UNIT 8 - Formal and Informal Letters.doc

FORMAL LETTER

Beginning

Dear Mrs Lee

Dear Sir/ Madam

Ending

Yours faithfully

Yours sincerely

INFORMAL LETTER

Beginning

Dear (name)

Dear Mum/ Dad

Ending

Love

Kiss

Best wishes

Regards

Yours

conscientiousness – sumienność

a greeting – powitanie, przywitanie

a query - zapytanie

an abbreviated form – skrócona forma

to be of no/ little/ great help to sb – być żadną/ małą/ wielką pomocą dla kogoś

come in handy - okazać się użytecznym/ przydatnym

to inquire about – zapytać o

to regret – żałować

with regard to – jeśli chodzi o, co się tyczy, odnośnie

a hen-house – kurnik

a load of sth – mnóstwo czegoś

to manage – zdołać, uporać się

to milk a cow – doić krowę

considerably - znacznie, w znacznym stopniu

homesick - stęskniony za domem

sincere – szczery

LETTER ASKING FOR ADVICE

Formal letter

Opening remarks:

I am writing to ask if you could help me with ...

I would appreciate it if you could give me some advice about ...

I am writing to ask for your advice ...

I would be grateful if you could offer your advice ...

Could you possibly offer you advice ...

I wonder if you could help me with a problem ...

Closing remarks:

I would appreciate it if you could give me your advice as soon as possible ...

I look forward to receiving your advice ...

It would be of great help if you could advise me ...

Informal letter

Opening remarks:

I’m writing to ask for your advice ...

Can you give me your advice ...

I’ve got a problem and I need your advice ...

Closing remarks:

What do you think I should do?

Please let me know what you think I should do ...

Please tell me what to do ...

LETTER GIVING ADVICE

Formal letter

Opening remarks:

Thank you for your letter requesting ...

I am writing in reply to your letter asking for advice about ...

I hope the following advice will be of some help to you ...

Suggestions:

I strongly recommend that ...

I would suggest that ...

I believe the best course of action is ...

I would advise you to ...

You should ... /You ought to ...

If I were you I would ...

Closing remarks:

I trust you will accept this advice ...

I hope this will be of help ...

I would very much like to know if this was helpful ...

Informal letter

Opening remarks:

I just got your letter and I think I can help you ...

I was sorry to hear about your problem. Here’s what I thin you should do ...

Suggestions:

Why don’t you ...

You should ... /You ought to ...

It would be a good idea to ...

What you should do is ...

How about ...

I think you should ...

The best advice I can give you is ...

Closing remarks:

Hope this has helped ...

Let me know what happens ...

a prospectus – informator, broszura

a reward – nagroda

to exaggerate – przesadzać, popadać w przesadę

to stick to sth – trzymać się czegoś

pointless – bezcelowy, bezsensowny

Mild complaint

Opening remarks:

I am writing to complain about ...

to  regarding ...

on account of ...

because of ...

on the subject of ...

I am writing to draw your attention to ...

I am writing to you in connection with ...

Closing remarks:

I hope/ assume you will replace ...

I trust the situation will improve ...

I hope we can sort this matter out amicably.

I hope you will deal with/ resolve this matter quickly.

Strong complaint

Opening remarks:

I am writing to express my disgust at...

I was appalled at ...

I want to express my strong dissatisfaction with ...

I feel I must protest/ complain about ...

Closing remarks:

I insist you replace the item at once ...

I demand a full refund ...

I hope that I will not be forced to take further action ...

in spite of sth – pomimo czegoś

despite the fact that – pomimo faktu, że

although – mimo że, pomimo że, chociaż

even though – pomimo że

nevertheless – niemniej jednak, jednakże

however – jednak, jakkolwiek

a delay – opóźnienie, zwłoka

a dial – panel kontrolujący (np. na pralce)

a laundry – pranie (brudne ubrania)

a malfunction – awaria, niesprawność, błąd systemu

a starter – zakąska, przystawka

to assume – przypuszczać, przyjmować

to be appalled at – być przerażonym/ zbulwersowanym z powodu czegoś

to be wise to sth – być roztropnym aby coś zrobić

to expire – upływać, wygasać, tracić ważność

to insist – nalegać, domagać się czegoś

to rectify – naprawiać (np. krzywdę)

to renew – odnowić, przedłużyć

to resolve - rozwiązywać (np. problem)

to roam – błąkać się, wałęsać się

to unstuck - odklejać

amicably – przyjaźnie, po przyjacielsku, ugodowo

inexcusable – niewybaczalny

stale – czerstwy, nieświeży

Formal letter

Opening remarks:

I am writing to apologies for ...

I must apologies for ...

Please accept my sincerest apologies for ...

How can I apologies enough for ..

I must apologise profusely for ...

Closing remarks:

Once again, sincerest apologies for ...

I hope you will accept my apologies ...

I hope my apologies will be/ are accepted ...

disgraceful conduct – haniebne zachowanie

inconvenience – kłopot, niedogodność

on behalf of sb – w czyimś imieniu

to resolve the matter – rozwiązywać problem

to sort out the problem – rozwiązywać problem

Informal letter

Opening remarks:

I hope you will understand when I say that ...

What can I say, except I’m sorry that ...

I’m sorry for ...

I owe you an apology ...

I’m so sorry if I upset you in any way ...

I can’t describe how sorry I am and how guilty I feel ...

Closing remarks:

I hope you believe me when I say how sorry I am ...

I can’t tell you how sorry I am ...

I beg you to forgive me for ...

There is no excuse for ... and I hope you’ll forgive me ...

LETTERS OF INVITATION

Formal

Opening remarks:

W would be honoured if you ...

I cordially invite you to ...

Your presence would be appreciated at ...

You are invited to attend ...

Closing remarks:

We would be grateful if you could ...

Please indicate whether you will be able to attend ...

Informal

Opening remarks:

I’m writing to invite you to ...

I’d love it if you could come to ...

We’re organising a ... and would love it if you could come.

Closing remarks:

I hope you’ll be able to make it ...

Hope you can come ...

Looking forward to seeing you then ...

Please let me know as soon as possible ...

GIVI...