IELTS
Informal
Formal
1
Uses ____________________ pronouns frequently (e.g. I, you, we) and is often subjective (e.g. I hate that)
Uses more impersonal structures (e.g. phrases beginning with it or there; passive sentences) and is more objective (e.g. There are a number of problems...)
2
Often uses a more direct, confident style e.g. that’s completely wrong
Uses a more cautious or ____________________ style by using e.g. modal verbs (may, might, can etc); softer verbs (seem, appear etc); nouns expressing caution (assumption, claim, evidence, estimate etc)
3
May include unsupported claims or opinions
Needs to support opinions with ____________________
4
Can be emotional (e.g. a terrible tragedy)
Usually ____________________ in tone (e.g. a very serious incident)
5
Often uses ____________________ words (e.g. thing, nice)
Uses vocabulary with ____________________ meanings (e.g. device, talented)
6
Usually uses contractions (e.g. won’t, isn’t, he’s)
Avoids ____________________ (e.g. will not, is not, he is)
7
Sometimes uses ____________________ (e.g. on Sat.)
Usually uses the full form of words (e.g. on Saturday)
8
Uses colloquialisms e.g. fab means very good
Avoids colloquial or ____________________ vocabulary
9
Uses hesitation fillers in ____________________ e.g. well, you know...
Does not use hesitation fillers
10
Uses more phrasal verbs e.g. find out, look into
Tends to use fewer phrasal verbs e.g. find out ( discover; look into ( investigate
The following sentences are all informal. Rewrite them in a formal style.
She said it wasn’t good enough.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
I thought the lecture was really difficult to follow.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
They’ve got to find out how to carry out a survey of old folks’ opinions of little kids.
Formal
1
Uses ____________________ pronouns frequently (e.g. I, you, we) and is often subjective (e.g. I hate that)
Uses more impersonal structures (e.g. phrases beginning with it or there; passive sentences) and is more objective (e.g. There are a number of problems...)
2
Often uses a more direct, confident style e.g. that’s completely wrong
Uses a more cautious or ____________________ style by using e.g. modal verbs (may, might, can etc); softer verbs (seem, appear etc); nouns expressing caution (assumption, claim, evidence, estimate etc)
3
May include unsupported claims or opinions
Needs to support opinions with ____________________
4
Can be emotional (e.g. a terrible tragedy)
Usually ____________________ in tone (e.g. a very serious incident)
5
Often uses ____________________ words (e.g. thing, nice)
Uses vocabulary with ____________________ meanings (e.g. device, talented)
6
Usually uses contractions (e.g. won’t, isn’t, he’s)
Avoids ____________________ (e.g. will not, is not, he is)
7
Sometimes uses ____________________ (e.g. on Sat.)
Usually uses the full form of words (e.g. on Saturday)
8
Uses colloquialisms e.g. fab means very good
Avoids colloquial or ____________________ vocabulary
9
Uses hesitation fillers in ____________________ e.g. well, you know...
Does not use hesitation fillers
10
Uses more phrasal verbs e.g. find out, look into
Tends to use fewer phrasal verbs e.g. find out ( discover; look into ( investigate
The following sentences are all informal. Rewrite them in a formal style.
She said it wasn’t good enough.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
I thought the lecture was really difficult to follow.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
They’ve got to find out how to carry out a survey of old folks’ opinions of little kids.