H5 P1 W5 letter of complaint

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 5

Basic rules

• We do our work when we should
• We are silent during explanations and raise our hands for questions
• Our phone is in our "zakkie" on the corner of our table
• We don't eat, drink, or chew gum in class

learning goals

I can write a short letter of complaint.

recap formal language

to get

to get in touch

to sue

the passive

Passives

What makes a sentence passive?

The combination of 'to be' + past participle (volt. dlw) makes a sentence passive

The woman is bitten (by the dog).

The wound was stitched (by the doctor).

The Government is planning a new road near my house.

1. passive
2. active

This room has been painted blue.

1. passive
2. active

Cricket is played in Australia.

1. passive
2. active

The friends have been looking forward to meeting her.

1. passive
2. active

Make a passive:
Lots of books ...(read, not) by those children yet.

1. aren't read
2. isn't read
3. weren't read
4. haven't been read

Make a passive:
Lots of books ... (buy) by my father every year.

1. are bought
2. is bought
3. were bought
4. have been bought

Thanos ___________ ___________ by the mightiest 

heroes  of Earth.

is

are

was

being

be

defeated

defeat

been

Write a letter of complaint

Situation

You have ordered a pair of jeans, which was delivered both late and in the wrong size. 

You have tried to call the company, but nobody picked up.

Write a letter of complaint to this company.

1. Focus on the most important facts. Don’t give unnecessary/personal background information.

2. Make sure you include:

• the reason for writing (e.g. I am writing to ...)

• what went wrong

• what you would like to happen now.

3. Use passives to be less direct and more formal, e.g. I was served slowly, NOT You served me slowly.