CARPE DIEM: “El Futuro es hoy”
SOCIEDAD, CON-CIENCIA Y TECNOLOGÍA
EMPOWERING MY ENGLISH
ROAD TO IELTS
LETTER WRITING TASK (1)
To complete your IELTS letter writing task within 20 minutes, it is helpful to know some common phrases and set
expressions. Being able to use these will allow you to express your ideas quickly and effectively, without thinking
about each and every word. While you're learning their meaning, also make sure you can spell them perfectly.
Apologizing
Useful words 

I'm (very) sorry about...
I am sorry that...
& 

I'm (very) sorry for...
Please forgive me for...
expressions 

I'd like to apologize for...
Please accept my (sincere)
apologies (very formal)
for letter writing
Asking for Information Complaining / expressing
 I am writing to enquire about... dissatisfaction
 I am writing to find out about...  I'm writing to express my
 What I am looking for is... dissatisfaction with...
 I would like to know about/if...  I'm writing to express my
annoyance with...
 I am not happy about...
 ...was very disappointing.
Conveying regards Making suggestions
 Please give my best regards to  Would it be a good idea to...
your family.  Perhaps it would be a good idea
 Please pass on my best wishes to...
to your wife and children. Thanking
 Thanks / Thank you.
Expressing satisfaction  Thank you very much.
 I was delighted to hear that...  Thank you kindly.
 I was very happy to learn that...  I can't thank you enough.
 I was thrilled to find out that...  No words can express my
 I was glad to hear that... gratitude.
...was very enjoyable. I am extremely grateful for...
Expressing concern / Giving reasons
sympathy  This is because of...
 I was sorry to hear about...  This is due to... (formal)
(your accident/ illness)  This is as a result of...(formal)
 I am writing to express my  This is owing to...(formal)
concern about...
Asking for Help


I'd be grateful if you could...
I would be grateful if you

could...
I would appreciate it if you

could...
Could you please...
 I was wondering if you could
help me. (informal)
 I would like to know...
Giving bad news
 I regret to inform you
that...(semi-formal)
 I am sorry to tell you
that...(informal)
 I am afraid I have some bad
news.(informal)
Giving good news
 I am pleased to inform you
that...(semi-formal)
 I am delighted to tell you
that...(informal)
 I am happy to advise you
that...(formal)
 I thought you might like to
know that...
Closing
 I look forward to seeing you.
 I look forward to hearing from
you.
 I look forward to meeting you.
 LETTER STRUCTURE

Question example
You have recently purchased an item from a retail store. When you returned home, you found that it did not work.
You called the customer care about this problem but did not get any satisfactory response.

Write a letter to the retail manager and in your letter:

 Say who you are

 Explain your situation
 Say what action you want from the retail store

Dear Sir/Mam,

I am writing this letter to complain about the digital camera that I bought from your retail store last
Monday on 26th September 2016.

I am a resident of Vishal Market, New Delhi and working as an Executive in a reputed firm nearby your
retail store.

I have purchased latest technology digital camera of Nokia brand from your store which was working
fine at the time I purchased it but when I reached my home, I found that it suddenly stopped working and
there seemed to be a problem in the camera lens. Moreover, the shutter mechanism was also faulty. After
I found discrepancies, I immediately called the customer care at your retail store. The concerned
representative refused to replace the camera and was also not friendly enough to listen anything.

I, therefore, request you to kindly interfere in the matter and help me either getting a replacement of the
digital camera or getting the full refund amount as soon as possible, and I also suggest you to improve
your customer care dispute resolution system.

Thanking You!

Yours faithfully,
Ramesh Kumar

(183 words)