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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 3 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

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Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.

Formal and Informal English

SL.4.6

NameDate

Circle the right answer.

1.You are writing a diary entry. Which suits it?
  • A.Eleven households had prepared by midnight.
  • B.I was the one who said it was nothing.
  • C.The warning was issued at six.
2.Which situation calls for formal English?
  • A.Playing a game with your brother
  • B.Sending a quick message to a friend
  • C.Being interviewed by the local newspaper
3.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
4.Why does a report avoid "I"?
  • A.Because reports must be long
  • B.Because "I" is misspelled easily
  • C.Because it presents the events rather than one person's experience
5.Why do people switch between formal and informal English?
  • A.Different listeners and situations expect different ways of speaking
  • B.Formal English is only for adults
  • C.Informal English is always wrong
6.Which is the polite, formal way to ask a librarian for help?
  • A.Excuse me, could you help me find a book about volcanoes?
  • B.Volcano books. Where?
  • C.Hey, where's the volcano stuff?
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 belongs in dialogue between friends?
  • A.Your concern is disproportionate.
  • B.You're making a fuss.
  • C.You are exhibiting excessive concern.

LessonPrint · SL.4.6 · Set 3 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Formal and Informal English

Set 3. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.I was the one who said it was nothing.
  2. 2.Being interviewed by the local newspaper
  3. 3.Telling a joke to a friend on the playground
  4. 4.Because it presents the events rather than one person's experience
  5. 5.Different listeners and situations expect different ways of speaking
  6. 6.Excuse me, could you help me find a book about volcanoes?
  7. 7.Do you want half of my apple?
  8. 8.You're making a fuss.

More practice for SL.4.6

Tell when to use formal English and when informal is fine.

Teaching this next? Formal and Informal Situations is the 40-minute plan for it, with the misconceptions to expect.

All Grade 4 worksheets

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to SL.4.6 of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.