Checkpoint 6 · Grammar in Use

Standard English and Formal Language

What standard English is, the non-standard forms that lose marks, how to choose between formal and informal language for your audience, and how to turn informal sentences into formal ones.

British & IGCSE › Checkpoint 6 › Checkpoint 6 English (Cambridge Primary 0058)

1. Standard English

Standard English is the correct, accepted form of English used in writing, school and the exam. Some forms are fine when chatting with friends, but they are non-standard and lose marks in writing (except inside a character's speech in a story, where they can show how the character talks).

Non-standard	Standard English
We was playing.	We were playing.
I done my homework.	I did my homework. / I have done my homework.
Me and Adam went to the park.	Adam and I went to the park.
Them books are mine.	Those books are mine.
I could of won.	I could have won.
I didn't do nothing.	I didn't do anything. / I did nothing.
He ain't here.	He isn't here.
She sings real good.	She sings really well.
Everyone should bring their book if they wants.	Everyone should bring their book if they want to.
He should of told me.	He should have told me.
The boy what lives next door...	The boy who lives next door...

Me and I

Take the other person away and test: Adam and I went → I went ✓ (me went ✗). The teacher thanked Adam and me → thanked me ✓. Polite English also puts the other person first: Adam and I, not I and Adam.

Could of? Should of?

When we speak fast, could've sounds like could of. But the word is always have: could have, should have, would have, might have, must have.

Good or well?

good is an adjective (describes a noun): a good singer. well is an adverb (describes a verb): She sings well.

2. Formal and informal language

Your audience (who you are writing to) and purpose (why you are writing) decide how formal you should be. Choosing the right level is part of Vocabulary and language and Creation of texts in the writing mark scheme.

	Formal	Informal
When	letters to a head teacher, council or company / reports / news reports / balanced arguments / information texts	emails and letters to friends or family / diaries / blogs for children / speech in stories
Contractions	no: do not, I am, it is	yes: don't, I'm, it's
Vocabulary	precise, polite words: receive, purchase, assist, require	everyday words: get, buy, help, need
Phrasal verbs and slang	avoid: find out → discover	fine: find out, hang out, chill
Passive	used often: It has been decided that...	rarely used
Greeting / ending	Dear Sir or Madam, ... Yours faithfully,	Hi Sara, ... See you soon,
Punctuation	few exclamation marks	exclamation marks and questions to sound friendly

3. Informal into formal

Informal	Formal
We can't wait to see the new library!	We are looking forward to visiting the new library.
Loads of kids think the playground is rubbish.	Many pupils feel that the playground needs improvement.
Can you tell me when it opens?	Could you please inform me of the opening times?
We got lots of help from the teachers.	We received a great deal of support from our teachers.
The food was really bad.	The quality of the food was disappointing.
Sorry about the mess.	I apologise for any inconvenience.

Useful swaps:

Word / phrase	Meaning / use
get → receive / obtain	We received your letter on Monday.
buy → purchase	Tickets can be purchased at the entrance.
help → assist / support	Volunteers will assist visitors.
need → require	The hall requires new chairs.
find out → discover	Scientists discovered that...
lots of / loads of → many / a large number of / a great deal of	A large number of pupils agreed.
kids → children / pupils / young people	Pupils of all ages enjoy the club.
really → very / extremely	The trip was extremely useful.

4. Common mistakes

Watch out for these

Mixing levels: starting with Dear Sir or Madam and then writing Hey, that's awesome! Keep one level all the way through.
Contractions in a formal letter or report: don't, can't, it's → do not, cannot, it is.
Text-message style: u, gonna, wanna, lol never belong in exam writing.
Being too stiff in an informal email to a friend: it should sound warm and chatty, not like a report.

5. How Checkpoint asks about it

Reading questions in this style

Is this text formal or informal? Give two pieces of evidence. → for example: contractions, slang, direct questions to the reader, exclamation marks (informal); passive verbs, precise vocabulary, no contractions (formal).
Why does the writer use informal language in this blog? → to sound friendly and speak directly to young readers.
Find a word or phrase that shows the letter is formal.

In your writing: before you start, look at the task and ask Who am I writing to? and Why? A letter to the head teacher needs formal, standard English. A diary entry or an email to a cousin can be informal, but it must still be standard English: we were, not we was.

مستوى اللغة

قبل الكتابة اسأل: لمين بكتب؟ لو لمدير أو مسؤول أو تقرير = لغة رسمية من غير اختصارات (don't / I'm).
لو لصاحبك أو يوميات = لغة غير رسمية، والاختصارات والأسئلة وعلامات التعجب مقبولة.
حتى في الكلام غير الرسمي لازم القواعد تبقى صح: we were مش we was، و could have مش could of.

6. Practice

Correct all the non-standard English: Me and Hassan done the washing up but we was tired.
Show answer
Hassan and I did the washing-up, but we were tired.
Make formal: The new sports hall is awesome and loads of kids use it.
Show answer
The new sports hall is excellent, and many pupils use it every day.
Correct: I should of brought my umbrella.
Show answer
I should have brought my umbrella.
Correct: Them shoes are too small for me.
Show answer
Those shoes are too small for me.
Correct: She didn't say nothing about the trip.
Show answer
She didn't say anything about the trip. / She said nothing about the trip.
Correct: The coach thanked Laila and I.
Show answer
The coach thanked Laila and me. (test: thanked me)
Make formal: Can you sort out the broken lights ASAP?
Show answer
Could you please repair the broken lights as soon as possible?
Formal or informal? Give one reason: Guess what? I'm going to Siwa next week!
Show answer
Informal: the contraction I'm, the chatty question Guess what? and the exclamation mark.
Which is better for a letter to the council: We need more bins or Our area requires more litter bins? Why?
Show answer
Our area requires more litter bins: it uses precise, formal vocabulary for an official reader.

All pages in this course

Start here: the exam

Grammar and Punctuation

Grammar in Use

Reading Skills

Writing: Non-fiction

Writing: Fiction