1. The basics of sentences
Formal & informal – speech; audience and purpose.
2. Formal and Informal Language
We change our language depending on who we are talking
with.
At home and with our friends, we may talk informally.
“I had a wicked time.”
In school and official letters, we talk more formally.
“I had a really enjoyable time.”
3. Formal Language
We use formal language when writing in school and to anyone
we do not know.
• We do not use contractions - isn’t becomes is not;
• We use formal or technical vocabulary – dead wicked
becomes very good;
• We use standard English – we done it becomes we did it.
• Remember – formal language can be spoken in any accent.
Your accent is how you say words not what you say.
4. Standard English
We use standard English in most school writing and when
writing to people we do not know. It helps us to write formally.
Standard Non-standard
It were right good. It was very good.
We was dead chuffed. We were very pleased.
I ain’t feeling good. I am not feeling good.
I goes down to them shops. I went down to the shops.
Yea, she sings nice. Yes, she sings nicely.
5. Audience and Purpose
The audience is who is listening to us or our readers.
The purpose is the reason for speaking or writing – to entertain,
amuse, inform, instruct, persuade, retell what happened or
explain.
• We change what we say and how we say it depending on the
audience and purpose.
• For instance, we might speak or write formally or informally
depending on who we are trying to communicate with and why.
