What is it for?
Learn to read common form fields and write the right information in each field.
What to include
- Write your first name or given name in the first name field.
- Write your surname or family name in the surname field.
- Write your date of birth with the month in words, such as 21 April 1990.
- Write your age, nationality, country, city and address in the correct fields.
- Add your phone number, email address and signature when the form asks for them.
- Use BLOCK CAPITALS when a form says Please print, and tick one box for each question.
How to organise it
- Read the form title and instructions.
- Read each field name carefully.
- Write the correct information in each field.
- Use BLOCK CAPITALS if the form says Please print.
- Check your answers before you finish.
Model text
Library Card Form
First name / Given name
MAYA
Surname / Family name
TAN
Date of birth
21 April 1990
Age
36
Nationality
Malaysian
Country
Malaysia
City
Greenfield
Address
8 Maple Street
Email address
maya.tan@example.com
Key language
| Rule or pattern | Example | Another example |
|---|---|---|
| First name = your personal name. | First name: MAYA | First name: LEO |
| Surname = your family name. | Surname: TAN | Surname: SILVA |
| Nationality = the word for your national identity. | Nationality: Malaysian | Nationality: Peruvian |
| Country = the name of a country. | Country: Malaysia | Country: Peru |
| Write the month in words for a clear date of birth. | Date of birth: 21 April 1990 | Date of birth: 5 June 2001 |
| Please print = write in BLOCK CAPITALS. | First name: MAYA | City: LIMA |
| Tick one box for your answer. | Title: [ ] Mr [x] Ms [ ] Prefer not to say | Member: [x] Yes [ ] No |
| Write your contact details in their fields. | Phone number: 555 0100 | Email address: leo@example.com |
UK / US: Dates can look different in the UK and the US: 21/04/1990 is UK format, but 04/21/1990 is US format. Writing 21 April 1990 is clearer. First name and given name mean the same thing. Surname and family name mean the same thing.
Practice
Match the fields and answers
Match each field name with the correct example answer.
1.First name
2.Surname
3.Nationality
4.Country
5.Date of birth
6.Email address
Choose the correct answer
Choose the answer that belongs in each field.
1.First name: What is the correct answer?
MAYA is a personal name, not a country or nationality.
2.Surname: What is the correct answer?
TAN is the family name.
3.Nationality: What is the correct answer?
Peruvian is a nationality, while Peru is a country.
4.Country: What is the correct answer?
Malaysia is a country.
5.Date of birth: Which answer is clearest?
The day, month in words and year make the date clear.
6.Phone number: What is the correct answer?
A phone number belongs in the phone number field.
Correct the form
Write each form line correctly. Follow the field name and instructions.
1.First name: TAN
MAYA is the first name, and TAN is the surname.
2.Surname: MAYA
TAN is the family name.
3.Nationality: Peru
Peruvian is the nationality, and Peru is the country.
4.Date of birth: 21/04/1990
Writing the month in words makes the date clearer.
5.Please print. First name: maya
Please print means write in BLOCK CAPITALS.
Check your knowledge
Read each statement and choose True or False.
1.Nationality is the same as country.
Peruvian is a nationality, but Peru is a country.
2.First name and given name mean the same thing.
Both field names ask for your personal name.
3.Surname and family name mean the same thing.
Both field names ask for your family name.
4.21 April 1990 has the month in words.
April is written as a word, not a number.
5.Please print means write in lowercase letters.
Please print asks for clear printed letters, often BLOCK CAPITALS.
6.A tick box can have a No answer.
Some forms have Yes and No boxes.
Now write
Your task
Complete this Library Card Form with fictional details. Use BLOCK CAPITALS for names if the form says Please print.
Word bank
PeruPeruvianMalaysiaMalaysianKenyaKenyanJapanJapaneseAprilJuneAugustOctober
Sentence starters
- First name:
- Surname:
- Date of birth:
- Nationality:
- Country:
- City:
- Email address: