Loading lesson...
Grammar
Objective: Adapt arguments across distinct stylistic registers to match target social or professional settings.
| Register | Message | Key markers |
|---|---|---|
| colloquial | J'ai pas compris, tu peux répéter ? | omitted ne, tu, no inversion |
| neutral | Je n'ai pas compris, tu peux répéter ? | ne...pas, tu, no inversion |
| formal | Je n'ai pas compris, pourriez-vous répéter ? | ne...pas, vous, conditional and inversion |
| colloquial | On a décidé de reporter la réunion. | on, passé composé |
| neutral | Nous avons décidé de reporter la réunion. | nous, passé composé |
| formal | Il a été décidé de reporter la réunion. | passive, agent omitted |
The verb form must match the address pronoun: use peux with tu or pouvez with vous. Here, tu pouvez mismatches the pronoun and verb form.
In a formal report, the indefinite on becomes nous, and the colloquial demonstrative ça becomes the full form cela.
A short colloquial reply in which ouais replaces oui and ça replaces cela.
The same reply at the formal level, with the full demonstrative pronoun and a neutral verb.
A colloquial invitation: the verb bouffer belongs to the familiar layer, and the question keeps the plain word order.
The formal version uses the conditional, inversion, and a neutral verb that belongs to the elevated register.
The indefinite pronoun on belongs to the spoken register and gives the decision an informal tone.
7 exercises · about 11 minutes
A single sentence must keep one address pronoun, so the shift from vous to tu breaks the register and reads as a mistake.
In a professional email, the familiar verb bouffer becomes a neutral verb, and the conditional softens the obligation.
In a formal letter, the first clause belongs to the elevated register, so the demonstrative pronoun must match and become cela.
The administrative passive removes the agent and moves the sentence to the formal end of the continuum.
A short colloquial evaluation that would be replaced by a fuller clause in formal writing.
The formal counterpart combines cela, a full verb phrase, and the intensifier tout à fait.