H4B - Formele Brief - how to succeed

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 4

Formal Letter - tips and common errors

Writing test:

Wednesday 21 April 2021

50 minutes

Formal letter - in Word - Letters printed and in Magister Opdrachten

Straatnaam 1

1234 AB Plaats

The Netherlands

Ms Heath

Sterling Lodge

PY430 Mappleton

United Kingdom

17 January 2021

Dear Ms Heath,

I have recently stayed at your lovely guest house for two nights, at the end of my three week vacation in Scotland. I have really enjoyed my stay at your guest house and want to thank you for your hospitality. The meals I've been served were absolutely fabulous as well.

I'm sorry to have to bother you at this time of year, but the situation is as follows. I'm afraid I have lost my wallet and I think I might have left it in the guest house. I hadn't realised that I had lost it until after I got home. You see, I use one wallet just for travelling....

1. your address

2. recipient address

3. date

4. salutation

5. actual message

... I want to thank you in advance for your help. I hope to revisit you in the future when I am near Hull again. I have some fond memories of my maybe too short a stay in this beautiful part of the country. I hope to hear from you soon.

Yours sincerely,

David Naafs

6. sign-off

7. First and last name

5. actual message

(just always use this one for formal letters)

Tips & common errors

1. Date format. 

This one is easy:

18 January 2021

2. Ms/Miss/Mrs?

Always use Ms    - unless you know that the lady in question prefers otherwise.

Write today's date like you would on a letter.

Tips & common errors

3. Not using every component from the assignment

Tip 1: read! Tip 2: read carefully! Tip 3: read again!

4. Word order.

In English, sentences are in this order:

Subject, Verb, Object

onderwerp, gezegde, lijd./meew. voorwerp 

Word order: Subject, Verb, Object

onderwerp, gezegde, lijd./meew. voorwerp 

I (subject) love (verb) cats (object)

I hope that you have found my wallet

'-->  You have found my wallet

Time indication: (usually) in the beginning or at the end.

Word order: Time indication

(usually) in the beginning or at the end.

Last week, I stayed in your guest house.

I stayed in your guest house last week.

I stayed last week in your guest house.

Correct this sentence if needed:
She told me yesterday that she is pregnant.

Correct this sentence if needed:
I hope that you my wallet have found.

Correct this sentence if needed:
The one I am who he is mad at.

Correct this sentence if needed:
This time tomorrow, you will be behind bars!

Courtesy (beleefheidsvormen)

Would you be so kind as to return my wallet to me by registered mail?

Could you please let me know how much it costs?

Please contact me if...

If it's not to much trouble, I would like to ask if you could ring me when...

I would very much appreciate it if you could...