Exercises in Formal and Informal English

Pronunciation

Informal
Correct language pronunciation Formal Example Informal Example

can kin “My manager can approve your application.” “I can help you with that.”
to ta “I have to speak to the director.” “Take some time to talk to me.”
you ya “I will get back to you in a moment.” “We’ll leave whenever you want (to leave).”
your yur “I am calling to confirm your appointment.” “I hope you’re having a good time on your
birthday.”
for fur “I am making a request for information.” “Thanks for everything!”
what you what’cha “See what you can find out about this.” “I have what you want.”
used to use ta “I used to do all my business here.” “This used to be my favorite restaurant!”
condensed syllables
supposed to s’posed ta “We are all supposed to participate.” “He’s supposed to be here already!”
dropped ‘g’
looking lookin’ “They are looking into making an “I was looking at that picture!”
investment.”
taking takin’ “We’re taking stock of the situation.” “It’s taking a long time to finish.”
putting puttin’ “He’s putting me in a new role.” “He’s not putting any effort into it.”

Contractions and Colloquialisms

Formal Informal

That is That’s That is

You have You’ve You have got to speak to someone about this. You’ve got something there!
You will You’ll You will have to have support. You’ll have to have help.
You had You’d You had better be prepared for some criticism. You’d better get down here fast!
How are How’re How are you planning to accomplish this? How’re ya doin’?
I will I’ll I will speak to when I have a chance. I’ll talk to you when I can.
I will have I’ll ‘ve I will have completed my project by next week. I’ll ‘ve finished all of my projects by then.
Come on C’mon Come on over to my office tomorrow. C’mon over! I’m ordering pizza!
going to gonna I am going to start working on that. I’m gonna start soon.
want to wanna Do you want to make a proposal? Do you wanna say something?
got to gotta I have got to get more accomplished today. I’ve gotta get more done today.
should have shoulda We should have called his office first. We shoulda turned left at the light.
could have coulda He could have sent his email yesterday. He coulda done a better job than that.
cannot can’t I cannot hear the speaker on stage. I can’t hear anything!
am not/are not ain’t I am not planning to attend the meeting. I ain’t goin’ to that party tomorrow.
Pronunciation Exercise

Instructions:
1) read each situation in the first column and identify it as formal or informal in the space provided
2) match each situation with the spoken language in the column at right. Write the letter in the match column
3) read aloud each sentence that matches the given situation. If the situation is informal, use informal language and pronunciation

F (formal)
or
Situation I (informal) Match Spoken Language

You are speaking to the owner of an apartment a. “When can I expect to hear from you?”
building.
You are speaking about your apartment to a friend. b. “We are supposed to begin at 7:30 this evening.”
You are responding to your boss who wants to c. “I am going to start cooking at 7:30.”
know why you were not in your office.
You find your son crawling along the floor of your d. “I have been looking for you.”
kitchen.
You are offering to treat your friend to dinner. e. “When can I come over?”
A waiter is taking your order at a restaurant. f. “You are supposed to be asleep!”
You are asking your doctor to call you back with g. “How much do you think I’m paying for this
test results. place?”
You are talking on the phone with your neighbor h. “How are you coming along with your report?”
across the hall.
You are talking to your son in his bed. i. “I am not doing that!”
You are speaking with the manager of a hotel j. “What would you like to eat?”
about a conference being held in the hotel.
You are talking on the phone with a co-worker k. “How much do you want for this apartment?”
about the speech you are giving that evening.
You are telling your wife what you will do to l. “What do you want to eat?”
make dinner that evening.
You are typing an email to someone to whom you m. “I have been looking for you.”
have given an assignment at your office.
You are talking to your wife while waiting to meet n. “I am going to start speaking at 7:30.”
someone for dinner at a restaurant.
You are disagreeing with your wife about who will o. “Simon should’ve been here an hour ago.”
take out the garbage.
Pronunciation Exercise—Answer Key
F (formal)
or
Situation I (informal) Match Spoken Language

You are speaking to the owner of an apartment F k a. “When can I expect to hear from you?”
building.
You are speaking about your apartment to a friend. I g b. “We are supposed to begin at 7:30 this evening.”
You are responding to your boss who wants to F m c. “I am going to start cooking at 7:30.”
know why you were not in your office.
You find your son crawling along the floor of your I d d. “I have been looking for you.”
kitchen.
You are offering to treat your friend to dinner. I l e. “When can I come over?”
A waiter is taking your order at a restaurant. F j f. “You are supposed to be asleep!”
You are asking your doctor to call you back with F a g. “How much do you think I’m paying for this
test results. place?”
You are talking on the phone with your neighbor I e h. “How are you coming along with your report?”
across the hall.
You are talking to your son in his bed. I f i. “I am not doing that!”
You are speaking with the manager of a hotel F b j. “What would you like to eat?”
about a conference being held in the hotel.
You are talking on the phone with a co-worker I n k. “How much do you want for this apartment?”
about the speech you are giving that evening.
You are telling your wife what you will do to I c l. “What do you want to eat?”
make dinner that evening.
You are typing an email to someone to whom you F h m. “I have been looking for you.”
have given an assignment at your office.
You are talking to your wife while waiting to meet I o n. “I am going to start speaking at 7:30.”
someone for dinner at a restaurant.
You are disagreeing with your wife about who will I i o. “Simon should’ve been here an hour ago.”
take out the garbage.