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Theorie Formeller Brief
Theorie Formeller Brief
preliminary note Every letter is something special and uni ue! "t#s difficult to give strict rules ho$ to $rite a letter! %evertheless& there are guidelines ho$ to start and finish a letter! 'i(e in English $e have typical standard e)perssions and there are clear features $hich distinguish a formal and informal letter!
"#d li(e to give some advice ho$ to $rite a formal letter *+usiness letter,! " $rote this discri+tion to help people to achieve the -.ertifi(at /eutsch- *level0 11,!
A word about the use of "du" and "Sie" 2s you (no$& $e#ve got t$o different forms in 3erman to address people0
/u is used for children& friends& family mem+ers& colleagues and people at your age! 4ie is used for people $ho are older than you and people you are not familiar $ith!
The use of -4ie- is a sign of respect and if " used -du- for a 70 years old $oman "#ve never met +efore it $ould +e rather offending! "f you are not sure a+out the age of your counterpart use -4ie-!
The use of -4ie-& ho$ever& has +ecome less strict than years +efore! 5hen " met my colleagues in our office for the first time and they $ere apparently at my age " used -dueven though "#d never met them +efore! 2nother e)ample is my ta+le tennis clu+ $here every+ody is using -du-! "t doesn#t matter if 8 or 80 years old! 5e all -du6en- each other!
The rule for formal letters is easy0 Use always "Sie"! /o so in the 119e)am!
:onsider0 ;ou have to capitalise +oth -4ie- and -"hr < "hre < "hres-!
example letter
"n the 119e)am you $ill get a clear order to leave out the address! ?ollo$ the order and safe time!
"n the 119e)am you $ill get a clear order to leave out the address! ?ollo$ the order and safe time!
"t#s not usual anymore to start the su+Cect heading $ith0 -1etreff- *De0,! Eust start your te)t $ith a capital letter and emphasi6e the su+Cect heading *+old letters,!
German "hre 2n6eige vom 19!01!2009 1e$er+ung als 2u9Fair9>@dchen in "hrer ?amilie
"n the 119e)am you have to $rite a semiformal letter! There is no need to $rite a su+Cect heading in a semiformal letter! 4o leave it out and safe time!
50 1egrGHungI2nrede *salutation,
German 4ehr geehrte ?rau >Gller& 4ehr geehrter Herr >Gller& 4ehr geehrte /amen und Herren&
English /ear >rs >Gller /ear >r >Gller /ear 4ir or >adam
e)planation formal salution for woman (married or unmarried*) formal salution for man formal salution if the name is unknown
J The term -?r@ulein- *>s, for an unmarried $oman is old9fashioned and not used anymore!
K0 Einleitungssat6 *introduction,
Typcial introductions for a formal letter are0
German vielen /an( fGr "hren 1rief! "ch ha+e mich sehr darG+er gefreut! vielen /an( fGr "hre Einladung! 3erne (ommen meine ?rau und ich !!! mit groHem "nteresse ha+e ich "hre .eitungsan6eige gelesen! entschuldigen 4ie& dass ich erst Cet6t auf "hren 1rief ant$orte!
use
(belated answer)
There are no strict rules for the main part! "n the 119e)am you $ill get = or B points you have to cover!
>y suggestion0
ma(e at first some short (eynotes to every points to ma(e clear $hat you $ant to say "t#s a+solutly o( if you do it in your language! +ring the =9B points in a logical order $rite 1 9 2 sentences a+out every point! structure your te)t0 use e!g! for every point one paragraph "t ma(es it much easier to read the te)t!
The tas( for the e)amle letter a+ove could have +een to cover the follo$ing points0
80 2+schlusssat6 *closing,
Typcial closings for a formal letter are0
(with
request
for
an
Mielen /an( im Moraus! "m Moraus vielen /an( fGr "hre >Ghe! "ch freue mich sehr darauf& 4ie und "hre ?amilie (ennen 6u lernen!
closing (say thank you in advance) closing (say thank you in advance)
90 3rGHe *greetings,
Typcial greetings for a formal letter are0
e)planation the standard greetings which always fit also a standard greeting that always fits very respectful greetings (a bit old-fashioned)
:onsider0 The greeting starts $ith a capital letter and ends $ithout comma!
/on#t forget to put your name at the end! "n +usiness letters it#s even common to put at first the hand$ritten sign and underneath again the full name $ith degree or title +ecause most signs can#t +e identified!
?or the 119e)am it#s enough Cust to $rite clearly your full name *hand$ritten,!