- •Business Letter Writing Strategies (plus Practice)
- •1. Beginning a letter
- •‘We are writing in connection with …’
- •2. Ending a letter
- •3. Giving good/bad news.
- •4. Saying what you can and cannot do.
- •5. Giving reasons.
- •6. Requesting action.
- •7. Apologising.
- •8. Making a mild complaint.
- •9. Making a strong complaint.
- •10. Making a letter more personal.
- •Ideas in writing can be connected in three different ways:
- •Practice
- •1. Group the following expressions according to the part of the letter they mark – opening, body of the letter, closing:
- •2. Fill in the table with the appropriate expressions given below:
- •3. Group the following expressions into two columns according to the information they present – positive or negative :
- •4. Match the expressions in English with their Russian equivalents:
- •5. Give English equivalents instead of the Russian word combinations in brackets:
- •6. Match the phrases with the intentions they express:
- •7. Here are some ways to begin a request letter:
- •8. You can start a response letter:
- •10. Here are some ways to give good/bad news:
- •11. Here are some ways to say what you can and cannot do
- •12. Fill in the gaps in these openings with a suitable phrase to make a letter more personal.
- •13. Use appropriate phrases to start the sentences for them to make sense.
- •14. These requests are all mixed up. In each sentence put the words and phrases in the correct order.
- •15. Make up correct sentences of the phrases given below, make all necessary changes. Translate the sentences into Russian.
- •16. Fill in the blanks with the prepositions where necessary. Translate the sentences into Russian.
- •17. Join the two parts of these sentences so that they make good sense:
- •18. Underline the correct word in each bracket.
- •19. Use the gerund instead the verbs in brackets and fill in prepositions where necessary.
- •20. Make the given business letter correct: open the brackets and put the verbs into a correct tense from.
16. Fill in the blanks with the prepositions where necessary. Translate the sentences into Russian.
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I am writing to inquire if your company has a vacancy … the post … a sales manager.
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We refer … your advertisement published … The Times … today.
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We send … you enclosed … this letter some … our brochures with details … summer tours … Greece.
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… reply … your letter I would to inform you that the date … my arrival … London is 15 April.
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We have received your cheque … $ 2,000 enclosed … your letter … the 15th June.
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Thank you … your letter of May 19, informing me … the preparations … conference.
17. Join the two parts of these sentences so that they make good sense:
|
I never sign a letter I often prefer to write I usually telephone Please check my in-tray I’ll be able to confirm this I’ll be able to confirm this We cannot confirm the order Please reply at once Please reply as soon as possible |
although a phone call is quicker. after I’ve checked our stick position. before I have read it through. in order to save time. because we don’t have sufficient goods. until we have checked our position. while I am away at the conference. so that we can order the goods we need. when I have consulted our manger. |
18. Underline the correct word in each bracket.
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Would you like (to leave/leaving) a message?
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What (would/do) you like to eat now?
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(Does/Would) Ms Brown like working for Newtech?
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(Would/Do) you like cake?
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(Would/Do) you like a piece of cake?
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Do you like (to talk/talking) on the phone?
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(Would/Do) you like travelling?
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Do you like (to go/going) to the cinema?
19. Use the gerund instead the verbs in brackets and fill in prepositions where necessary.
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Would you mind __ (to wait) for a moment?
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We couldn’t prevent them __ (to turn to) another bank.
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I look forward __ (to hear) from you soon.
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She insists __ (to see) you personally.
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We are interested __ (to buy) from you a lot of goods (партия товара).
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Would you object __ (to bring) that report, Mrs Adams?
20. Make the given business letter correct: open the brackets and put the verbs into a correct tense from.
PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL
Our ref: TB/0092
15th May 2003
R. Davis
Smallcrown Limited
Liverpool
Dear Mr Davis
Thank you for your letter of 7th May 2003.
Mr Lynch (to come) to us last September on a year’s contract. During this time here he (to show) considerable ability in his work and (to become) a useful member of our team. He (to take) a degree in electronic engineering at London University seven years ago and (to join) the Ministry of Defense after he (to leave) the university, his experience in negotiating contracts for the Ministry (to be) very valuable during his work with us.
I (to know) Mr Lynch for six years and my experience of him leads me to believe that the work he (to do) at the Ministry after leaving the university and the excellent work he now (to do) for us during this year make him the first class candidate for a post such as Product Executive.
Yours Sincerely
Peter Falk
Personnel Manager