How to write formally

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vmbo t
• Leerjaar 3

Welcome T3F

Hang your jacket, put away your phone and earbuds.

Grab your laptop and log in

Class expectations (verwachtingen)

Everyone tries to speak English - mistakes? No problem

Be active and participate in class

Phones are out of sight and on silence

Listen to the person who's speaking and raise your hand

Bring your workbook and laptop to every lesson

Have respect for yourself and the people/things around you

Choose the more formal alternative.

1. Hello Mr Stein
2. Dear Mr Stein

Choose the more formal alternative.

1. thank you for contacting me...
2. thanks for your email...

Choose the more formal alternative.

1. I want to know about...
2. I would like to know about....

Choose the more formal alternative.

1. I look forward to hearing from you.
2. Please write back soon.

Choose the more formal alternative.

1. All the best,
2. Yours sincerely,

Direct vs indirect questions: less formal vs more formal

Create indirect questions in the following slides.

What time do I have to arrive? (Could you tell me …)

Do you offer accommodation on campus? (Could you tell me …)

Do students get a diploma at the end? (I would like to know …)

Formal writing: could & would

So, use 'could' and 'would' in your letter to make it more formal. 

Can you help me?            Could you please assist me?

I want to know which artist will perform            I would like to know which artists will perform.

Email additions

Complete the email by filling 

the gaps. 

The email is incomplete and you need to make it makes sense.

TO DO: write down one or two words at each blank space.

Answers

1. Dear                  6. costs OR is

2. in                        7. grateful

3. to                        8. forward

4. if OR whether 9. hearing

5. would               10. sincerely

Chain editing

Read the letter on the left carefully.

The writer made quite a few mistakes. It's your job to find them and change it for te better. 

TO DO: rewrite the email in pairs and make it formal.

Frequent made mistakes

1. Mistakes in address
2. Mistakes in the date  
3. Verkeerde aanhef / komma
4. You've, I'm, you're, etc. = not okay!!!
5. I = ik always with a capital!!!
6. Study this: I hope to hear from you soon.
7. Make sure to write about every point,

Vader rijndreef 7

3561 XB Utrecht 

The Netherlands

H&M 

Oxford street 5

London 

England

15 January 2024

Dear Sir/Madam,

Feedback

Now it's time to look at your own email and pay attention to the colored remarks. 

I've checked your letters and I want you to change your mistakes and figure out why it was wrong. 

Let me know if you have questions.