However, we are very sorry to inform you that we have to decline your offer as we are purchasing other laboratory equipment and devices at the present time.

Yours faithfully,

Name

Chief Engineer

Note: here are some more samples of unfavourable responses to requests:

•I very much regret / I am sorry that I am unable to help you in any way. I regret very much that I am not in a position to.... I regret that it has not been possible for me to help you. Unfortunately I am unable to ....

•I very much regret that I have to decline your request to contribute to.... I am very sorry that I cannot.... I am very sorry to be unable to .... I regret to inform you that I am not able to .... I must apologize to you for....

Task 4

A. Write a letter in which you:

a) acknowledge the receipt of a letter;

b) express regret at bang unable to amply with a request regarding the reprint of the paper…;

c) state the reason why you cannot comply with the request. B. Write a letter in which you:

a) apologize for taking a long time to answer;

b) ask to convey your apologies to Dr. Jones for....

Lesson № 4

Thank-you Letter

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

Task 1

Read the samples and note the phrases and sentences used to express thanks, gratitude and appreciation:

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Letter 1

Dear Prof...

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

Hoping to see you at the Congress in London. Yours sincerely,

Name

Letter 2

Dear Dr....,

I wish to a cknowledge the receipt of your letter of April 6 and express my gratitude for sending the reprints.

Best wishes, Yours sincerely,

Name

Letter 3

Dear Dr....,

I wish to thank you for your kind letter of April 23. I am happy to inform you that we have used your method and the results are remarkable.

As soon as I complete the graphs and tables I will send them to you for comparison.

You can hardly realize how much I appreciate the data you sent via Prof..... She has given me a short outline of the work you are carrying out in your laboratory. She is a very charming person and I enjoyed he talks and discussions that we had.

Yours sincerely,

Name

Note: here are some more phrases used to acknowledge the receipt of letters containing valuable information:

•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....

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•I am delighted that you sent....

•I am much obliged to you for sending me....

•I wish to thank you very much for your kind letter of....

•We thank you very much for....

•Many thanks for your letter of June 7.

•I am most grateful to you for sending me....

•Thank you so much for....

Task 2

A. 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. B. Write a letter in which you:

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

b)express thanks for sending the reprint of the paper. C. Write a letter in which you:

a)acknowledge with thanks the receipt of the journal…

b)write that on completing your investigation you will contribute another paper for publication.

Lesson № 5

Additional list of phrases for writing letters

Task 1

Read and translate the following phrases.

Opening Phrases

•We thank you for your letter of …

•Your letter enclosing (stating that…, asking/requesting us to do…) has been considered (given proper attention)

•In reply (in response) to your letter of …

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•With reference to (regarding to) our letter of … we wish to inform you that …

•We are pleased to inform you that …

•We are sorry (We regret) to have to remind you that…

•We learned from your letter that…

•We offer apologies for the delay in answering you letter

•We apologize for … (Please accept our apologies for…)

•We are sorry we are unable to meet your request…

•We have pleasure in offering you…

•Further to our letter of …

Linking Phrases

•We express confidence that…

•At the same time we would like to remind you that…

•We find (consider) it necessary (important) to note…

•Apart from the above (said)…

•Further to the above / In addition to the above

•It goes without saying …

•We would like you to note that …

•We wish to draw your attention to the fact that

•The matter (point) is …

•In view of the above / In this connection …

•Moreover / Besides / Nevertheless, …

•In our opinion / We believe / We think / We feel …

•In the circumstances …

•As to (as regards, with regard to) your request / your order/ your

claim…

•So far (Up till now) we have received no reply

•In case of your refusal …

•We have to admit that …

•In fact / actually / virtually…

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