English Vocabulary in Use Upper-intermediate » Unit 96: Formal and informal words 2

Word List
  • advert
  • anorak
  • bike
  • cab
  • celeb
  • cop
  • cuppa
  • dosh
  • fridge
  • geek
  • grub
  • lab
  • loo
  • mag
  • mobile
  • moolah
  • nerd
  • newspaper
  • nick
  • nosh
  • (the) old bill
  • paper
  • phone
  • quack
  • quid
  • readies
  • sarnie
  • shrink
  • spud
  • squaddie
  • tech
  • telly
  • tube
  • vet
  • ad
Exercises

96.1 ‣ Make this conversation more informal by changing some of the words. Refer to the opposite page if necessary.

JIM: Annie, can you lend me ten pounds?

ANNIE: What for?
_____

JIM: I've got to go and see my parents, and my bicycle's not working, so I'll have to get a taxi.
_____

ANNIE: Can't you telephone them and say you can't come?
_____

JIM: Well, I could, but my mobile phone's not working, and I want to go because they always have lots of food, and the refrigerator at our flat is empty, as usual.
_____

ANNIE: Can't you go by underground? Anyway, you're in luck, I've got some money, so here you are.
_____

96.2 ‣ Replace the underlined words with more formal equivalents.

  1. The train was full of squaddies going home for the weekend.
  2. I've got a bad stomach ache - I think I'll make an appointment with the quack. _____
  3. He spent two years in the nick for stealing cars. _____
  4. The cops arrived shortly after the accident. _____
  5. There'll be plenty of nosh at the party so we don't need to eat beforehand. _____
  6. He's quite a celeb in the world of poetry. _____
  7. I'm dying for a cuppa. I haven't had one since breakfast. _____
  8. I'd love to get a motorbike but I just don't have the moolah. _____

96.3 ‣ Replace the informal words in these sentences with more formal words.

  1. (formal email) I should like to enquire about the cost of ads your website.
  2. (exam essay) The Internet and telly are probably the biggest influences on young people today.
    _____
  3. (recipe in a cookery book) Next, slice the spuds and place them on top of the meat.
    _____
  4. (exam essay) Papers face stiff competition these days from TV and internet news.
    _____
  5. (formal university publicity) The Faculty offers courses in vet science. Lab facilities are available 24 hours a day.
    _____

96.4 ‣ Another way of making informal words is by using short forms ending in -y or -ie. Can you work out the meanings of the following underlined words?

  1. Let's have brekkie before we leave tomorrow.
  2. It's a nice day. Let's have a barbie and eat in the garden. _____
  3. D'you want a biccy with your coffee? _____
  4. Jenny turned up at the party with her new hubby. _____
  5. Oh, let me see your holiday piccies! ... Is that you in the big straw hat? _____
  6. They serve really nice veggie food. _____

96.5 ‣

Over to you

Which English words do you know that are very informal or are slang? Where did you read or hear them? If possible, compare with a friend or classmate.
Answer Key
A ‣ Monosyllabic informal words

Informal versions of words are often short and monosyllabic (consist of one syllable).

The cops have arrived. [police]

The house has two loos. [toilets]

It cost me ten quid. [pounds]

I'll help you peel the spuds. [potatoes]

My bike's been stolen. [bicycle]

I always go by tube. [word used for the London Underground]

His dad spent ten years in the nick. [prison]

I'll get a cab from the station. [taxi]

B ‣ Clippings

Shortening a word tends to make it less formal, though these forms are acceptable in a wide range of contexts.

I'll meet you in the lab(oratory).

She works for a tech(nology) company. 

What's on telly tonight? [television]

Have you seen that mag(azine)?

We should put an ad(vertisement) / an advert(isement) in the (news)paper.

Can I use your mobile (phone)? I need to (tele)phone my brother.

There's milk in the fridge. [refrigerator]

Her sister's a vet(erinary surgeon).

Would you like to be a celeb(rity)? [famous person]

C ‣ Slang

Slang is extremely informal language. Slang helps to make speech vivid, colourful and interesting but it can easily be used inappropriately. Slang is mainly used in speech but it is also often found in the popular press and in literature. Slang changes very quickly, so some words go out of fashion, but you may meet them in novels and films. Some slang expressions may cause offence to some people. Here are some examples you may hear or read.

Expressions for money: dosh readies moolah

Expressions for food and drinks: nosh grub sarnie [sandwich] cuppa [cup of tea]

People obsessed with computers or other equipment: nerd geek anorak

Jobs: quack (doctor) shrink [psychiatrist] the old bill [the police] squaddie [soldier of a low rank]

Language help

If you are interested in slang, you can find more examples in films or in the tabloid press but it is probably safest to keep it in your passive rather than your active vocabulary.

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