I am sure	he was wrong

I know	you’re wrong
It’s a pity	you’re wrong

28) Passive : the get-passive

The passive auxiliary is normally ‘be’ but can sometimes be ‘get’. The passives with get is normally found only in {informal} style.

: The boy got hurt on his way home from work.

: It is upsetting when a man gets punished.

29) Finite clause as post modifier.

a) Finite clauses introduced by a wh-word.

Formal	Time : He is taking about the years when he was a student.
	Place : We visited the house where Beethoven was born.
	Reason : Is that the reason why you came. {informal}

b) Finite clauses introduced by ‘that’ or Zero.

Informal : Time : It’s about time (that) you had a holiday.

Place : I’ll show you the place (that) we stayed (at) last year.

Manner : I like the way (that) she does her hair.

(COLLECTED)

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Formal and Informal English

Here has is typical of {formal} English

Here have is typical of {informal} English

Has anybody brought their camera?

Here’s the milkman

In formal use that / those can appear as relative antecedents

Common verbs that can be followed by the subjunctive

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