Advanced English Grammar and Formal Writing Techniques

Formal Letter Writing

Template for Proposing Changes

Dear Sir/Madam,

The reason for this letter is to present my opinion about... and also to propose additional changes. To begin with... and I would take up more... So I suggest...

Clarifying Points in a Published Report

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing with regard to your article which appeared... I should like to make it clear to... the comments made do not apply to... Firstly, the impression given of... is certainly not true of... Moreover, the reason why... In addition, I must also disagree with the suggestion that... Indeed, I would like to take this opportunity to... I very much hope you will print... I look forward to seeing you. Yours faithfully.

Expressing Dissatisfaction to an Editor

Dear Editor,

I am writing on behalf of... to express our dissatisfaction with the report published... We feel that we deserve at least public apologies. To begin with..., we must state that the consideration of a dull event according to... might be easily explained if... Our sources testify... At the same time, as for... we can assure that, as well as, to sum up, our judgment of the event... Consequently, we request a professional report based on... as a signal of respect for. We are looking forward to reading... Yours sincerely.

Modal Verbs

• Can/Could: Ability or permission (poder, saber)
• May/Might: Possibility (poder)
• Must: Obligation (deber)
• Should: Advice (deber)
• Will/Would: Intent or conditional (querer)
• Ought to: Moral obligation (deber)
• Need: Necessity (necesario)
• Used to: Past habits (soler, acostumbrarse)

Conditional Structures

1. First Conditional: IF + Present Simple + Will + Verb (Infinitive)
2. Second Conditional: IF + Past Simple + Would + Verb (Infinitive)
3. Third Conditional: IF + Past Perfect (had written) + Would have + Verb (Past Participle)

Passive Voice Rules

The object becomes the subject. The main verb is replaced by the auxiliary "to be" + past participle. The original subject becomes the agent of the passive sentence.

• Present Simple: I write a letter -> The letter is written.
• Present Continuous: I am writing a letter -> The letter is being written.
• Past Simple: I wrote a letter -> The letter was written.
• Past Continuous: I was writing a letter -> The letter was being written.
• Present Perfect: I have written a letter -> The letter has been written.
• Past Perfect: I had written a letter -> The letter had been written.
• Future: I will write a letter -> A letter will be written.
• Future II (Going to): I am going to write a letter -> The letter is going to be written.
• Modals I: I have to write a letter -> The letter has to be written.
• Modals II: I should write a letter -> The letter should be written.
• Modals III: I must write a letter -> The letter must be written.

Direct and Indirect Speech

Tense shifts: (I train... -> He said he trained...)

• Present to Past: Present Simple becomes Past Simple; Present Continuous becomes Past Continuous.
• Perfect Tenses: Present Perfect (have seen) becomes Past Perfect (had seen).
• Past Tenses: Past Simple becomes Past Perfect (had met).
• Imperatives: Imperative (Be quiet!) becomes Infinitive (He told us to be quiet).

Modal Shifts in Reported Speech

• Can -> Could
• Will -> Would
• Must/Have to -> Had to
• May -> Might

Relative Pronouns

• Who/That: Used for people (Subject)
• Who/Whom/That: Used for people (Object)
• Whose: Used for people (Possessive)
• Which/That: Used for things (Subject)
• Whose: Used for things (Possessive)
• Where: Used for places (Object)
• When: Used for time (Object)
• Why: Used for reasons (Object)