You have probably learned that business e-mails should begin with something like “Dear Mr.Smith” and end with “Kind Regards.” While these opening and closing greetings are proper for business e-mails to new clients, or during initial contact, once you form a relationship with a business partner, e-mailing becomes much more informal, yet still professional. What’s more, Americans and other English speakers tend to write more diplomatically, and rarely insist on immediate results with phrases like; “I need this immediately,” or “Send this to me now.” You can (and should) get the same point across in a friendlier, and more considerate tone by just adding “please” and replacing strong adverbs like ‘immediately’ or ‘asap’ with more indirect phrasing. Luckily this is easily avoided if you just use some of the informal phrases below. OPENING GREETINGS: Hi Eve Hello Eve Hey Eve (very informal) Dear Eve (neutral, more formal) Formal phrases to avoid: Dear Mr.Smith , Good Day Anne OPENING GREETINGS FOR A GROUP: Hello All Hi Everyone Hey guys (very informal) Greetings Everyone Common mistake: Dears FIRST OPENING SENTENCE I hope you are well I hope you had a nice weekend How’s the situation going over there? How are you? How’s it going? Common mistakes: going straight to the point without a little bit of “small talk” when you are writing to your business associate , or customer for the initial request. REASON FOR EMAIL I’m writing to you regarding… I have a request for you… Could you please… Regarding the last
LEARN FROM MISTAKES Even my most advanced students trip up with their English. And that is quite alright! It’s normal to make mistakes in a foreign language. One cannot learn without trying, and sometimes failing, right? Now onto the errors, are you able to correct these sentences into proper Engligh? MISTAKES1. It works that you will call your car and it will come2. Everything is lighted at night3.We played like a woman in the game4.I think anyone lose their nerve5. You have to legitimize yourself if police asked6. If you take turn to left, it is there7. She lived very poor8. She has time for granddaughter9. Many people have different meanings about her10. Not everyone will vaccine themselves. CORRECTIONS1. The way it works is that you call your car and it comes‘will’ = predictions, or sometimes for plans. Not for describing the usual process.2. Everything is lit up at night3. We played as a woman in the game‘as’ = describes the role. ‘Like’ = shows a comparison to something. i.e. She worked like a robot nonstop4. I think anyone would lose their nerve‘would’ = hypothetical guesses / predictions5. You have to identify yourself if the police asks.‘legitimize’= legal process of authorizationzero conditional form ! -> subject + present simple, if + present simple6. If you take the left (If you go left / If you turn left), it is there.7. She lived very poorly.poor = adjective (describe what it is). Poorly = adverb (describes how you do it)8. She has time for her
Use this cheat sheet to help you remember the English tenses forms, usage, and typical sentence and question structures. In part II we’ll focus on the present perfect simple, present perfect continuous, past perfect simple and past perfect continuous.PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE SENTENCE FORM: subject + have / has + verb 3rd form + continue sentenceQUESTION FORM: have / has + subject + verb 3rd form + continue USAGE 1: life experience (no date given) I have played every Grand Theft AutoI have never played Grand Theft AutoHave you ever played GrandTheft Auto? USAGE 2: News They have just returned from the gigThey haven’t returned from the gig yetHave they already returned from the gig?USAGE 3: How long (with “state” verbs) He has been in London Since 2018He hasn’t been home since 2018How long has he lived in London?USAGE 4: Project status John has completed the album, but not the cover artJohn hasn’t completed the album, nor the cover artHas John completed the album?USAGE 5: Unfinished time period I have had three coffees today I haven’t had any coffee todayHow many coffees have you had today? PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS SENTENCE FORM : Subject + have / has + been + verb ing + continue sentence QUESTION FORM: Have / Has + subject + been + verb ing + continue USAGE 1: How long (“active” verbs) We have been recording for 3 hoursWe haven’t been recording since the lockdown beganHow long have you been recording?USAGE 2: Explaining current state They are tired because they
Use this cheat sheet to help you remember the English tenses forms, usage, and typical sentence and question structures. In part I we’ll focus on the present simple , present continuous, past simple and past continuous. PRESENT SIMPLE SENTENCE FORM : Subject + verb 1st form + continue sentenceQUESTION FORM : Do (auxiliary verb) + subject + verb 1st form + continue USAGE 1: Normally like this I go to see a show at least once a week. I don’t go to see a show at least once a week Do you go to see a show at least once a week?USAGE 2: timetablesThe train leaves at 7:00. The train doesn’t leave at 7:00 What time does the train leave?USAGE 3: FactsBlack Flag is an American band.Black Flag isn’t an American artistWhere is Black Flag from?USAGE 4: permanent situationI live in crazy Žižkov.I don’t live in crazy Žižkov .Where do you live? PRESENT CONTINUOUS SENTENCE FORM: subject + is/ am/are + verb ing + continue sentenceQUESTION FORM: is/ am/ are + subject + verb ing + continue USAGE 1: happening now I am taking photos.I‘m not taking photosWhat are you doing now ?USAGE 2: temporary situation We are staying in Bali for the summer. We aren’t staying in Bali for the summer.Are we staying in Bali for the summer?USAGE 3: repeated annoying habitsJohn is always forgetting to bring a cable. John isn’t always forgetting to bring a cable.Is John constantly forgetting things? USAGE 4: arranged plan
When I teach English, I write down my students’ speaking mistakes for later error correction. Try this exercise : If you can fix these mistakes yourself, you are off to a good start! MISTAKES1. We need to finish the report until the end of today.2. There is an internal rule in company3. The slide one we see earnings4. The last year numbers were special because of COVID5. I was used to paying cash but now I use card6. Manager did presentation last week.7. There was too much informations and it was lost.8. I would like to remember you , that the client will come tomorrow.9. He’s been working like an accountant 10 years10. We need to solve this issue immediatelyCORRECTIONS1. We need to finish the report by the end of today2.. There is an internal policy in the company3. The first slide shows the earnings OR On the first slide we can see earnings4. Last year’s figures were exceptional because of COVID5. I used to pay cash but now I use a card6.The manager gave a presentation last week7. There was too much information and it was lost8. I would like to remind you that the client is coming tomorrow9. He’s been working as an accountant for 10 years10. We need to resolve this issue immediately Practice this topic with me, an American instructor, for a one hour session online. Get in touch or purchase directly here