12...1 – Developing formal expression

1. Match each phrase from the column on the left with one on the right:

 

	Informal/spoken language	Formal/written language
	1 Thanks for your letter.   2 I’ve just seen your advert in …   3 Can you tell me about …?   4 Sorry, I can’t make the meeting.   5 Here are …   6 What exactly do you need?   7 Just send the stuff back. We’ll pay.   8 I’ve got some bad news. There’s no more until next month.   9 Good news! I’ve just heard that …   10 There isn’t much left. You better move fast.   11 If you’d like any more details, just let me know.	a) I am writing with reference to the advertisement in…   b) Thank you for your letter dated 14 March.   c) Please find enclosed …   d) I am afraid I will not be able to attend the meeting.   e) I would be grateful if you could send me some information about …   f) Please return the goods at our expense.   g) We are pleased to inform you that …   h) Please let me know your exact requirements.   i). If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.   j) We regret to advise you that the goods you require are temporarily out of stock.   k) Please note that our stocks are limited. We advise customers to order as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

 

 

1. The phrases below are typical of informal spoken English. Rewrite them as sentences for a business letter. Some words have been given to help you.

 

1. It’s about that ad we saw in Marketing Monthly. (writing/reference to / recent edition)

_________________________________________________________________________

 

2. Can you send us something about what your company sells? (grateful / information/range)

_________________________________________________________________________

 

3. Thanks for your letter of March 12 asking about what we sell. (dated / enquiring/products)

_________________________________________________________________________

 

4. I have some bad news. I’m afraid your order is going to be late. (regret / inform/delayed)

_________________________________________________________________________

 

5. See you in Frankfurt next month! (look forward)

_________________________________________________________________________

 

1.  Match one of the words in column A with one in column B. Use column C to write your answer.

 

A	B	C
answer sorry tell thankful to know to show questions help to fill in / out tell a price hand in /give in get in touch with send used to need pay back put off go to	a)  be aware of b) queries c) quote d) reply e) inform f) forward g) regret h) accustomed to i) require j) attend k) assistance l) to indicate m) reimburse n) contact o) submit p) postpone q) grateful r) complete	1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18.

 

Use one of the above terms to fill the gaps in the sentences below.

 

1. As you are __________ , huge global changes are taking place.
2. You will have to __________ the project report next week at the latest.
3. If you have any __________ , please contact me personally.
4. Thank you for your kind __________ in this matter.
5. We would be __________ if you would keep this matter confidential.
6. Please __________ the best price possible.
7. We are ______________ having our machines serviced every 6 months.
8. Unfortunately, we have had to __________ the meeting until Friday, 28 May.
9. We will ____________ the information to you as soon as it is available.
10. Our company ___________ new office furniture for a department of 30.
11. We would be happy to _________________ the cost of the damaged goods.
12. We __________ to inform you that Product XE 750 has been discontinued.
13. Please __________ all forms in duplicate.
14. We ____________ the consignment on 12 September.

 

1. Match up the verbs on the left with a more formal alternative. Then match each pair of verbs with a phrase on the right to make a complete expression. The first example has been done for you.

 

WE REALLY NEED TO …………

 

1.    set up	A.   conduct	1.    the problem of distribution
2.    carry out	B.   investigate	2.    a sister company in Hamburg
3.    strengthen	C.   establish	3.    our position in South America
4.    look into	D.   consolidate	4.    more research in this area
5.    buy	E.   re-locate	5.    the possibility of selling direct
6.    think about	F.    purchase	6.    our headquarters to Lyon
7.    move	G.   amalgamate	7.    our raw materials at source
8.    combine	H.   explore	8.    the two departments
9.    show	I.     penetrate	9.    the development of new products
10. work out	J.    accelerate	10. the importance of the project
11. speed up	K.   calculate	11. new markets in Eastern Europe
12. break into	L.    demonstrate	12. exactly what our margins are
13. pay	M.  collaborate	13. the goods within the month
14. send	N.   exploit	14. staff according to performance
15. work together	O.   remunerate	15. our cross-cultural expertise
16. make use of	P.   dispatch	16. on the design of the product
17. use	Q.   formulate	17. all our resources
18. build in	R.   capitalize on	18. several new product features
19. think up	S.   incorporate	19. . the new opportunities in the CIS
20. take advantage of	T.    utilize	20. an immediate plan of action

  

 

  

1. The following words are often used in formal letters. Put one of the words in bold into a gap in the sentences below. You may need to change the form:

noun>verb, verb>noun, verb>adjective etc.

 

accompany acknowledge advice amend apply appropriate assure attend attention avail branch brochure circumstances clause collect commission,

compensate compete complain comprehensive confidential confirm consignment consist contract convenient create damages decide delete device disappoint

discount dispatch disregard enclose ensure erase exhibit hesitate impression include inconvenient indicate intend interrupt invite maintain occur

opportunity overlook payment previous prompt propose quote receive recommend regret replace reply rival substitute unavoidable undertake

 

1. E___________ you will find a separate letter of c___________ stating that I will be a___________ the trade fair next year. My assistant, Mr Jones will be a___________ me also but will be arriving a day later.
2. In order to m___________ a good customer relationship, we r___________ that all complaints are dealt with p___________.
3. Thank you for your i___________ ; I would be delighted to attend your upcoming e___________ featuring your new d___________ for sealing bottles .
4. We have just received your c___________ dated January 22, 2004. We r___________ that this happened and will try to e___________ that it will not happen again. Naturally we are willing to c___________ you for any i___________ caused.
5. The company must a___________ that our c___________ have a better product. Therefore I would a___________ the research and development department to start on a new concept.
6. Our legal department has noticed a c___________ in the c___________which states that all d___________ will be paid by the delivery company.
7. We would appreciate it if this information could be kept c___________. If our r___________company were to hear of our plans they would take the o___________ to undercut our prices.
8. Please d___________ our p___________ order. We would like to a___________ our c___________
9. My i___________ is to arrive at 11 o’clock on Friday, 11 March. Will there be anybody a___________ to c___________ me at the train station?
10. The i___________ to our help lines last week was u___________ Unfortunately our telephone service was being r___________ with a state-of-the-art system,
11. I am writing in r___________to your letter of a___________ which I received last week. I can a___________you that you would be ideal as a s___________ for our current assistant who will soon be leaving on maternity leave.
12. Attached to this e-mail you will find an updated b___________ in which all the new d___________are listed. Please a___________ all previous price lists in your data.