British English · B2 · Unit 21
Formal and informal
Formal and informal
By the end you can
- Switch between formal and informal language
- Write the same message in two styles
- Understand the tone of a message
Words and phrases
| British English | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| it's a pleasure to meet you | nice to meet you (formal) | It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs Wilson. |
| please call me | you can use my first name | Oh, please call me Margaret. |
| how do you do? | a very formal greeting when you meet someone (British) | How do you do? I'm Sophie's partner. |
| I was wondering if | a polite way to ask for something | I was wondering if you could help me. |
| would you be so kind as to | please (very formal) | Would you be so kind as to pass the salt? |
| I'd be grateful if | please (formal, often in writing) | I'd be grateful if you could reply by Friday. |
| I apologise for | I'm sorry for (formal; British spelling) | I apologise for the delay in replying. |
| Many thanks | thank you very much (in emails) | Many thanks for your help. |
| hiya | hi (very informal British) | Hiya! Long time no see. |
| you all right? | how are you? (an informal British greeting) | Hiya, you all right? |
| no worries | it's no problem (informal) | Sorry I'm late! No worries. |
| mind your language | don't use rude words | Mind your language, there are kids here! |
Then talk it through
Meeting your partner's grandparents for the first time. In the app you have this conversation out loud or typed, with the unit's goals to tick off and corrections at the end.