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Ticket Night at the Movie Theater

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Ticket Night at the Movie Theater

Compare formal and informal English in a short play.

Read the play

Informal English is the way we talk with friends and family. Formal English is a careful, polite way to talk, such as with customers or adults you do not know well. The numbers show the lines of the play.

Ticket Night

1Setting: The ticket window at the Oak Street Movie Theater. Theo is in high school, and he sells tickets here. His little sister, Ivy, stops by with Dad.

2IVY: Hey, Theo! What's up? Can I get free popcorn?

3THEO: Nope, sorry, kiddo. I gotta work now. Catch ya later!

4(Ivy and Dad step aside. A woman walks up to the window.)

5THEO: Good evening. Welcome to the Oak Street Movie Theater. How may I help you?

6WOMAN: Two tickets for the seven o'clock show, please.

7THEO: Certainly. Here are your tickets. Thank you, and enjoy the movie.

8IVY (whispering): Dad, why is Theo talking like that?

9DAD: He is at work, so he uses formal English with customers. With you, he talks the way family and friends do.

10IVY (stepping up to the window): Good evening, sir. May I please have one ticket for the funny movie?

11THEO (smiling): Certainly, miss. That was very formal. Nice job, Ivy!

Compare the two ways of talking

Use the play to answer each question.

1.
Read line 5. Why does Theo use formal words here?
Question 1 options
2.
These sentences are from the play. Underline the two sentences that are formal.

3.
Read line 9. What does Dad say Theo's way of talking depends on?
Question 3 options
4.
How is the way Ivy talks in line 10 different from the way she talks in line 2?
Question 4 options
5.
Sort the words. Are they formal or informal?

Choose the right words

Think about who is listening. Then choose the words that fit.

6.
Help Theo greet more customers. Write a formal word from the box in each blank. You will not use two of the words.

afternoon. Welcome to the theater.
I see your ticket, please?
you for coming. Enjoy the movie!

7.
Ivy wants popcorn from the snack counter. Which is the most formal way to ask the worker?
Question 7 options
8.
Later, Theo is at home with Ivy. Which sentence would he most likely say to her?
Question 8 options
9.
Write how Theo might say goodbye to a customer. Then write how he might say goodbye to Ivy.