Formal Letter & Its Features SS3 English Studies Lesson Note

Letter writing is the art of communicating by writing one’s request, feelings, ideas, opinions and so on to someone, as if the person were physically present.

 Formal letter

Another name for formal letters is official letter. They are letters we write to people in their official positions. Even when we know them personally, the rule demands that we still write them impersonal or official letters.

Formal letters can be in the form of applications for admission or employment requests for casual leave by staff in offices, official queries and replies to them, letters to local government Chairmen, Commissioners or Minister of Education requesting for changes in the school system and other such topics.

 Features of a Formal Letter

1. Writer’s Address: This should be written at the top right hand corner of the page like this:

Federal Government College

P.M.B. 1075,

Owerri,

Imo State

15th July, 2002.

2. Receiver’s Address

This is written on the line following the date on the left hand side of the page. Other names for the receiver are: (1) the recipient

(11) The addressee e.g.

The Director,

Adebisi Associated Enterprises,

P.M.B. 10016,

Akure.

3. Salutation: The salutation is the greeting which comes after the receiver’s address: Dear Sir,or Dear Madam,.
4. Heading or Topic or Title

This comes directly after the salutation but not on the same line. E.g. Complaints about the lack of facilities in my area.

5.Body of the letter: Here, you go straight to what the question states you should do. There should be no room for exchange of pleasantries or personal matters, slang, colloquialism, abbreviations and contracted words like won’t, I’m, You know, Yea, Whats up, US, NAFDAC are not allowed.

6. Subscript (Complimentary close)

The most correct way of ending a formal letter is Yours faithfully, at the right hand corner of the page immediately after the letter. It’s followed by the writer’s signature and full names written under the signature:

Yours faithfully,

(Signature)

EzeChima

NOTE- Capital letter “Y” and small letter “f” while your signature must come before your name.

Evaluation: Write a letter to the chairman of your local government complaining to him about the lack of facilities in your area.

Reading Assignment: Page 203 of Effective English.

REVISING VERB AND VERB PHRASE

Verb can be seen as a word or group of words that expresses action, existence or occurrence, that is, what the subject of a sentence does,is, and what action the subject receives.A verb combines with a subject to make a statement,give a command or ask a question.It is the most important part of speech,for it is the heart of the sentence.It gives meaning to the sentence.

Verb phrase is the combination of the auxiliary verb,also known as the helping verb, and a main verb.

Types of Verb Phrases

1. Finite and non finite :Finite verb shows a relationship with the subject of the sentence, that’s , it’s limited to a particular number of persons.Eg.I am;We are;They are;He/She/It;David studied Law.

Non finite verb includes the gerund(eating),participle (water)and the infinitive (to go).Eg.Dancing is a good exercise;I want to eat et

1. Transitive and Intransitive verbs:Transitive verbs have a direct object.It needs an object to complete its meaning.Eg.She ate the rice.;She gave them the ball.

Intransitive verb needs no object to complete its meaning.It is complete in itself.Eg.She sleeps;She lay down;God is love.It is also called  linking verbs examples;appear,feel,grows,lay,look,prove,smell, sound,taste,turn,seem,set etc.

Functions of Verb phrase

1.To show complete action(perfected aspect ).Egs

a.I have eaten the yam(present perfect).

b.She has eaten the   yam(past perfect).

2.To show a continuous action(continuous/progressive aspect).Egs

a.I am writing (present continuous).

3.To indicate the future.Egs.

a.She will go to school tomorrow.

b.He shall wake up at 9.am.  

4.To indicate the conditional sentence.Egs.

a.John would sing if you gave him ten naira.

b.He would buy a new bag if he has enough money.

5.To show emphasis in a sentence.Egs.

a.My mother did visit the girls.

b.I did read the novel.

c.I did eat the food.

6.To indicate a negative sentence.Egs.

a.My father did not visit the hospital.

7.To indicate passive voice.Egs.

a.The food was eaten by Ogo.

b.The junior girls were beaten by the senior girls.