Formal English — ready-made English lesson, C2

Lesson goal: Formal register and the subjunctive: turning everyday requests into polished formal English.

Add the lesson to get your own copies of the word set and exercises; the lesson opens in the builder, where you can adjust the steps and teach it.

Lesson plan

1
Warm-up
Questions to get the student talking and lead into the topic.
- When do you need formal English at work or in study?
- What sounds too formal or too casual to you in emails?
2
New words
Meet the words and practise them in games.
FlashcardsMatch the pairs
commence · endeavour · ascertain · prior to · in accordance with · henceforth · pertaining to · notify · expedite · reside · terminate · subsequent · inquire · utilise · forthwith
All words in the set
3
Exercises
The lesson's words in context. Only you see the answers.
1. Multiple choice
  Choose the formal subjunctive: It is essential that every applicant ___ a valid passport.
  havehas hadhadhaving
2. Multiple choice
  ___ it not for your help, I would never have finished on time.
  WereWasHadIf
3. Multiple choice
  ___ you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
  ShouldWouldWereHad
4. Multiple choice
  The committee recommended that the proposal ___ rejected.
  bebeenbeingto be
5. Fill the gap
  ___ I known about the problem earlier, I would have acted immediately.
  Answer: Had
6. Fill the gap
  The doctor insisted that he ___ smoking at once.
  Answer: stop / should stop
7. Fill the gap
  ___ he to resign, the whole team would follow him.
  Answer: Were
8. Fill the gap
  ___ that as it may, we still have to meet the deadline.
  Answer: Be
9. Fill the gap
  I'd rather you ___ tell anyone about this yet.
  Answer: didn't / did not
10. True / false
  In formal English, 'If I were you' is preferred to 'If I was you'.
  Answer: True
11. True / false
  This sentence is correct: 'Had I not to miss the train, I would have arrived on time.'
  Answer: False
12. Discussion question
  Imagine you are writing a formal letter of complaint to a hotel. Write three sentences using structures such as 'I insist that...', 'Should you...' and 'Were it not for...'.
  Sample answer: I insist that the full cost of my stay be refunded. Were it not for the kindness of one receptionist, my visit would have been a complete disaster. Should you wish to discuss this further, please call me.
4
Speaking
The student answers using the new words.
- Writing: a formal email
- Rewrite a casual message ('Hi, can you send me the report asap?') in formal style.
- Then write a short formal complaint using two subjunctive structures.
5
Review
A quiz on the lesson's words. With a student, it's homework on their link.
Quiz

Lesson plan

Warm-up

Questions to get the student talking and lead into the topic.

When do you need formal English at work or in study?
What sounds too formal or too casual to you in emails?

New words

Meet the words and practise them in games.

FlashcardsMatch the pairs

commence · endeavour · ascertain · prior to · in accordance with · henceforth · pertaining to · notify · expedite · reside · terminate · subsequent · inquire · utilise · forthwith

All words in the set

Exercises

The lesson's words in context. Only you see the answers.

Multiple choice
Choose the formal subjunctive: It is essential that every applicant ___ a valid passport.
havehas hadhadhaving
Multiple choice
___ it not for your help, I would never have finished on time.
WereWasHadIf
Multiple choice
___ you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
ShouldWouldWereHad
Multiple choice
The committee recommended that the proposal ___ rejected.
bebeenbeingto be
Fill the gap
___ I known about the problem earlier, I would have acted immediately.
Answer: Had
Fill the gap
The doctor insisted that he ___ smoking at once.
Answer: stop / should stop
Fill the gap
___ he to resign, the whole team would follow him.
Answer: Were
Fill the gap
___ that as it may, we still have to meet the deadline.
Answer: Be
Fill the gap
I'd rather you ___ tell anyone about this yet.
Answer: didn't / did not
True / false
In formal English, 'If I were you' is preferred to 'If I was you'.
Answer: True
True / false
This sentence is correct: 'Had I not to miss the train, I would have arrived on time.'
Answer: False
Discussion question
Imagine you are writing a formal letter of complaint to a hotel. Write three sentences using structures such as 'I insist that...', 'Should you...' and 'Were it not for...'.
Sample answer: I insist that the full cost of my stay be refunded. Were it not for the kindness of one receptionist, my visit would have been a complete disaster. Should you wish to discuss this further, please call me.

Speaking

The student answers using the new words.

Writing: a formal email
Rewrite a casual message ('Hi, can you send me the report asap?') in formal style.
Then write a short formal complaint using two subjunctive structures.

Review

A quiz on the lesson's words. With a student, it's homework on their link.

Quiz