Letter to a friend

Starting the letter

Thanks for your letter. Thank you for your letter.
It was wonderful to hear from you.
I'm sorry I haven't written before, but I've been very busy.

Thank-you letter

I just had to write to thank you for... (the wonderful party on Saturday).
Thanks very much for... (putting me up last week).
It was very kind of you to... (offer me the use of your flat in Paris).

Giving Advice

In your letter you said you weren't sure what to do about...(Jenny).
Well, if I were you, I'd... (talk things over with her face to face).
It will be wiser to...
Let me give you a useful bit of advice.
I consider it prudent for you not to...
I recommend you just relax.

Giving good news

I'm sure you'll be pleased to hear that...(Jane's expecting a baby in June).
By the way, did you know that...
You'll never guess what happened the other day! (Peter asked me to marry him.)

Giving bad news

I'm sorry to tell you that (I've just lost my job).
Bad news, I'm afraid. (I've to go into hospital next week).

Asking for help

I hope it's not too much to ask, but (could I come and see you next week?)
I wonder if I could ask a favour. Could you (lend me $... till I'm paid at the end of the month?)

Asking for an excuse

I'm writing to say sorry for (what I did last night). I wasn't thinking.
It was very silly of me.
I want to apologise for (ruining your new sofa. I know you said it didn't matter, but it was very clumsy of me to spill my drink all over it.)

In conclusion

Well, that's all for now.
I'll tell you more when I see you next week.
Thanks again (for last weekend).
I'm really (eagerly) looking forward to seeing you again.
See you on (the fifteenth).
Give my regards to (Mary).
My best regards to (Mary).
With my best wishes, yours...
Please pass on my good wishes to...
With love, yours affectionately...
Look after yourself! Take care! Take great care! Take better care of yourself!

Miscellany

I don't remember if I wrote you that...
Come to see us.
I hope my long latter doesn't bore you.
We'd love to hear from you by post or e-mail, if you're plugged in.
Well, over to my life now. It's been a very full year.
I draw much strength from your letter.
I'm happy to say our contacts has led to good friendship.
Your letter is a source of joy for me.
The time we have spent together are treasured moments.

There was trust between us. It was 'chemistry' as the English would say.

It would be wonderful thing to do it together.

I'll tell you what...

It was good to be with you.

To tell you the truth, I was a little bored when...

I expect I'll see you again in December.

What sort of man is your new friend?

Don't worry! Everything will sort itself out.

At the end of the letter

I have a quick final thought.

I don't care a bit; I couldn't care less.

Who cares?

Not that I care.

I am eager to help you.

If you come in June you will see our city at its best.

Thanks a lot for your letter.

I've been a bit slow to respond.

I'm sorry your letter didn't arrive at all.

There is an issue. I want to sort out with you.

I'll write you immediately at return.

So, I reiterate...

I'd like to stay in touch.

I've thought about your letter long and hard.

I hate to feel that I have caused hurt and I am sorry if I've unwillingly done so.

I hope you are well.

I'd very much like to hear from you directly how?

Tips

Начнем с formal letters - обычно это жалобы или запросы их надо писать быстро, четко и укладываться в 20 мин. (при тренировках - 4-5 жалоб это будет казаться легко)

order ( в каком порядке вы все это пишите)

step 1- greeting and opening sentence. Dear Sir or Madam or Dear Mr Jones (I am writing to complain about и далее по теме задания) или I am writing to you concerning (redarging/ in connection with) service that I have recently received in your store. То есть в первом параграфе вы должны указать зачем выпишите в общем. Identify the complaint , reason are you writing.


Step 2: Опиши причины, почему ты жалуешься, что тебя не устраивает, обычно это НЕ МЕНЕЕ ДВУХ причин. Justify your complaint (explain the reason you are complaing = discribe problems) - здесь обязательно должно быть два параграфа которые между собой связываются linkers и предложения также должны иметь linkers.


Step 3: Что ты хочешь от компании (обычно это возврат денег, скидку на следующую покупку, замена на другое или извинения) Demand action (What you want the company to do) a refund, replacement, discount, an apology.


I would be grateful if you would forward a replacement something and consider a discount because of the delay in delivery, or forward a refund of the purchase price at the something. Please find enclosed a photocopy of the cheque.


Step 4: Closing sentences politely, signing off: I hope this situation will not occur again.


I really appreciate your looking into this. Please don't hesitate to phone me on the following phone number:


I am looking forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.


Yours faithfully


Синим выделено то что вы можете просто вызубрить и написать почти вслепую - а это 80 слов из 150.





logical flow (каждое следующее предложение должно вытекать из предыдущего по смыслу) - это значит например: если вы описываете первую проблему, опишите что неправильно(цвет не тот, не работает, срок поставки просрочен), не надо сразу делать вывод и писать: верните мне деньги, надо далее описать вторую проблему и затем только затем сделать вывод, что вы хотите получить.


Каждый новый абзац начинать последовательно, то есть использовать введение абзаца:


Firstly = First of all,… = For one thing, ….= A major benefit s that…


Second,... For another thing, … = furthermore,…

Finally,.. = yet another advantage,..

To conclude,… = In short,…= To summarize,…=In summary...



Linkers (слова связки) - на них вообще делается упор и за них или отсутствие их зависит сильно на оценку. Немного теории: все слова связки делятся на три класса:


Addition самый простой и употребляемый это and (это линк когда вам надо связать два предложения которые добавляют информации друг к другу, но употреблять and это считается в writing очень низкий уровень поэтому and надо заменять другими линками более употребляемыми в formal language такие как: Not only that, but ...


In addition,...


Moreover,...


Furthermore,...


What is more,...


Besides that ...


не надо смотреть на перевод этих слов, достаточно помнить что все они обозначают and и всегда начинают предложение, НИКОГДА не начинайте предложение с And... это очень существенная ошибка.


Opposition/ contrast самый простой и известный это but, всегда этот линк используют в разговорном языке, в письменном использовать его считается очень низким уровнем, его можно заменить на:


Although..., ...


In contrast, ...


However, ...


Despite the fact that..., ...


Even though...


On the one hand..... On the other hand...


Cause and effect это because , so ( это когда какая то причина и because результат), заменяем их на следующие:


As a result, ...


Therefore,...


Consequently,...


Another cause of...


Because of...


Thus,...

правильно использовать замену and because but - это добавит баллов к вашей писанине. Каждое предложение Step 2 должно содержать линк, это еще 6-8 слов из 150.

еще раз повторяю не надо эти линки переводить на русский, просто их надо запомнить к какому классу они относятся и какое слово ключевое: and или but или because.


Это самое простое пояснение этих линков которое я когда-либо встречала, когда нам на уроке все это рассказали и разложили по полкам, я сразу поняла и стала ими оперировать очень просто а раньше были проблемы

grammar - ну здесь нет ничего простого и сложного, главное не забывать что бы в предложении был глагол и артикль перед существительным, собственно и все.


spelling - на него вообще не обращают внимания, так что если слово вообще будет исковеркано но предложение понятно по смыслу - за это не снизят, но естественно не в каждом слове.

Если все эти советы сложить в кучу и пользоваться только простым построением предложений при написании, то получиться не так уж и плохо...

(from gday forum, author Keikko)

Thanking Letter #1 (to restaurant)

You celebrated your birthday with some friends last week in a restaurant. It was a great success and you and your friends enjoyed the evening very much.
Write a letter to the restaurant to thank them. Mention the food, service and the atmosphere. Also suggest any improvements to make things better.

Dear Sir,

Last week on Saturday night some friends and I had dinner at your restaurant to celebrate my birthday. I am writing to thank you for the great evening that we had.

All my friends remarked afterwards on the standard of the the food and service that we received. All the food was very tasty and well presented. Our waiter, whose name was James, was fast and friendly and put with well with our bad jokes! The restaurant at all was warm and friendly and the atmosphere showed that all the diners there were enjoying their evening.

I would like though to suggest one improvement. One of my friend is a vegetarian and he felt that the choice for vegetarians was little small. If you could develop that, it would be a great advantage to you restaurant.

Once again I would like to thank you for my highly enjoyable birthday dinner.

Yours faithfully,

Adam Swindler

Request Letter #1 (to hotel manager)

You have just spent a weekend staying at the Lilo Hotel in Adelaide. When you get home you find that you have left a bat at the hotel.
Write to the manager of the hotel and enquire whether the bag has been found. Give any relevant information about the bag and its contents. Ask the manager to contract you immediately if the bag is found and tell him/her how the bag can be sent to you.


Dear Mr. Simpson,

I stayed in your hotel on the 23rd and the 24th of October. I was in room 603. When I arrived home I discovered that I had left one of my bags at the hotel. Could you please check your Lost and Found department and see if my bag is there?

The bag is the small, black leather, document cast with a narrow strap. Inside the bag you will find several business cards, a Mont Blanc fountain pen, a small address book and three copies of a business proposal. Also, a silver pocket calculator. These things are not very valuable in money terms, but they have a lot of personal value.

I would appreciate it if you contact me as soon as possible, particularly since I need the proposals for a presentation this week. If you could send the bag to me by courier service I would be most grateful. I have arranged to pay for the service on delivery.

Thank you for your help.

Yours sincerely,

Fatima Terihm

Writing Task 1: Letter

You are given a problem and you must write a letter explaining a situation and/or requesting information or action. You may also have to talk about your needs, wants, likes, dislikes and/or to give opinion.

The Introductory Paragraph

1. greet the addressee
2. tell the addressee who you are (if he/she does not know you)
3. thank the addressee (if he/she has sent you a letter or done something else for you)
4. explain your reason for writing
   

Main Body (2-3-4 paragraphs)

1. If your letter is making a request:
   - explain the situation
   - details of your request
2. If your letter is giving an apology:
   - explain why you must apologise
   - alternate plan (if appropriate)
3. If your letter is making complaint:
   - explanations problems
   - say what you think the addressee should do
4. If your letter is giving information:
   - information
   - offer more information (if appropriate)
5. If your letter is making suggestions:
   - make first suggestion
   - provide an alternative to this suggestion or make a second suggestion

The Closing Paragraph

1. If your letter is giving an apology:
   make a final apology
2. If your letter is making a complaint:
   mention what the addressee will do
3. If you letter is giving information:
   - say you hope you have been helpful
   - offer more information
4. If you letter is making suggestions:
   - say you hope you have been helpful
   - offer more help
   

For the beginning and the ending of your letter, there are a limited number of options:

1. If you don't know the name of the addressee
   - Dear Sir,
   - Dear Madam,
   - Dear Sir/Madam
   
   ~ Yours faithfully,
2. If you know the surname of the person but he/she in not close friend
   - Dear Mr Jenkins,
   - Dear Ms Lang,
   - Dear Dr Spock,
   
   ~ Yours sincerely,
3. If the person is a friend
   - Dear Sue,
   - Dear Michael,
   
   ~ Best regards,
   ~ Best wishes,
   ~ Love,

Appropriate Language

In English, there are certain standards words and phrases that can be used when you want to make a request, suggestion, complaint, and so on. These are called functions. You should learn some of the common functions. Some examples are featured in the table below.

Apology
Formal
- I'm terribly sorry, but...
- I am afraid I...
- I must apologise about (not) ____ing...

Less Formal
I'm very sorry but...
I am sorry about (not) _____ing...

Complaint
- I must complain aboout...
- I am not satisfied with...
- I feel something should be done about...

- I'm very sorry but...
- I am sorry about (not) _____ing...

Request
- Could you please...
- Could you possibly...
- Would it be possible to...
- I would be grateful if you would...
- Would you mind ____ing...
- I wonder if you could...

- Could you...
- Can you...
- I'd like you to...
- Would you mind ____ing...

Making suggestion
- I'd like to suggest that...
- May I suggest that...
- Perhaps we could...
- Could you please...

- How about...
- What about...
- Why don't we...
- Let's ...