Place an Order

  • 1 TRY OUT LANGUAGE

  • 2 LEARN GRAMMAR

  • 3 APPLY ON YOUR OWN

Use Appropriate Language

Our body language and the language, tone, and volume of our voices all change depending on the social situation. For example, formal language is appropriate to use in presentations, interviews, and other formal or academic settings. Informal, or relaxed, language is appropriate to use when talking with friends and family.

With a partner, role-play how you would order from a waiter at a fancy restaurant. Then role-play how you would order from a neighbor who works at a casual restaurant. Use verb tenses correctly. Trade roles.

Language TypeFormalInformal
Body Languagemake eye contact, stand or sit up straightrelaxed
Toneseriousrelaxed
Volumeloud, clearvaries with the situation (can range from a whisper to a shout)
ExampleI would like to order the steak, please.How’s it going? I’ll have a slice of pepperoni, please.

Have other students listen to your role-play and note what they think is appropriate in each situation, such as the words you use or the tone of your voice.

How to use Appropriate Language

  • 1. Use words that match the audience and the occasion.

  • 2. Use appropriate tone, volume, and body language.

Formal: I’d like to order a salad, please.

Informal: Hey, Miguel, can I get a slice of cheese pizza?

Use Verbs in the Past Perfect Tense

If you are speaking about actions that have already happened, you may want to show that one past action happened before another. You can use the past perfect tense for the action that happened first.

EXAMPLESAfter I had ordered a slice of pizza, I bought a can of soda pop.
After I had talked to Miguel, I ate my pizza.