Formele Brief schrijven- how to succeed

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 4

Formal Letter - tips and common errors

Writing test:

Wednesday 23 March 2022

100 minutes

Formal letter

Straatnaam 1

1234 AB Plaats

The Netherlands

Ms Heath

Sterling Lodge

PY430 Mappleton

United Kingdom

10 January 2022

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 would like to thank you for your hospitality. The meals I have been served were absolutely fabulous as well.

I am sorry to have to bother you at this time of year, but the situation is as follows. I am afraid I have lost my wallet and I think I might have left it at the guest house. I did not  realise  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 would like to thank you  for your help in advance. I hope to visit you again in the future when I am near Hull a I have some fond memories of my maybe too short stay in this beautiful part of the country. I hope to hear from you soon.

Yours sincerely,

Anita Visser

6. sign-off

7. First and last name

5. actual message

Tips & common errors

1. Date format. 

This one is easy:

18 January 2022

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.

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) at the beginning or at the end of the sentence!

Word order: Time indication

(usually) at the beginning or at the end.

Last week, I stayed at your guest house.

I stayed at your guest house last week.

I stayed last week at your guest house.

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 is not too much trouble, I would like to ask if you could ring me when...

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

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!

NOW some pitfalls

Personally, I think _____ crazy.

1. they're
2. there
3. their

All of _____ friends were crazy.

1. they're
2. there
3. their

_____ are many crazy things happening in the world

1. they're
2. there
3. their

They're / Their / There

They're -> verkortte vorm van "they are"

Their -> bezittelijk voornaamwoord: van "they"

There -> geeft een 'plaats' aan

Which is/are correct?

1. They're from here
2. Their from here
3. There from here

People were crazier back _____ .

1. then
2. than

He's much crazier _____ I am.

1. then
2. than

If I eat too man sweets, _____ I won't have room for dinner.

1. then
2. than

Then / Than

Then -> geeft tijd of consequentie aan

Than -> gebruik je bij een vergelijking

_____ are you going?

1. Where
2. Were
3. We're

______ you on time for the meeting?

1. Where
2. Were
3. We're

______ out of time. I have to go home.

1. Where
2. Were
3. We're

Where, Were, We're

Where -> vragende voornaamwoord voor 'plaats'

Were -> verleden tijd voor 'to be'

We're -> verkortte vorm van "we are"

Which is/are correct?

1. We're from here
2. Where from here
3. Were from here

______ not making any sense.

1. You're
2. Your

Have you lost all of _____ senses?

1. you're
2. your

You're / Your

You're -> verkortte vorm van "you are"

Your -> bezittelijk voornaamwoord: van "you"

If I passed the test, you can _____ .

1. too
2. to

I am ______ tired to go out tonight.

1. too
2. to

We're going _____ that new place.

1. too
2. to

too / to

Too -> betekent "ook", of geeft "heel veel" aan

To -> voorzetsel 

The house, while old, certainly has _____ charms.

1. it's
2. its

She has lost her phone, but she thinks ______ in her car.

1. it's
2. its

It's / Its

It's -> verkortte vorm van "it is" en "it has"

Its -> bezittelijk voornaamwoord: van "it"

Pitfalls

They're / There / Their

Where / Were / We're

Your / You're

Its / It's 

Than / Then

Too / to 

It looked like ___ wasn't anything they could do.

1. there
2. their
3. they're

_1_ going to love going _2_,
I heard _3_ food is the best!

1. 1 =their, 2=there, 3 =they're
2. 1=there, 2=their, 3=they're
3. 1=they're, 2=there, 3=their
4. 1=they're, 2=their, 3=there

You made it around the track in under a minute, ____ fast!

1. your
2. you're

___ really hard to tell the difference between a jaguar and a leopard.

1. It's
2. Its

My dad's company made more profit ___ last year.

1. then
2. than

I know _1_ the mall is, _2_ just down there to the left

1. 1=were,2=it's
2. 1=where, 2=it's
3. 1=where, 2=its
4. 1=we're, 2=its

I wouldn't do that if I ___ you.

1. where
2. were
3. we're

The museum needs to update ___ online schedule for summer.

1. it's
2. its

My friend drove me ___ my doctor's appointmment.

1. to
2. too

First we went through customs and ___ we picked up our luggage.

1. then
2. than

We _1_ lost in the middle of Timbuktu. No one knew _2_ we _3_. Next time we travel, _4_ going to bring along a map.

1. 1=were, 2=where, 3=were, 4=we're
2. 1=were, 2=we're, 3=where, 4=were
3. 1=where, 2=were, 3=where, 4=we're
4. 1=where, 2=where, 3=were, 4=were

I don't know how ___ do these exercises. Can you help?

1. to
2. too