English for Emails

7. The writer mentions some new

Unit 7: Organising your writing information, which is not connected to
the main topic of the email.
Task 1
Match the beginnings of the emails with the Task 2
w

descriptions of the writer's purpose. Put the following elements of an email in the
w

typical order.
A. I look forward to speaking to you
w

tomorrow. A. The writer thanks the reader for their

.b

B. I am writing to complain about the email. Or if the reader does not know
delay.
rit

the writer, the writer explains who

C. Many thanks for your email this they are.
is

morning. B. The writer mentions some new

hc

D. I hope you and your family are well. information, which is not connected to
E. Could you please give the office key the main topic of the email.
ou

to Jawal? C. The writer explains the topic/purpose

F. By the way, my wife has just had a of the email.
baby, so Im very happy!
nc

D. The writer mentions their next

G. My name is Andy Carr, and I am a communication with the reader.
software designer. I saw your advert
il.

E. The writer greets the reader.

on dazzle.com, and F. The writer asks the reader to do
or

something.
1. The writer thanks the reader for their
g/

email. Task 3
le

Complete the sentences.

2. The writer greets the reader (e.g. by
ar

asking about their health). I am writing about / My name is Andrea

ne

Ponzi. / Could you please always put /

3. The writer mentions their next Im writing because / How are you? /
communication (e.g. meeting, phone
ng

Shall we meet / Could you please confirm /

call or email) with the reader. Could we speak
lis

4. The writer asks the reader to do 1. Dear Janice,

h

something. __________________________ I
haven't seen you for ages! I'll be at
5. The writer explains the purpose of the the Global Education seminar next
email. week. I'm glad you're going,
too. __________________________
6. If the reader does not know the writer, and have a coffee? Could you let me
the writer explains who they are.

2016 British Council. The United Kingdoms international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are
registered in England as a charity. http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/unit-7-organising-your-writing 1
 know? Regards,
With best wishes, Tim Piper
Dana
Task 4
2. Dear Sir or Madam, Match the topics with the paragraphs or
____________________ my sections of the email.
w

reservation for 2 March. Unfortunately

w

I have to cancel my reservation for reason for writing / request / greeting /

w

personal reasons. I hope there will look forward to + ending / other news
not be any charge for this. ________
.b

________________ this cancellation? 1. Hello Mrs Hannan,

rit

I look forward to hearing from you. I hope you are well, and that you are
Yours truly, still teaching at Perrymead School.
is

Mary Sinati ___________________________

hc

3. Dear Professor Stenier, 2. As you may remember, I was in your

ou

______________________ I am an English class last year. I am now

MBA student at Bath University in applying for jobs, and I need to give
nc

England. I would like to ask you some employers a reference. I am writing to

questions about your research. ask if you could possibly do this for
il.

__________________________ on me.
the phone sometime next week? ___________________________
or

Could you please let me know if this

g/

is convenient for you? 3. Would you mind if I put your name on

I look forward to hearing from you. my CV as a referee? Could you let
le

With best wishes, me know if this is possible?

Andrea Ponzi
ar

___________________________
MBA student Bath University,
ne

England 4. I also have some good news: I am

engaged, and were getting married
ng

4. Dear Teachers, next February, so of course I am very

______________________________ excited!
lis

the cleaners have complained about ___________________________

the classrooms.
h

They have found papers and books 5. I look forward to hearing from you
on the floor. Tables and chairs are soon.
often in the wrong place. This gives With best wishes,
them too much extra work. Elena Chaois
________________________ the ___________________________
furniture in place? Thank you very
much for your cooperation.

2016 British Council. The United Kingdoms international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are
registered in England as a charity. http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/unit-7-organising-your-writing 2
Answers 2. Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing about my reservation for
Task 1 2 March. Unfortunately I have to
cancel my reservation for personal
1. C reasons. I hope there will not be any
w

2. D charge for this. Could you please

w

3. A confirm this cancellation?

w

4. E I look forward to hearing from you.

5. B Yours truly,
.b

6. G Mary Sinati
rit

7. F
3. Dear Professor Stenier,
is

Task 2 My name is Andrea Ponzi. I am an

hc

MBA student at Bath University in

1. E. The writer greets the reader. England. I would like to ask you some
ou

2. A. The writer thanks the reader for questions about your research. Could
their email. Or if the reader does not we speak on the phone sometime
nc

know the writer, the writer explains next week? Could you please let me
who they are. know if this is convenient for you?
il.

3. C. The writer explains the I look forward to hearing from you.

topic/purpose of the email. With best wishes,
or

4. F. The writer asks the reader to do Andrea Ponzi

g/

something. MBA student Bath University,

5. B. The writer mentions some new England
le

information, which is not connected to

4. Dear Teachers,
ar

the main topic of the email.

6. D. The writer mentions their next Im writing because the cleaners have
ne

communication with the reader. complained about the classrooms.

They have found papers and books
ng

Task 3 on the floor. Tables and chairs are

often in the wrong place. This gives
lis

1. Dear Janice, them too much extra work. Could you

How are you? I haven't seen you for please always put the furniture in
h

ages! I'll be at the Global Education place? Thank you very much for your
seminar next week. I'm glad you're cooperation.
going, too. Shall we meet and have a Regards,
coffee? Could you let me know? Tim Piper
With best wishes,
Dana Task 4

2016 British Council. The United Kingdoms international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are
registered in England as a charity. http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/unit-7-organising-your-writing 3
 1. greeting
2. reason for writing
3. request
4. other news
5. look forward to + ending
w
w
w
.b
rit
is
hc
ou
nc
il.
or
g/
le
ar
ne
ng
lis
h

2016 British Council. The United Kingdoms international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are
registered in England as a charity. http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/unit-7-organising-your-writing 4