Mastering English Correspondence Formats and Phrases

Informal Email/Letter Structure

Greeting: Hi Juanjo,

Sorry that I haven't been in touch for a while, but I've been ill. I had a temperature of 40ºC, so I've been in bed for five days. I'm feeling a bit better today, so I've been catching up on my emails.

How are you? What have you been doing? I hear everyone is fine. My mother is stressed with work and taking care of my brother Alix, which is just as naughty as ever. How is your family? I hope they're well.

[Invent something relevant to the topic here.]

Well, that's all for now. Please give my regards to your family. I hope to hear from you soon.

Take care,

SANDRA

Useful Expressions

• Sorry to hear about your exam results.
• Glad to hear that you're all well (Encantado de saber que estás bien).
• Good luck on the new job (Buena suerte en tu nuevo trabajo).
• Hope you get better soon (Espero que te mejores pronto).

Short Story Vocabulary Notes

Key phrases and vocabulary:

• In the moment
• As soon as (tan pronto que)
• Ten minutes after (10 minutos después)
• A morning in April (una mañana de abril)
• Just on time (justo a tiempo)

Adjectives/Adverbs: aggressive, an hour later, extremely, family-run, frequently, immediately, new, reasonably, quick, well.

Expressing Your Opinion

Structure for argumentative writing:

1. Introduction about the topic.
2. Reasons (stating agreement or disagreement).
3. Conclusion about the topic.

Connectors and Phrases

• For Structure: firstly, secondly, finally, in conclusion.
• For Addition: in addition (además), also.
• For Contrast: whereas (mientras), although.
• General: in most cases, nowadays (hoy en día), so (así).

To Give Examples: We can also... / Another thing we can do is...

To State Opinion: I think; in my opinion.

Formal Letter Formatting

Sender's Address (Top Right):

59, Països Catalans
Castellbisbal, Barcelona
08755

Recipient's Address (Left):

Head of Office / [Name if known]
Dcki
15, Freser Street
Barcelona
08755

Salutation: Dear Juanjo, or Sir/Madam (if the recipient is unknown).

Content: State the reason for writing: "I am writing to complain about..." (mentioning where and when the issue occurred, e.g., I had the issue at [site] on [date]). Provide details of the problem. Request a solution.

Closing: Your faithfully (if you used Sir/Madam) or Your sincerely (if you used a name).

Signature, Full Name.

Report Writing Structure

Introduction: Introduce the topic of the report.

Body Paragraphs: Structure the report into four main paragraphs. Each paragraph should begin with a summary sentence (one line) before the detailed explanation starts.

For and Against Arguments

Structure: Introduction, arguments in favor, arguments against, conclusion. Maintain a formal style.

Key Phrases

• Advantages: The main advantage, another advantage.
• Disadvantages: On the other hand.
• Causality: Because of (Debido a), because (pk).
• Examples: For example, for instance, such as (tal como).
• Contrast: Although (aunque).
• Summary: To sum up (para resumir), in addition (además).

Advanced Grammar Points

Inversion

Example: At no time did I say: en ningún momento dije que.

Idioms

Example: It is better safe than sorry: mejor prevenir que curar.

Relative Clauses

Use of relative pronouns: who, where, which, etc.