Formal VS Informal English Vocabulary

Summary

In this lesson, Maddie from POC English teaches formal English vocabulary using three stories. The first story illustrates how to replace informal words like 'rich' and 'let' with more formal alternatives such as 'affluent' and 'allow.' The second story focuses on making work-related language more formal by using terms like 'colleague,' 'complex,' 'concerned,' and 'assist.' Finally, the third story addresses how to discuss fast food and health using formal words like 'consume,' 'economical,' and 'demonstrate.' Throughout the lesson, Maddie emphasizes replacing informal vocabulary with formal equivalents to improve fluency and precision in English.

Takeaways

• 😀 More people are consuming fast food, leading to an increase in obesity.
• 😀 The script introduces formal English vocabulary by transforming informal stories into formal ones.
• 😀 The word 'rich' can be replaced with 'affluent' to sound more formal.
• 😀 Instead of 'let,' use 'allow' in formal contexts (e.g., 'my father doesn't allow me to go').
• 😀 'Funny' can be substituted with 'amusing' to sound more formal.
• 😀 'And' can be replaced with 'additionally' for a more formal tone, with specific punctuation guidelines.
• 😀 The word 'okay' can be substituted with 'acceptable' for a more formal alternative.
• 😀 'Apologize' is a more formal verb compared to simply saying 'sorry.'
• 😀 In formal writing, replace 'help' with 'assist' or 'assistance' to sound more professional.
• 😀 The word 'about' can be replaced with 'regarding' or 'concerning' for more formal expressions.
• 😀 Common informal words in everyday language, like 'eat,' 'cheap,' 'show,' 'go up,' and 'go down,' can be replaced with formal alternatives like 'consume,' 'economical,' 'demonstrate,' 'increase,' and 'decrease.'

Q & A

What is the main focus of the lesson in the video?

The main focus of the lesson is to teach how to transform informal English into more formal English by using appropriate vocabulary and grammar.

How can the word 'rich' be replaced in a more formal context?

'Rich' can be replaced with 'affluent' in a more formal context.

What is the grammatical difference between 'let me go' and 'allow me to go'?

'Let me go' uses the bare infinitive (without 'to'), while 'allow me to go' requires the infinitive with 'to'.

Which word can replace 'funny' in a more formal setting?

'Funny' can be replaced with 'amusing' in a more formal setting.

What does 'additionally' replace in formal writing, and how is it used?

'Additionally' replaces the informal 'and' and should be used at the beginning of a new sentence, followed by a comma.

What is the formal alternative to the informal word 'okay'?

The formal alternative to 'okay' is 'acceptable'.

What is the more formal verb to replace 'say sorry'?

The more formal verb to replace 'say sorry' is 'apologize'.

How can 'hard' be replaced in a formal context when referring to a project?

'Hard' can be replaced with 'complex' in a formal context.

What is the formal alternative to the informal verb 'help'?

The formal alternative to 'help' is 'assist'.

How can the phrase 'talk about' be made more formal?

'Talk about' can be replaced with 'discuss' in a more formal context.