3. Letters of Request

A request usually consists of a request phrase, a reason for the request and an expression of gratitude.

Vocabulary

Making a request:

Please acknowledge the receipt of the following publication …

Could you inform me about the scientific program in more detail?

I would appreciate further details of the symposium program.

I would very much appreciate information about accommodation, travel and living expenses and the terms of financing them.

I would like to ask you to …

Could you please …?

I would appreciate it very much if you could …

I would be very grateful to you if you could …

Would it be possible for you to … ?

Replying to a request:

A. I am happy to be of help/ assistance to you.

I am pleased that I can offer you this help.

If I can be of any further help please do not hesitate to contact me/ to let me know at once.

If you require further information on … , I will be happy to help you …

I am glad that I can help you in this matter.

B. I very much regret/ I am sorry that I am unable to help you in any way.

Unfortunately I am unable to …

I am very sorry that I cannot …

I must apologize to you for …

Tasks

1. Read the samples of requests and highlight the common phrases used in such letters. Translate them into Russian.

Letter 1

Dear Prof. Neverov,

I would be pleased to accept a 200-word abstract of your article for publishing in “Sociological Review”.

We are looking forward to receiving your abstract as soon as possible.

Yours sincerely,

Jane Corn

Editor–in-Chief

Letter 2

Dear Professor Brown,

I have received your letter of May 12 requesting a contribution to Psychological Review. I am extremely grateful for your kind invitation. However, I am afraid I shall have to decline it, as only a small part of my work covers the subjects your journal deals with.

I express my regret once again.

Yours sincerely,

Sean Din

2. Write a letter asking Dr. … to supply you with the recent experimental data/ research data on … . Explain why you need these data.

3. Write a letter in which you:

a) acknowledge the receipt of the letter (date);

b) respond to the request in a favourable way;

c) offer your help if it is needed in the future.

4. Letters of Thanks

On receiving invitations, papers books or valuable information you should send a letter of thanks, gratitude or appreciation to acknowledge their receipt.

Vocabulary

We are glad/ pleased to receive your letter of …

It was a great pleasure to receive your letter of …

It is so kind of you to send me …

I am much obliged to you for sending me …

Thank you so much for …

Tasks

1. Read the sample of a letter of thanks and highlight the common phrases used in such letters. Translate it into Russian.

Dear Prof. Maslov,

It was a pleasure to receive your letter of October 15. Thank you for sending me your book. It is of great help for me. Please give my best regards to your son.

Hoping to see you at the Congress in London.

Yours sincerely,

Helen Crow

2. Write a letter in which you:

a) acknowledge the receipt of the letter of (date);

b) express your gratitude to Dr. … for an invitation to the conference to be held;

c) express hope to meet him at the conference.