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You are planning a holiday in Scotland. You have been given the name and address of a hotel near the sea and would like some further information. Write a letter to the hotel.

 Ask for information about the hotel’s exact location and facilities.

 Explain any special requirements you have

 Ask whether the hotel can accommodate them.

Begin your letter as follows;

Dear Sir/Madam Brainstorming

Before you start writing, it’s a good idea to spend one or two minutes brainstorming ideas for you letter. Brainstorming just means thinking of as many ideas as possible. After brainstorming, you can then choose the best, most relevant ideas and decide how to organize them into paragraphs.

Put each idea under the appropriate heading;

Hotel facilities Location

Special requirements

105 Air conditioning in the rooms

babysitting service bar

car park

children’s play area distance from airport distance from town centre gym

Internet access laundry service

proximity to areas of natural beauty

proximity to beach

proximity to tourist attractions restaurant

room service

single room on ground floor swimming pool

tennis court vegetarian diet wheelchair acces

106 Indirect Questions

Indirect questions are more polite than direct questions so we tend to use them in more formal situations. However, when we ask a series of questions it would be unnatural to make all of them indirect. We usually start off with one or two indirect questions to establish politeness, and then continue with direct questions. Using a mixture of direct and indirect questions will make your English sound more natural.

Read the sample answer and find six phrases used to introduce questions and to make them less direct and more polite and formal.

Dear Sir/ Madam,

My family and I are planning a holiday to Scotland in August and I am writing for more information about your hotel.

I know the hotel is close to the sea, but I would be grateful if you could give me details of its exact location. Can you tell me how close it is to the nearest beach? Also, how far is it from the town centre? Would we need to hire a car during our stay?

I would also like to know what facilities the hotel has. Is there an indoor swimming pool, for example, and do you provide a babysitting service?

Could you also tell me whether the rooms have an Internet connection?

Lastly, my elderly mother will be coming with us and she has problems walking up stairs. I was wondering if the hotel has a lift. If not, please let me know whether it would be possible to book a single room on the ground floor for her. Also, will we have to pay a supplement for the single room?

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully, Jenny Walsh

Change the direct questions to indirect questions, and vice versa.

1 Do the rooms have a view of the sea? [Please let me know]

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2 I would like to know if I can pay by credit card.

3 Which credit cards do you accept? [Could you let me know]

4 I was wondering if there is a car park.

5 Does the hotel have 24-hour room service? [I would like to know]

6 Please let me know whether I have to pay a deposit.

7 What time does the hotel restaurant close? [Can you tell me]

8 Could you let me know if there are any rooms available in August?

9 Can you send me a brochure? [ I would be grateful]

10 I would like to know what time you serve breakfast.

11 Is there air conditioning in the rooms? [I was wondering]

12 Can you tell me how long it takes to get to the hotel from the airport?

Formal letters

Answer the following questions. In most cases, there is more than one correct answer.

1 which of the following people would you write a formal letter to?

A a close friend

B someone you have never met C someone you do not know very well D a close relative

E the editor of a newspaper F a prospective employer

3 when we know the recipient’s surname, we use it in the salutation, for example ‘Dear Miss Barnes’. Which of ending is the most appropriate?

A Yours faithfully B Yours sincerely C All the best

4 which of the following openings are suitable for a formal letter?

A I am writing to enquire about…

B I am writing to inform you…

108 C Just a quick note to…

D This is just to let you know…

E Thanks for your letter. It was great to hear…

F Thank you for your letter of…

G I am writing to apply for…

H I saw your advertisement in…

I Sorry I haven’t been in touch for so long but…

J I am writing to apologise for…

5 which closing sentences are suitable for a formal letter?

A I would appreciate a reply by return of post.

B Hope to hear from you very soon.

C I’m really looking forward to hearing all your news.

D Drop me a line when you can.

E I look forward to hearing from you in the near future.

F With thanks for your help in this matter.

G Thanks for everything

H Thank you for your kind attention.

I Please feel free to contact me for further information.

J Take care and do keep in touch!

6 which of the following are found mainly in formal letters?

A colloquial language

B full forms (e.g. I am, I would like, I have written) C short forms (e.g. I’m, I’d like, I’ve written) D impersonal style and tone

E personal style and tone F phrasal verbs

G short, simple sentences H indirect questions I idioms

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Read this writing task and the sample answer. Complete the letter by choosing the phrase which best fits each gap.

You are planning a holiday in Australia. You have been given the name and address of a hotel in the centre of Sydney and would like further information. Write a letter to the hotel.

 Ask about the availability of rooms and the hotel’s facilities

 Find out if the hotel arranges day trips

 Ask them to send you a brochure Begin your letter as follows;

Dear Sir/Madam

Dear Sir/ Madam

I am writing to enquire about staying at your hotel as I am planning a trip to Sydney next month.

First of all, I would like to know 1………..possible to book a double room for 7 nights from Friday 16^th to Thursday 22^nd. Also, we would prefer to stay in a room with a view of Sydney Harbour so could you let me know whether 2……….any available?

Secondly, I would be grateful if 3……….me details of the hotel facilities. I would particularly like to know what outdoor sports facilities 4……… For example, 5………a swimming pool and 6……….any tennis courts in the hotel grounds?

Lastly, I was wondering 7………day trips to places in and around Sydney. 8………trips to any of the historical sights or to the mountains, and how much 9……… 10………please send me any brochures you have so that I can plan in advance?

Thank you for your kind attention. I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully, Alison Howat

1 it would be/ if it would be/ would it be/ if would it be

110 2 there is/ is there/ there are/ are there

3 you could send/ could you send/ you can send/ you send

4 does the hotel have/ has got the hotel/ has the hotel/ the hotel has 5 there is/ is there/ there are/ are there

6 there is/ is there/ there are/ are there

7 you arrange/ if you arrange/ do you arrange/ if do you arrange 8 You have/ Have you/ Do you have/ You do have

9 do they cost/ they cost/ cost they/ they do cost 10 You can/ You could/ Could you/ You will

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