Perbedaan Bahasa Inggris Formal dan Informal
Pelajari cara memilih kata dan frasa yang tepat sesuai suasana — formal di sekolah/kantor, santai bersama teman.
Sepanjang tiga pelajaran sebelumnya, kamu sudah belajar kosakata untuk sekolah, rumah, dan teman. Sekarang saatnya melihat semuanya dari satu sudut pandang: register, alias tingkat keformalan bahasa. Kata dan frasa yang cocok di satu situasi bisa terdengar aneh di situasi lain.
Meminta bantuan dan menyapa
| Formal | Informal | Konteks |
|---|---|---|
| Could you assist me? | Can you give me a hand? | meminta bantuan — formal ke guru/atasan, informal ke teman |
| Excuse me. | Hey. | menyapa seseorang |
| I would like to... | I wanna... | menyatakan keinginan |
| I'm afraid I can't. | Sorry, I can't. | menolak dengan sopan |
| Good morning. | Morning! | menyapa di pagi hari |
| Thank you very much. | Thanks a lot. | berterima kasih |
| May I ask a question? | Can I ask something? | meminta izin bertanya |
- Formal: "Excuse me, could you assist me with this form?" — Informal: "Hey, can you give me a hand for a sec?"
Pilihan kata: orang, tindakan, perasaan
| Formal | Informal | Konteks |
|---|---|---|
| children | kids | menyebut anak-anak |
| residence | place | tempat tinggal |
| purchase | buy | membeli sesuatu |
| require | need | membutuhkan sesuatu |
| angry | mad | marah |
| extremely | super | sangat |
| commence | start | memulai sesuatu |
- Formal: "The ceremony will commence at 9 a.m." — Informal: "It'll start at 9."
Kesalahan umum
- ❌ "Hey, can you help me out? (kepada kepala sekolah)" → ✅ "Excuse me, could you help me with something?" (sesuaikan pilihan kata dengan lawan bicara — bahasa gaul terdengar tidak sopan di situasi formal)
- ❌ "I would like to purchase this, dude." → ✅ "I would like to purchase this. / I wanna buy this, dude." (jangan mencampur kosakata formal dengan sapaan informal dalam satu kalimat — pilih satu gaya bahasa)
- ❌ "I am afraid I am unable to attend. (dikirim ke teman dekat lewat chat)" → ✅ "Sorry, can't make it!" (bahasa yang terlalu formal terdengar dingin dan berjarak kalau dipakai ke teman dekat)
Latihan cepat
0/4 terjawab1. You're asking your school principal for help. Which is most appropriate?
2. Which sentence mixes formal and informal words in a way that sounds odd?
3. Texting a close friend, which sounds most natural?
4. This form ______ your signature. (formal tone)
Jawab semua 4 soal untuk melihat skormu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is "Hey, can you help me out?" incorrect?
The correct form is "Excuse me, could you help me with something?" Match your words to who you're speaking to — slang sounds disrespectful in formal settings.
What's the correct way to say "I would like to purchase this, dude."?
The correct form is "I would like to purchase this. / I wanna buy this, dude." Don't mix formal vocabulary with informal address in the same sentence — pick one register.
Is it correct to say "I am afraid I am unable to attend."?
The correct form is "Sorry, can't make it!" Overly formal language sounds cold and distant with close friends.
