Introduction to Letter Writing

A letter is a written form of communication that is addressed to a specific person or a specific organization. It is one of the easiest and non-expensive means of communication. The relationship between the writer and the receiver determines the way a letter is written. There are several ways of writing a letter, each having its own style. Letters are of two basic types. Formal letters: These letters include applications, letters to editors, official letters, letters to and from organizations, government departments etc. These letters have an objective or business-like style of writing. Informal letters: These letters include letters to parents, relatives, friends etc. These letters have an easy and conversational language. While writing formal letters, one should ensure that it is not too extensive. These letters are supposed to be short and to-the-point. Format of an Informal Letter Writers Address

1.

A-225, Mayur Vihar Phase 1, Delhi-94 March 25, 2010 Dear Ankit/Father/Mother/Sister/Brother/Aunt This part contains all the information one wants to share by writing the letter. Yours lovingly/affectionately Rajesh/Pavan/Atul

2. Date 3. Salutation 4. Body 5. Subscription 6. Name or Signature

Format of a Formal Letter Writers Address

1.

A-225, Mayur Vihar Phase 1, Delhi-94

2. Date 3. Address of the receiver

March 25, 2010 YZX Technology, C-12, Azad Nagar East, Delhi-18/The Principal, ABC School, Dhaula Kuan, Delhi-75 This part contains the objective of writing the letter. It must be concise. Respected Madam/Dear Sir This part should be divided into three paragraphs. The first paragraph must contain a short mention of the reason for writing the letter; the middle paragraph must contain all the details, while the last paragraph must express what one would want the other person to do in the event of receiving the letter. Yours truly/obediently/sincerely Rajesh/Pavan/Atul, Roll No. 123, Class 10-A

4. Subject 5. Salutation

6. Main Body

7. Subscription 8. Name or Signature

Note 1. The date can be written as: March 1, 2010 or 1st March, 2010 or 1 March, 2010 2. The address must be complete and must have the pin code of the address to which it is being sent. 3. Never write Yours truly, always write Yours truly.

The Twelve Tenses

In English grammar, past, present and future have been further divided as follows: PRESENT Simple Continuous/Progressive Perfect Simple Perfect Continuous/Perfect Progressive PAST Simple Continuous/Progressive Perfect Simple Perfect Continuous/Perfect Progressive FUTURE Simple Continuous/Progressive Perfect Simple Perfect Continuous/Perfect Progressive

As mentioned before, tenses are directly related to verbs. In each of the above tabulated tense forms, a verb is used in its base form, past form, present participle form or past participle form. The following table lists the different forms of a verb according to the twelve tenses. The verb do has been used for this purpose. PRESENT do / does Simple (Base form) Continuous/ Progressive am doing / is doing / are doing (Present participle) have done / has done Perfect Simple (Past participle) Perfect Continuous/ Perfect Progressive have been doing/has been doing (Present participle) (Past participle) (Past participle) will have been doing (Present participle) (Past form) was doing / were doing (Present participle) had done (Base form) will be doing (Present participle) will have done PAST did FUTURE will do

had been doing (Present participle)

Conjugation of the verb 'DO' in the Simple Tense

Simple Present Singular First Person Second Person Third Person I do it everyday You do it everyday Plural We do it everyday You do it everyday

He does it everyday They do it everyday Simple Past Singular Plural We did that yesterday You did that yesterday They did that yesterday

First Person

I didthat yesterday

Second Person You did that yesterday Third Person He did that yesterday Simple Future Singular First Person I will do that tomorrow

Plural We will do that tomorrow You will do that tomorrow They will do that tomorrow

Second Person You will do that tomorrow Third Person In simple words: He will do that tomorrow

The simple present tense indicates an action or event that takes place regularly, without fail.

The simple past tense indicates an action or event that took place at some moment in the past. The simple future tense indicates an action or event that will take place at some moment in the future.
Conjugation of the verb 'DO' in the Continuous Tense

Present Continuous Singular First Person I am doing it right now Plural We are doing it right now You are doing it right now They are doing it right now

Second Person You are doing it right now Third Person He is doing it right now Past Continuous Singular First Person I was doing it at that time

Plural We were doing it at that time You were doing it at that time They were doing it at that time

Second Person You were doing it at that time Third Person He was doing it at that time

Future Continuous Singular First Person I will be doing it at that time Plural We will be doingit at that time You will be doingit at that time They will be doingit at that time

Second Person You will be doingit at that time Third Person He will be doing it at that time

So what happens in the continuous form? You can say that: The present continuous tense indicates an action or event that is taking place at the moment. The past continuous tense indicates an action or event that was taking place at some moment in the past. The future continuous tense indicates an action or event that will be taking place at some moment in the future.
Conjugation of the verb 'DO' in the Perfect Tense

Present Perfect Simple Singular First Person I have done this recently Plural We have done this recently You have done this recently They have done this recently

Second Person You have done this recently Third Person He has done this recently

Past Perfect Simple Singular First Person Second Person Third Person I had done this before that happened You had done this before that happened He had done this before that happened Plural We had done this before that happened You had done this before that happened They had done this before that happened

Future Perfect Simple Singular First Person Second Person Third Person I will have done this before that happens You will have done this before that happens He will have done this before that happens Plural We will have done this before that happens You will have done this before that happens They will have done this before that happens

The perfect simple form can be summarised as follows: The present perfect simple tense indicates an action or event that has taken place in an indefinite or recent past. The past perfect simple tense indicates an action or event that had taken place at some moment in the past, before another action or event. The future perfect simple tense indicates an action or event that will have taken place at some moment in the future, before another action or event.
Conjugation of the verb 'DO' in the Perfect Continuous Tense

Present Perfect Continuous Singular First Person Second Person Third Person I have been doing it for a long while You have been doing it for a long while He has been doing it for a long while Plural We have been doing it for a long while You have been doing it for a long while They have been doing it for a long while

Past Perfect Continuous Singular First Person Second Person Third Person I had been doing it till that time You had been doing it till that time He had been doing it till that time Plural We had been doing it till that time You had been doing it till that time They had been doing it till that time

Future Perfect Continuous Singular First Person Second Person Third Person I will have been doing it by that time You will have been doing it by that time He will have been doing it by that time Plural We will have been doing it by that time You will have been doing it by that time They will have been doing it by that time

The perfect continuous form can be summarised as follows: The present perfect continuous tense indicates an action or event that began at a certain moment in the past and is still continuing into the present. The past perfect continuous tense indicates an action or event that was taking place at some moment in the past, before another action or event. The future perfect continuous tense indicates an action or event that will be taking place at some moment in the future, before another action or event.