English Spoken and Grammar Tutorial — Lesson 27 of 27
Formal English is generally used in professional, academic, official, or respectful situations.
Informal English is generally used with friends, family, and people you know well in relaxed conversations.
| Situation | Formal English | Informal English |
|---|---|---|
| Speaking to a teacher | Could you please explain this again? | Can you explain this again? |
| Writing to a manager | I would like to discuss this matter. | I want to talk about this. |
| Asking a friend | Would you like to join me? | Wanna come with me? |
| Requesting assistance | Could you assist me, please? | Can you give me a hand? |
Note: Informal language is not necessarily incorrect. The important thing is to choose the right style for the situation.
| Meaning / Situation | Formal English | Informal English | Hindi Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Requesting help | Could you assist me? | Can you give me a hand? | क्या आप मेरी मदद कर सकते हैं? |
| Starting a conversation | How are you doing today? | How's it going? | आज आप कैसे हैं? |
| Thanking someone | I sincerely appreciate your help. | Thanks a lot! | आपकी मदद के लिए बहुत धन्यवाद। |
| Apologising | I apologise for the inconvenience. | Sorry about that. | उस परेशानी के लिए माफ़ कीजिए। |
| Asking for information | Could you provide further details? | Can you tell me more? | क्या आप और जानकारी दे सकते हैं? |
| Disagreeing | I see your point, but I have a different view. | I get what you mean, but I disagree. | मैं आपकी बात समझता हूँ, लेकिन मेरी राय अलग है। |
| Leaving | It was a pleasure speaking with you. | It was great talking to you. | आपसे बात करके अच्छा लगा। |
| Asking someone to wait | Would you mind waiting for a moment? | Hang on a second. | कृपया एक क्षण इंतज़ार करें। |
| Not understanding | I'm afraid I don't fully understand. | I don't get it. | मुझे पूरी तरह समझ नहीं आया। |
| Giving an opinion | In my opinion, this is a suitable option. | I think this one is good. | मेरे विचार में यह सही विकल्प है। |
| Confirming | I would like to confirm the appointment. | Just checking we're still meeting. | मैं अपॉइंटमेंट की पुष्टि करना चाहता हूँ। |
| Declining | Unfortunately, I will be unable to attend. | Sorry, I can't make it. | दुर्भाग्यवश, मैं शामिल नहीं हो पाऊँगा। |
Use clear and respectful language in emails, interviews, presentations, meetings, and conversations with teachers or customers.
Informal conversation often uses contractions and casual expressions. In formal writing, prefer full forms unless the context allows a conversational tone.
| Informal form | More formal form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I'm | I am | Informal: I'm ready. / Formal: I am ready. |
| can't | cannot / am unable to | I'm unable to attend the meeting. |
| wanna | want to | Informal: I wanna learn. / Formal: I want to learn. |
| gonna | going to | Informal: I'm gonna call. / Formal: I am going to call. |
| kids | children | Formal: The children are waiting. |
| stuff | items / materials / things | Formal: Please bring the required materials. |
| ASAP | as soon as possible | In formal writing, spell out abbreviations when appropriate. |
A: Hey! How's it going?
B: Pretty good. What about you?
A: Great! Wanna grab some tea?
B: Sure, let's go!
A: Good morning. How are you today?
B: I'm doing well, thank you. How can I help you?
A: Could we discuss the project schedule, please?
B: Certainly. Please have a seat.
| Less suitable / Incorrect | Better choice | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| Hey, send the report now! (to a manager) | Could you please send me the report? | A polite request suits a professional context. |
| I wanna apply for this job. (formal application) | I would like to apply for this position. | Use standard wording in formal documents. |
| Give me information. | Could you please provide more information? | The second version sounds more respectful. |
| Using slang in every situation | Choose expressions for your audience. | Language style depends on context. |