Quick answer: French has three main registers: soutenu (formal, for letters and ceremonies), courant (standard, for school, shops and daily life) and familier (casual, for friends and family). For French 4 students practising French registers, this worksheet gives 20 problems from easy to hard: name the register, which word is casual? and slang to standard. The answer key is on a separate page, and the worksheet is a free printable PDF.
Level: French 4 (high school, ACTFL Intermediate Mid) · Standards: ACTFL Intermediate Mid, WL 1.2 Interpretive, WL 1.3 Presentational, WL 4.1 Language Comparisons, WL 2.1 Cultural Practices
Problem 1 Name the register ★★★
Write the register (soutenu, courant or familier) of each sentence.
- Salut, ça va ?
- Bonjour, madame. Comment allez-vous ?
- Je vous prie de bien vouloir m’excuser.
Problem 2 Which word is casual? ★★★
Choose the casual word: ouvrage / livre / bouquin.
Problem 3 Slang to standard ★★★
Match each casual word to its standard equivalent.
Problem 4 Decode the verlan ★★★
Write the standard word for each verlan word.
- meuf
- ouf
- relou
- chelou
Hint: femme, fou, lourd, louche.
Problem 5 Decode the texts ★★★
Write the full French word for each abbreviation.
- slt
- bcp
- pk
- dsl
Problem 6 Email to the principal ★★★
Choose the appropriate opening for an email to a school principal.
- Salut, t’as vu mon dossier ?
- Bonjour Madame la Proviseure, avez-vous reçu mon dossier ?
Problem 7 Tu or vous ★★★
Complete with tu or vous.
- Madame, ____ pouvez m’aider, s’il vous plaît ?
- Salut Yanis, ____ viens au foot ?
Problem 8 Put back the ne ★★★
Rewrite in standard French by adding ne: Je sais pas. Il vient jamais. On a rien vu.
Problem 9 Casual to standard ★★★
Rewrite in standard French: T’as bouffé quoi ce midi ?
Problem 10 Expand the text ★★★
Rewrite in full French: Slt, tkt, a+ ! (tkt = t’inquiète pas)
Problem 11 Polite request ★★★
Translate into formal French: Could you tell me the time, please?
Problem 12 Casual sentence ★★★
Translate into casual French using one casual word from this chapter: My buddy’s car is huge.
Problem 13 Annoying thing ★★★
Translate into English: C’est trop relou, ce truc !
Problem 14 Fix the cover letter ★★★
The sentence is too casual for a job application. Rewrite it in formal French: Salut, j’ai kiffé ton annonce, je veux bien bosser chez toi.
Problem 15 Best register ★★★
Write the best register for each situation: (a) ordering bread in a bakery, (b) texting a teammate, (c) writing to a host-school coordinator.
Problem 16 Reading: waiting at the movies ★★★
Read the messages, then answer in English.
- Why is Mathis annoyed?
- Why is Fatou late?
- Name two texting abbreviations and one casual spelling feature in the messages.
Problem 17 Three audiences ★★★
Ask to borrow a book in three registers: (a) to a close friend, (b) to a teacher, (c) in a formal letter to a librarian. Write one sentence for each.
Problem 18 Hotel message ★★★
Correct three register mistakes in this note to a hotel: Salut ! J’ai réservé une chambre mais j’ai pas le temps de venir ce soir. Tu peux garder ma bagnole ? Rewrite the note in formal French.
Problem 19 Soutenu to familier ★★★
Rewrite in casual French: Je vous prie de m’excuser : je n’ai pas pu terminer mon travail.
Problem 20 Two messages ★★★
You are on an exchange trip to Lyon. Write (a) a 2-sentence text to a friend and (b) a 3-sentence formal email to the program coordinator, both about a missed bus. Check the register of each.
