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The subjunctive, and the single word that replaces an informal phrase.
Question 1 of 12
Which word completes this sentence in formal English? If I ___ you, I would apologise now.
"were" is the formal form, because this is an imagined situation rather than a real one, and the subjunctive uses "were" for every subject. The subjunctive turns up in a small number of places — after "if" when the situation is imaginary, and after verbs like insist, demand, suggest and require — and it looks odd precisely because it is rare in speech. In everyday conversation the other options would pass unnoticed; a paper is asking for the formal written form. "Would of" is never correct. It is "would have", misheard.
The answer is B. "were" is the formal form, because this is an imagined situation rather than a real one, and the subjunctive uses "were" for every subject. The subjunctive turns up in a small number of places — after "if" when the situation is imaginary, and after verbs like insist, demand, suggest and require — and it looks odd precisely because it is rare in speech. In everyday conversation the other options would pass unnoticed; a paper is asking for the formal written form. "Would of" is never correct. It is "would have", misheard.
Which word or phrase is the most formal way of saying "buy"?
"purchase" is the formal choice. The other three are all perfectly good English and all of them belong in conversation rather than in a letter, a report or an exam answer. A useful signal: informal English leans on phrasal verbs — a verb plus a little word like up, out or off — while formal English usually has a single word that does the same job. "buy" is a phrasal verb; "purchase" is its single-word equivalent. Slang dates quickly and marks writing as casual instantly. Leave it out of a formal piece.
The answer is C. "purchase" is the formal choice. The other three are all perfectly good English and all of them belong in conversation rather than in a letter, a report or an exam answer. A useful signal: informal English leans on phrasal verbs — a verb plus a little word like up, out or off — while formal English usually has a single word that does the same job. "buy" is a phrasal verb; "purchase" is its single-word equivalent. Slang dates quickly and marks writing as casual instantly. Leave it out of a formal piece.
Which word completes this sentence in formal English? If the tide ___ lower, we could walk across.
"were" is the formal form, because the situation is imagined rather than real, so the subjunctive "were" is used. The subjunctive turns up in a small number of places — after "if" when the situation is imaginary, and after verbs like insist, demand, suggest and require — and it looks odd precisely because it is rare in speech. In everyday conversation the other options would pass unnoticed; a paper is asking for the formal written form. The subjunctive is about things wished for, demanded or imagined — not things that happened.
The answer is C. "were" is the formal form, because the situation is imagined rather than real, so the subjunctive "were" is used. The subjunctive turns up in a small number of places — after "if" when the situation is imaginary, and after verbs like insist, demand, suggest and require — and it looks odd precisely because it is rare in speech. In everyday conversation the other options would pass unnoticed; a paper is asking for the formal written form. The subjunctive is about things wished for, demanded or imagined — not things that happened.
Which word completes this sentence in formal English? I suggest that she ___ the letter herself.
"write" is the formal form, because "suggest that" introduces the subjunctive, so the verb takes no s. The subjunctive turns up in a small number of places — after "if" when the situation is imaginary, and after verbs like insist, demand, suggest and require — and it looks odd precisely because it is rare in speech. In everyday conversation the other options would pass unnoticed; a paper is asking for the formal written form. "If I were" for anything imaginary. "If I was" is fine in speech and wrong in a formal paper.
The answer is C. "write" is the formal form, because "suggest that" introduces the subjunctive, so the verb takes no s. The subjunctive turns up in a small number of places — after "if" when the situation is imaginary, and after verbs like insist, demand, suggest and require — and it looks odd precisely because it is rare in speech. In everyday conversation the other options would pass unnoticed; a paper is asking for the formal written form. "If I were" for anything imaginary. "If I was" is fine in speech and wrong in a formal paper.
Which word completes this sentence in formal English? The head teacher insisted that every pupil ___ present.
"be" is the formal form, because a demand or insistence takes the subjunctive, which uses the plain form of the verb. The subjunctive turns up in a small number of places — after "if" when the situation is imaginary, and after verbs like insist, demand, suggest and require — and it looks odd precisely because it is rare in speech. In everyday conversation the other options would pass unnoticed; a paper is asking for the formal written form. After insist, demand, suggest, require and "it is essential that", the verb loses its s: that he arrive, not arrives.
The answer is B. "be" is the formal form, because a demand or insistence takes the subjunctive, which uses the plain form of the verb. The subjunctive turns up in a small number of places — after "if" when the situation is imaginary, and after verbs like insist, demand, suggest and require — and it looks odd precisely because it is rare in speech. In everyday conversation the other options would pass unnoticed; a paper is asking for the formal written form. After insist, demand, suggest, require and "it is essential that", the verb loses its s: that he arrive, not arrives.
Which word or phrase is the most formal way of saying "sort out"?
"resolve" is the formal choice. The other three are all perfectly good English and all of them belong in conversation rather than in a letter, a report or an exam answer. A useful signal: informal English leans on phrasal verbs — a verb plus a little word like up, out or off — while formal English usually has a single word that does the same job. "sort out" is a phrasal verb; "resolve" is its single-word equivalent. Formal English prefers one word to two: postpone rather than put off, discover rather than find out.
The answer is A. "resolve" is the formal choice. The other three are all perfectly good English and all of them belong in conversation rather than in a letter, a report or an exam answer. A useful signal: informal English leans on phrasal verbs — a verb plus a little word like up, out or off — while formal English usually has a single word that does the same job. "sort out" is a phrasal verb; "resolve" is its single-word equivalent. Formal English prefers one word to two: postpone rather than put off, discover rather than find out.
Which word or phrase is the most formal way of saying "tell"?
"inform" is the formal choice. The other three are all perfectly good English and all of them belong in conversation rather than in a letter, a report or an exam answer. A useful signal: informal English leans on phrasal verbs — a verb plus a little word like up, out or off — while formal English usually has a single word that does the same job. "tell" is a phrasal verb; "inform" is its single-word equivalent. Ask who you are writing to. A letter to a head teacher and a message to a friend are different languages.
The answer is A. "inform" is the formal choice. The other three are all perfectly good English and all of them belong in conversation rather than in a letter, a report or an exam answer. A useful signal: informal English leans on phrasal verbs — a verb plus a little word like up, out or off — while formal English usually has a single word that does the same job. "tell" is a phrasal verb; "inform" is its single-word equivalent. Ask who you are writing to. A letter to a head teacher and a message to a friend are different languages.
Which word or phrase is the most formal way of saying "find out"?
"discover" is the formal choice. The other three are all perfectly good English and all of them belong in conversation rather than in a letter, a report or an exam answer. A useful signal: informal English leans on phrasal verbs — a verb plus a little word like up, out or off — while formal English usually has a single word that does the same job. "find out" is a phrasal verb; "discover" is its single-word equivalent. Ask who you are writing to. A letter to a head teacher and a message to a friend are different languages.
The answer is B. "discover" is the formal choice. The other three are all perfectly good English and all of them belong in conversation rather than in a letter, a report or an exam answer. A useful signal: informal English leans on phrasal verbs — a verb plus a little word like up, out or off — while formal English usually has a single word that does the same job. "find out" is a phrasal verb; "discover" is its single-word equivalent. Ask who you are writing to. A letter to a head teacher and a message to a friend are different languages.
Which word or phrase is the most formal way of saying "put up with"?
"tolerate" is the formal choice. The other three are all perfectly good English and all of them belong in conversation rather than in a letter, a report or an exam answer. A useful signal: informal English leans on phrasal verbs — a verb plus a little word like up, out or off — while formal English usually has a single word that does the same job. "put up with" is a phrasal verb; "tolerate" is its single-word equivalent. Formal does not mean complicated. It means precise, and usually shorter.
The answer is A. "tolerate" is the formal choice. The other three are all perfectly good English and all of them belong in conversation rather than in a letter, a report or an exam answer. A useful signal: informal English leans on phrasal verbs — a verb plus a little word like up, out or off — while formal English usually has a single word that does the same job. "put up with" is a phrasal verb; "tolerate" is its single-word equivalent. Formal does not mean complicated. It means precise, and usually shorter.
Which word or phrase is the most formal way of saying "think about"?
"consider" is the formal choice. The other three are all perfectly good English and all of them belong in conversation rather than in a letter, a report or an exam answer. A useful signal: informal English leans on phrasal verbs — a verb plus a little word like up, out or off — while formal English usually has a single word that does the same job. "think about" is a phrasal verb; "consider" is its single-word equivalent. Ask who you are writing to. A letter to a head teacher and a message to a friend are different languages.
The answer is B. "consider" is the formal choice. The other three are all perfectly good English and all of them belong in conversation rather than in a letter, a report or an exam answer. A useful signal: informal English leans on phrasal verbs — a verb plus a little word like up, out or off — while formal English usually has a single word that does the same job. "think about" is a phrasal verb; "consider" is its single-word equivalent. Ask who you are writing to. A letter to a head teacher and a message to a friend are different languages.
Which word or phrase is the most formal way of saying "let"?
"permit" is the formal choice. The other three are all perfectly good English and all of them belong in conversation rather than in a letter, a report or an exam answer. A useful signal: informal English leans on phrasal verbs — a verb plus a little word like up, out or off — while formal English usually has a single word that does the same job. "let" is a phrasal verb; "permit" is its single-word equivalent. Ask who you are writing to. A letter to a head teacher and a message to a friend are different languages.
The answer is C. "permit" is the formal choice. The other three are all perfectly good English and all of them belong in conversation rather than in a letter, a report or an exam answer. A useful signal: informal English leans on phrasal verbs — a verb plus a little word like up, out or off — while formal English usually has a single word that does the same job. "let" is a phrasal verb; "permit" is its single-word equivalent. Ask who you are writing to. A letter to a head teacher and a message to a friend are different languages.
Which word completes this sentence in formal English? If I ___ to win, I would give the money away.
"were" is the formal form, because it describes something imagined, which is where the subjunctive belongs. The subjunctive turns up in a small number of places — after "if" when the situation is imaginary, and after verbs like insist, demand, suggest and require — and it looks odd precisely because it is rare in speech. In everyday conversation the other options would pass unnoticed; a paper is asking for the formal written form. "Would of" is never correct. It is "would have", misheard.
The answer is B. "were" is the formal form, because it describes something imagined, which is where the subjunctive belongs. The subjunctive turns up in a small number of places — after "if" when the situation is imaginary, and after verbs like insist, demand, suggest and require — and it looks odd precisely because it is rare in speech. In everyday conversation the other options would pass unnoticed; a paper is asking for the formal written form. "Would of" is never correct. It is "would have", misheard.
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