How is language used differently in different situations?
Standard and nonstandard English
Words confused or misused
Words with similar sounds
Words with related meanings
Formal and informal English
Review A
Review B
Understanding Usage
How is language used differently in different situations?
People don’t speak and write the exact same way all the time.
You probably speak to your friends in a different way than you speak to your teachers.
Your e-mails probably don’t look anything like your school essays.
How is language used differently in different situations?
The way you use English will usually depend upon your audience and your purpose.
Audience
To whom are you speaking or writing?
Purpose
Why are you speaking or writing?
The kind of English you are expected to use in school is called standard English.
Standard and nonstandard English
Standard English is
• grammatically correct
• used in both formal and casual situations
Nonstandard English is suitable in casual speaking situations.
Standard and nonstandard English
Nonstandard does not mean “wrong.” It means not appropriate in situations where standard English is expected, such as at school.
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Words confused or misusedWords with similar sounds
Learning standard English means learning to use words that are often confused or misused. This can be hard because there are many words that sound alike but mean different things.
It’s Its
Their There They’re
or
or or
Whose Who’s
or
??
?
Words confused or misusedWords with similar sounds
Its/it’s
Its is the possessive form of the pronoun it.
It’s is the contraction of it is or it has.
The raccoon washed its face.
It’s been a good trip.
It’s a cloudy day.
it’s = it has
it’s = it is
Words confused or misusedWords with similar sounds
It’s/its
My cousin has a pet bird. It’s a parrot, and its name is Bella.
it is
belonging to Bella
Words confused or misusedWords with similar sounds
Their/there/they’re
Their is the possessive form of they.
There is used to mean “at that place” or to begin a sentence.
The children happily flew their kite.
There are five theaters in town.
We are going there soon. “at that place”
begins sentence
Words confused or misusedWords with similar sounds
Their/there/they’re
They’re is a contraction of they are.
They’re the two best players on our team.
Words confused or misusedWords with similar sounds
Their/there/they’re
They’re going to start their garden over there.
They are
at that place
belonging to them
Words confused or misusedWords with similar sounds
Your/you’re
Your is the possessive form of you.
You’re is a contraction of you are.
Your Fourth of July picnic was great!
You’re a good friend.
Words confused or misusedWords with similar sounds
You’re/your
If you’re planning to walk home, bring your boots.
you are
belonging to you
Words confused or misusedWords with similar sounds
Whose/who’s
Who’s is a contraction of who is or who has.
Whose is the possessive form of who.
Who’s the new student?
Whose backpack is that?
Who’s been using the phone?
who’s = who is
who’s = who has
Words confused or misusedWords with similar sounds
Whose/who’s
Who’s the woman whose home flooded?
who isbelonging to whom
Judy could of helped us rake.Judy could have helped us rake.
Do not write of after could, should, would, might, or must.
Words confused or misusedWords with similar sounds
Could of/should of
Write could have, not could of.
Write should have, not should of.
We should of started earlier.We should have started earlier.
On Your Own
Some of the following sentences contain errors in the use of standard English. Find and correct each error. If a sentence is already correct, label it C.
1. Do you think its a good day for your hike?
2. Let me know when your ready to go.
3. Jamal should of shown up on time.
4. They’re leaving for their vacation tomorrow.
5. Who’s raincoat is lying there on the floor?
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Words confused or misusedWords with similar sounds
Words confused or misusedWords with related meanings
Some pairs of words are confusing because their meanings are so close to each other.
Bring/take
Bring means “to come carrying something.”
Take means “to go carrying something.”
Please bring the lemonade to me.
Take those boxes when you go.
Words confused or misusedWords with related meanings
Fewer/less
Fewer is used with plural nouns.
Less is used with singular nouns.
Did you say that fewer plants grow here than there?
Desert plants require less water than most other plants.
plural noun
singular noun
Fewer tells “how many.” Less tells “how much.”
Good is an adjective and modifies a noun. Do not use good to modify a verb. Use the adverb well.
verb
noun
Words confused or misusedWords with related meanings
Good/well
Mimi is a good athlete.
She plays soccer well.
adj.
adverb
Verb Noun
Well is usually an adverb that means “ably,” but it is also used as an adjective to mean “healthy.”
Words confused or misusedWords with related meanings
Good/well
Kim feels well now.Kim danced well today.
adjective meaning “healthy”
adverb meaning “ably”
adj.adverb
On Your Own
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Words confused or misusedWords with related meanings
Some of the following sentences contain errors in the use of standard English. Find and correct each error. If a sentence is already correct, label it C.
1. Please eat less cookies and more vegetables.
2. The goalie played good at yesterday’s game.
3. Bring the paper with you when you go to Grandma’s house.
4. Go rest if you don’t feel well.
Informal English is correct language that is common in everyday communication, such as speaking or writing to a friend.
Formal and informal English
Formal English is language that is appropriate in serious speaking and writing situations.
Hello. How are you today?
Hey. How’s
it goin’?
Formal and informal English
Speeches at ceremonies
Serious papers, reports
Tests and exams
Everyday conversations
Personal letters, e-mails
Journal entries
Some newspaper or magazine writing
When is formal English
expected?
When is informal
English okay?
Sentences:
• Shorter and simpler
Word choice:
• Includes slang and contractions
Tone:
• Conversational, casual
Formal and informal English
Formal English Informal English
Sentences:
• Longer and more complex
Word choice:
• Precise, sometimes technical or scientific
Tone:
• More serious, dignified
How are formal and informal English different?
Many words and phrases that are fine in informal situations should be avoided in formal situations.
How come
In formal situations, use why.
How come geese migrate?
Why do geese migrate?
Formal and informal English
Informal
Formal
Kind of/sort of
In formal situations, use rather or somewhat.
The bread is kind of stale.
The bread is rather stale.
Formal and informal English
Informal
Formal
In formal situations, use try to.
Try and
I’ll try and answer all your questions.
I’ll try to answer all your questions.
Formal and informal English
Informal
Formal
On Your Own
Review each sentence. Change informal English to formal English. If the sentence is written with formal English, write F.
1. The story Jen wrote is kind of funny.
2. My dad wants me to try and clean my entire room in one afternoon.
3. This soup is rather spicy.
4. How come you were late for the game?
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Formal and informal English
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Review A
For each sentence, choose the correct word in parentheses, according to formal, standard usage.
1. Cory danced (good/well) in the school musical.
2. I borrowed (fewer/less) books from the library this week than I did last week.
3. At the zoo we watched a snake shed (its/it’s) skin.
4. Jaime (should of/should have) talked to me about the problem.
5. Turn (your/you’re) test in when (your/you’re) finished.
Review B
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For each sentence, circle any incorrect or informal usage. Write C if a sentence is correct according to formal, standard usage.
1. This orange tastes kind of sour to me.
2. Mr. Romero accepted the award and gave a speech.
3. Don’t forget to take your helmet and knee pads with you to the skate park.
4. Please try and get here earlier next time.
5. Do you know how come there always late for school?
The End