In business writing, mistakes are usually about tone, not grammar. The same sentence can sound rude with the wrong tone.
A2 – B2🔊 Listen aloudInstant feedback~10 minutes
Bu bir örnek dosyadır. Öğrencilerime her dersten sonra, o derste işlediğimiz
konulara göre buna benzer bir dosya hazırlıyorum. Çalışmanın arayüzü, öğrenci panelinde
olduğu gibi İngilizce. Kayıt gerekmiyor, istediğiniz kadar deneyebilirsiniz — cevaplarınız
hiçbir yere gönderilmiyor.
Total
0 / 11
Four patterns that set the tone
Learn to recognise them, and you'll see which of two similar sentences sounds professional.
Requests — instead of Can you, use Could you or Would it be possible to…
Could you send me the report by Friday?Raporu cumaya kadar gönderebilir misiniz?
Would it be possible to postpone the call?Görüşmeyi erteleyebilir miyiz?
Softening — don't give bad news directly: I am afraid, it seems, slightly
I am afraid we cannot meet that deadline.Korkarım bu teslim tarihini tutturamayız.
There seems to be a small error in the invoice.Faturada küçük bir hata var gibi görünüyor.
Meetings — phrases for joining in and moving on
Sorry to interrupt, but may I add one point?Böldüğüm için kusura bakmayın, bir şey ekleyebilir miyim?
Shall we move on to the next item?Bir sonraki maddeye geçelim mi?
Opening and closing an e-mail
I am writing to follow up on our meeting.Toplantımızın takibi için yazıyorum.
Please let me know if you need anything else.Başka bir şeye ihtiyacınız olursa bana bildirin.
1. Which one sounds professional?
Both are understandable. Think about how the other person will read it.
You are writing to a client for the first time and you need some documents.
Answer: Dear Mr Yılmaz, could you please send the documents when convenient?
In a first contact, use a formal greeting and a polite request. Abbreviations like asap are for internal messages.
In a meeting, you want to add something without cutting the other person off.
Answer: Sorry to interrupt, but may I add one point?
An apology plus asking permission makes interrupting polite.
You are telling someone you can't meet the deadline.
Answer: I am afraid this will not be possible at the moment.
I am afraid and at the moment soften the bad news without closing the door.
You want to move the meeting to Tuesday.
Answer: Would it be possible to move the meeting to Tuesday?
An imperative sounds like an order; a question leaves room for the other person.
2. Complete the phrase
Write one word in each gap. The hint is in Turkish.
Could you me the file, please?
Answer: send
Could you + base verb.
I am writing to up on our meeting.
Answer: follow
follow up on: to check on something after it has started.
I am we cannot meet that deadline.
Answer: afraid
I am afraid: the standard phrase to soften bad news.
Shall we on to the next item?
Answer: move
move on to: go to the next item.
3. Build the professional sentence
Tap the words to put them in order. You can tap a word again to move it back.
Raporu cumaya kadar bana gönderebilir misiniz?
Your sentence
Words
Answer: Could you please send me the report by Friday
please sits most naturally after the subject, before the verb.
Toplantımızın takibi için yazıyorum.
Your sentence
Words
Answer: I am writing to follow up on our meeting
The first line of an e-mail: it says why you are writing.
Görüşmeyi ertelemek mümkün olur mu?
Your sentence
Words
Answer: Would it be possible to postpone the call
Would it be possible to + base verb: the most polite way to ask.
Done!
Derslerde sizin kendi e-postalarınız ve toplantılarınız üzerinden çalışıyoruz.