1. Formal Letters

2. Do you write letters?
I get birthday presents from Uncle Tom every year. I write him thank-you letters.
Ben Lee is my favourite football player.
I write him fan mail.
The service at Yummy House Restaurant is poor. I will write a letter of complaint to the manager.

3. I want to visit the Space Museum and I have some questions
I want to visit the Space Museum and I have some questions. I will write them a letter of inquiry.
I want to go to Happy Kids Secondary School. My mother will write an application letter for me.
I write a letter to my pen friend every month.

4. We write formal letters to companies, schools, organisations, etc.
We write friendly or personal letters to friends, family members and people we love and care about.

5. Put the types of letters in the correct boxes.
letter of complaint
fan mail
thank-you letter
letter of inquiry
application letter
letter to a pen friend
Formal letters
Friendly letters

6. Let’s read a letter of complaint together.

7. Letterhead Letterhead is found at the top of a piece of letter paper.
It usually contains the name of an organisation, the address and sometimes the logo.
Letterhead

8. Date
We put the date on top of the letter so that people know when we wrote the letter.
Date

9. Recipient
The recipient is the person who receives the letter, e.g. Miss Lee, Mrs. K.C. Ho, Mr. Patrick Poon
Recipient

10. Organisation and Address
We begin the address with the recipient’s organisation.
Organisation
Address

11. Salutation
The salutation is the greeting in a formal letter, e.g. Dear Mr. Poon,
If we do not know the name of the recipient, we can write Dear Sir/Madam,
Salutation

12. Subject line
The subject line tells the recipient what the letter is about, e.g. Complaint about the hiking trail
Inquiry on opening hours
Application to Rainbow School
Subject line

13. Main body We write past events using the simple past tense.
We write facts and opinions using the simple present tense.
Main body

14. Closing In a formal letter, we can end the letter with
Yours sincerely,
Yours truly,
Closing

15. Signature and Sender
Sign and write your name at the end of the letter.
Signature
Sender’s name

16. Organisation and Address
Letterhead
Date
Recipient
Organisation and Address
Salutation
Subject line
Main body
Closing
Signature
Sender’s name

17. The End