Identify Features of Formal Language

In this worksheet, students will practise identifying features of formal and official language.

Key stage: KS 2

Year: Year 6 English worksheets

Curriculum topic: Writing: Vocabulary, Grammar and Punctuation

Curriculum subtopic: Formal Speech Awareness

Difficulty level:

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Worksheet Overview

Formal language is a style of English used in certain situations, such as official notices and letters. It uses particular words and phrases that make it different to everyday English, but it has other features as well.

For example:

no smoking sign

You can't smoke here! (informal English)

Smoking is prohibited. (formal English)

Formal language often uses the passive voice ('is prohibited') and it is also more impersonal in tone, avoiding pronouns like I, we and you.

Contractions (leaving out letters in a word) such as 'can't' and exclamation marks are not normally used in official language.

In this activity, you will look at the differences between formal and informal language.

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girl writing

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