Formal and Informal English is a free printable Grade 4 English worksheet on choosing the register a situation calls for, aligned to Common Core standard SL.4.6. It prints 8 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two students in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.
Set 1 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.
2.Why do people switch between formal and informal English?
A.Formal English is only for adults
B.Informal English is always wrong
C.Different listeners and situations expect different ways of speaking
3.Why does a report avoid "I"?
A.Because "I" is misspelled easily
B.Because reports must be long
C.Because it presents the events rather than one person's experience
4.Which situation is fine for informal English?
A.Writing a letter to the mayor
B.Telling a joke to a friend on the playground
C.Reading the news on the school radio
5.Which is the polite, formal way to ask a librarian for help?
A.Hey, where's the volcano stuff?
B.Excuse me, could you help me find a book about volcanoes?
C.Volcano books. Where?
6.Which sentence is too informal for a class presentation?
A.So yeah, volcanoes are, like, totally wild.
B.Volcanoes form where plates in the Earth's crust meet.
C.Some volcanoes have not erupted for thousands of years.
7.You are chatting with your best friend at lunch. Which fits?
A.I hereby offer you an apple.
B.Would you care to share a portion of my apple?
C.Do you want half of my apple?
8.Which is the formal way to say "Thanks a bunch!"?
A.Thank you very much.
B.Thanks loads!
C.Thx!
LessonPrint · SL.4.6 · Set 1 · free to copy for classroom use
Answer key — Formal and Informal English
Set 1. Prints on its own sheet.
1.You're making a fuss.
2.Different listeners and situations expect different ways of speaking
3.Because it presents the events rather than one person's experience
4.Telling a joke to a friend on the playground
5.Excuse me, could you help me find a book about volcanoes?
6.So yeah, volcanoes are, like, totally wild.
7.Do you want half of my apple?
8.Thank you very much.
Questions about Formal and Informal English
What does the Formal and Informal English worksheet cover?
It practices choosing the register a situation calls for — 8 questions for Grade 4, all on Common Core SL.4.6: Tell when to use formal English and when informal is fine. The instruction to students is “Circle the right answer”, and the answer key follows on the next sheet.
Which Common Core standard does Formal and Informal English practice?
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.4.6 — SL.4.6, under Speaking & Listening for Grade 4. The published standard reads: “Differentiate between contexts that call for formal English (e.g., presenting ideas) and situations where informal discourse is appropriate (e.g., small-group discussion); use formal English when appropriate to task and situation.” The worksheet assesses that standard rather than a paraphrase of it.
What age or grade is this worksheet for?
Formal and Informal English is written for Grade 4, typically ages 9-10. It is one of the sheets on SL.4.6, so it suits any student working at that standard — including older students revisiting it and younger ones working ahead.
Does Formal and Informal English come with an answer key?
Yes. All 8 answers are generated from the same problems as the questions, so the key cannot drift out of step with the sheet. It starts on a fresh sheet of paper, after the questions, so it is not handed out with the class by accident.
How many different versions of Formal and Informal English can I print?
25 — one per student, and all 25 ask different questions. Set 1 downloads the whole class as a single PDF. Every version is fixed to its own address, so a sheet printed today holds the same problems when you reopen it next week.
Is Formal and Informal English free to print and photocopy?
Yes. Formal and Informal English, its answer key and its 25 versions are free to print and photocopy for your own class, with no account, no email capture and no subscription at the download step. Please do not resell them or republish them as your own.
Is there a lesson plan to teach SL.4.6?
Yes — “Formal and Informal Situations” is a 40-minute Grade 4 plan for SL.4.6, timed section by section, with the misconceptions to expect and an exit ticket. Formal and Informal English is the practice that follows it.
More practice for SL.4.6
Tell when to use formal English and when informal is fine.