P art I. Letter of enquiry

A letter of enquiry is a formal letter that makes an approach to an individual or organization either speculatively or in response to printed public domain material whereby you are requesting some information.

It is a general term used for a number of different kinds of business letters addressed to a company. An enquiry is sent when a businessman wants some information. The letter is drafted to get some more information which is not available on website, brochures, literature of the product. The letter is written by a customer to the company seeking some information about a new product or service, especially about supply of goods, leaflets or catalogues, quotation or prices, samples, terms and discounts, availability of goods, delivery terms and deadlines, method of transportation, insurance.

EXERCISE 1. Fill in the gaps.

When completed, this letter provides a model for a letter of enquiry

a send c forward e Madam g attention i sell

b together d Project f based h protecting j graphics

k faithfully

PHYSIOLOGICA 17 Princes Street Telephone 071 982 7111

London Telex 988153

EC1 7DQ Fax 071 982 7712

Our ref. AN/JB

Your ref:

1 July 20___

Discpro SA

251, Rue des Ramonières

F-86256POITIERS CEDEX

France

For the ____________(1) of the Sales Manager

Dear Sir or _______________(2)

We are a software company ____________(3) in London and are currently

developing a Windows-based scientific _________________(4) package for use in universities and research laboratories.

We are interested in _____________(5) the programs we __________(6) from Unauthorised copying and duplication.

Could you please ___________(7) us more technical information about your RSP-11 software protection system ____________(8) with your current brochure and price list?

We look ______________(9) to hearing from you.

Yours ________________(10).

Jane Shillingford

Jane Shillingford

_____________(11) Director

EXERCISE 2. Match each word with an explanation.

1. to require for something • инструкция по эксплуатации

2. catalogue • назначать конкурентоспособную цену

3. quotation • подобной конструкции

4. to be delivered complete • оборудование

5. fittings and tools • каталог

6. manual • производитель

7. service and maintenance • размещать заказ

8. manufacturer • закупаться

9. similar design • доставляться в собранном виде

10. equipment • быть высоко оцененным

11. to be purchased • фитинги и инструменты

12. to place an order • требоваться для чего-л.

13. to quote a competitive price • техобслуживание и текущий ремонт

14. to be appreciated • расценка

EXERCISE 3. Fill in the gaps.

To place an order, supply of goods, quotation, discounts, delivery terms, deadline, insurance.

1. Could you give us _______ for fixing the roof?

2. Do you provide any _______?

3. The financially troubled company didn‘t meet yesterday‘s _______ for filing its annual report.

4. Customers require information comprising such details as _______, weight, method of transport, and country of origin.

5. We are ready to place ______.

6. Our company is seeking some information about _______.

7. Have you got an _______ against loss of damage?

8. You can nearly always get books there at _______.

9. We would like you to advise us of discounts and _______.

10. _______ for submitting papers for the conference is September

EXERCISE 4. In each of the following sentences, choose the correct word to fill the gap.

1. I would be _____________ if you could send me details of your PS/2 range.

a) thankful b) please c) content d) grateful

2. You were _____________ to us by our associates.

a) advised b) suggest c) recommended d) informed

3. We were given your ______________ by the Chamber of Commerce.

a) identity b) company c) name d) placing

4. Thank you for your letter ___________19 June.

a) in b) on c) of d) from

5. Please ____________enclosed our current catalogue and price list.

a) find b) look c) receive d) examine

6. We would appreciate ______________ you could send us further information on your range of non-impact printers.

a) it that b) this c) when d) it if

7. I would be grateful if you could arrange for your Technical Director ________ on me.

a) will call b) is calling c) to call d) calls

8. We look forward ______________ from you.

a) hear b) to hear c) hearing d) to hearing

9. We would be grateful ______________ an early reply.

a) to b) of c) for d) with

10. Should you require anything further at this time, please do not_______ to contact me.

a) void b) hesitate c) delay d) prevent

EXERCISE 5. Match each section of the letter of enquiry with the appropriate gap on the blank below.

A________________________

B________________________

C________________________

D________________________

E________________________

F_________________________________________________________

G_________________________________________________________

H________________________

I_________________________

J_________________________

1. We are currently using 15 Procom 6. Mr. J. Barnard

211 Premier PCs in our mail-order Corporate Sales Department

department. We have been pleased Procom Ltd

with their performance, but now 58 Edison Street

require machines that will run faster. Robin's Lane Industrial Estate

Canterbury

2. M H Jansen Ken CT19 3TE

Publicity Manager

7. Yours sincerely

3. I look forward to hearing from you 8. 12 May 20_____

4. Could you please let me know

Whether it is possible to upgrade the 9. The Red Box

PCs to Pentium III and what the likely cost 54 Streamside Road

Would be? Cardiff CF1 1JW

5. Dear Mr Barnard 10. Our Ref: CUG/PL

EXERCISE 6. Complete these letters of enquiry

Letter a. Choose suitable words from this list to complete the letter.

Particularly shown delivery Yours faithfully let me know

Interested earliest Dear Sir catalogue date

____________,

I'm particularly ______________ in the printer ASTI 501T shown in your __________.

Could you please _________ your _________ delivery ____________ for three of these.

Yours faithfully

P. Stephens

Letter b. Choose suitable words from this list to complete the letter.

Particularly shown delivery Yours faithfully let me know

Interested earliest with reference to catalogue date

Dear Sirs,

_________________ your catalogue, I'm very __________ in your sound cards, particularly in the one __________ on page 19 of your __________, with compatible SoundBlaster performance.

What is your ____________ _______________ date ?

_______________

H. Peace (Mrs.)

Letter c. Complete with a suitable word from the list:

Payment advertisement model conditions order

Deliver ordered receipt delivery within

Dear Sirs,

I was interested in your ______________ in today's "Telegraph".

If we ___________ 2 iMacs,__________ 519RR in red, could you _____________ them to our offices _____ 30 days?

If so, could you please let us know your ____________ of payment.

Yours faithfully

F. Reed (Mrs.)

EXERCISE 7. Match each phrase with its English equivalent.

1. Мы будем признательны за • We are interested in goods

ваш скорый ответ. produced by your company.

2. Мы заинтересованы в покупке • Please send us your

… из вашей фирмы. current pricelist.

3. Мы бы хотели купить … • We saw your product at the

exhibition and would ask you to

send us your latest catalogue.

4. Пожалуйста, вышлите ваш

текущий прейскурант.

5. Мы были бы признательны • We are interested in purchasing…

Вам, если бы Вы назначали from you company.

ваши лучшие цены и условия

поставки и платежа.

6. Будьте добры прислать • Your prompt reply will be

образцы вашего продукта. appreciated.

7. Мы видели ваш продукт на • We should like you to give us a

выставке и хотели бы, чтобы quotation for …

вы прислали нам ваш

последний каталог.

8. Мы хотели бы, чтобы Вы дали • Please send us samples of your

нам вашу котировку на … product

9. Мы заинтересованы в тoваре • We would be obliged if you вашей компании. could quote your best prices and

terms of delivery and payment

EXERCISE 8. Reply to the letter of enquiry.

Dear Sirs,

We require for the expansion of our plant a Portable Air Compressor, model K.CE-6M, as shown on page 25 of your catalogue and would ask you to send us your quotation. The machine must be delivered complete with all essential fittings and tools together with the manual in English for service and maintenance.

We have already received quotations from three manufacturers who are offering us compressors of a similar design, for delivery in 5–6 months. As, however, most of the equipment for our plan was purchased in Russia, we should prefer to obtain this additional machine from your company.

We should be prepared, therefore, to place this order with you if the Compressor could be delivered in January, 2010, at the latest, and if you could quote us a competitive price.

Your immediate reply would be very much appreciated.

Yours faithfully,

M. Brown

Purchase Department manager