MODEL SENTENCES YOU SHOULD LEARN BY HEART

- beginnings

I am writing in responseto your advertisement in yestetrday’s Daily Scope concerning a vacancy in your sales department…

-I am writing in regard to the grant recently made…

I am writing in reply to your letter requesting information about our products…

I am writing in my capacity as chairman of the resident’s association to draw your attention to the problem of excessive noise levels in our neighbourhood….

I am writing to request permission to use the company premises for a meeting which will be held during the holidays….

I am writing to advise you of the changes in the schedule for the forthcoming seminar on ….

I am writing to complain about the service we received…

I am writing to inform you about the proposed changes due to take place over the coming months.

I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with/concern over the meal I had at your restaurant last week…

I am writing with reference to the vacancy in your accounts department.

I am writing to express my extreme displeasure/ express my approval or disapproval of/ to support for…/ to protest about over the behaviour exhibited by you…while…

I am writing to draw your attention to../ bring your attention

- endings

I hope that these changes will not cause you too much inconvenience and that you will still be able to attend…

We feel confident that you will find something in our range that meets your requirements and look forward to receiving your order.

I am available to meet for interview any weekday between…. I look forward to meeting you in person to discuss the possibility of my employment…

We trust that you wll give this matter your urgent consideration and look forward to receiving any suggestions you might have to help overcome the problem.

We would be extremely grateful if you were to allow us to use the facilities for the duration of our meeting. Thank you in anticipation of your kind cooperation.

I hope you will give this matter careful consideration

I hope this information will be of some assistance

I trust that I have been able to answer all of your questions

I would be pleased to provide you with any additional information

I look forward to being able to help you again in the future

I look forward to answering your queries

Please do not hesitate to contact me should you require further information

-other sentences

It is with deep regret that I must inform you…

Hope this advice will be of some help to you.

On behalf of our company, I would like to apologise for…I was most concern to hear…

-Giving my opinion, backing up reasons:

I trust that this situation will be rectified without further delay.

I assure you that we will give this matter serious consideration and would like to thank you for bringing the situation to our attention.

I believe, I feel , I think, I tend to think that, I am totally opposed to/ in favour of

It is my firm belief It is my firm convictionIt is my firm opinion thatI am conviced that

-semi-formal expressions

It appears that….

-thanking + contacting

I would be most grateful if you could…

Please do not hesitate to contact me…

-useful linking expressions

On hearing the news…

From an early age…

Throughout his adult life….

As far as X is/are concerned

Up to that time…

Last but not least

On top of that (informal)

Not only this, but also that.

Above all

Indeed

To illustrate this point

Let’s take the example of / take the…

That is to say/ in other words

Better still ( todavia mejor)

In contrast

Conversely

Virtually

Nevertheless/Nonetheless

Whilst/whereas

However many times I do this…( no matter how many times I do this)

-giving opinion

I can honestly say that

It seems to me that

Surely

Clearly

Not surprisingly

Irritatingly

Annoyingly

Owing to (due to)

In so far as ( to the extend that )

So as not to ( in order not to )

Thus/ accordingly

Thereby

In such a way as to

A good deal/ a great deal

As if/ as though

Nowhere near as / as

The more….the less….

All in all

To sum up/ in short

Overall

Another recommendation is to…

On the grounds that…

This would mean …

Steps/measures should be taken to…

If the governmnet were to.., this would…

One solution to this problem is…

This would lead to

As a result of this…

By limiting student numbers…/ by this I mean that…

It is frequently reported that…

One useful suggestion would be…It would be a good idea if…

X should be encouraged to …

X would result in…

Were we to impose stricter school rules…

X could help …

In order to …

One final suggestion concerns the issue of …

X should also be treated as a priority…

If the necessary repairs were carried out, it would mean that there would be no further damage to the property…

This would bring many advantages

If X money was spent in the ways I have outlined above, the scholl would be brought up to date

I hope our suggestions meet with your approval ….

I hope that, in the light of this information, the decision will be reversed.

Without doubt the question of X gets a mixed response. Some say that…whereas others believe that…

On balance,

By this I mean

Regardless

I stronly object to

Completely misinformed

I disagree with the point that…

To recap X briefly, it was …

In view of the above…

According to …

I would like to take issue with the suggestion that … Take a step in the right direction

Nor do xxx neither do…

I am inclined to agree that…

IMPORTANT STUFF

- support evidence - make complex sentences: passives, conditionals, hypothetical- make contrast/concession : making a point followed by its opposite- when they ask for suggestions or recommendations you should make

explicit what the expected result would be. Sometimes they ask you to analyse problems and explain cause-consequence

Scheme 1When describing problem and providing solutions:

1st paragraph: state the problem + state your opinion indireclty. Background/info + main content of essay: problems need addressing

2nd: analyses: problem—cause and consequence

3rd recommendations A problem—effects of the problem—suggestion or measures to be taken—expected result

4rd recommendations B problem—effects of the problem—suggestion or measures to be taken—expected result

5th conclusion: summarise your opinion + overall expected result

Scheme 2Looking at an issue from both sides. Balanced Argument

1st paragraph clearly mention both sides or the argument. According to some, Tv is… but others think that…In this essay I will talk about points against and in favour and give my own opinion on the matter…2nd main body: points in favour: explanation + examples 3rd main body: points against: explanation + examples 4th conclusion: summarise the main body make a thought –provoking comment. The way we use Tv should…

Scheme 3I agree/ don’t agree with—Stating your opinion and that’s it

1st paragraph: State reason for writing+ give your opinion 2nd paragraph: give arguments/reasons to support your opinion+ suggest what can be done3rd paragraph: give arguments/reasons to support your opinion+ suggest what can be done4th You can present an opposing viewpoint and contradict it ( bueno vale, entiendo que … pero …aún así pienso que….)5th Conclusion. Closing remarks

Scheme 4

Describing something in particular

1st: state reason for writing2nd: explain why this or that reasons + arguments+ examples3rd: explain why this or that reasons + arguments+ examples4th: hopes for the future: recommendations are often made here

Scheme 5

Letter of Request

1st: state reason for writing2nd: explain reasons for making your request3rd: state expected results/ consequences4th_ closing remarks

types of conclusion:1) discursive paper: summarise your answer and state your own opinion2) report/proposal: summarise the points or make a final

recommendation3) Article: round off with a quotation or a rethorical question that echoes

the introduction. Mysterious, intriguing, call for reader’s attention