The Grammar of

Business Emails
Presented by www.m
ybusinessenglish.com

Outlin
e

Opening Small Talk

(informal emails)

Referring to Previous

Contact

Purpose Statements
Making Requests
Referring to Attachments

Opening Small
Talk
informal
style

How was the meeting?

past simple to ask

How are you?

How are you

about the
past
present simple
to ask
wellbeing

Referring to Previous
Contact
formal style
the
purpose
prepositional
(see
phrases +
comma

of
usually
Thank
for
your letterofof1024
Further you
to our
conversation
May,...clear way
referring
to
January.

followed by

With reference to your letter of 24 January,...

next

slide)

Thank you is a
positive and

Purpose Statements

w sho why you

Purpose statements
are writing.
to + infinitive (to + verb) is often used to
state purpose
action in
progress
present

I am writing to + V

your
wishes/wants

continuous describing

I would like to + V

present simple statement

like- to puts focus on
of fact
In informal emails, just
makes the
and less
work
for theemail
Just
a short

would

...for a request or
enquiry
The past tense was
makes
distant, tentative and

to + V

Requests

the

modal
verbs
Requests
often use
could and
can and
will.because
would
they sound more
polite than

Could you please

+ V?

I would be grateful if you could/would

+
V?
wondering also

I was wondering if you could/would + V

makes

he

Please + V (imperative)

The past

Referring to Attachments

I have
attached...
Please attache
find
d...

Present perfect
simple
have/has
past action
with
present+ V3
effect
Imperative (main
verb)

Attached you will find... imperative is polite

of future
fact with
attached
Future tense for a statement
order-like

as you
Here, combined with
please
the often

Promising Action
will + verb

I will + V

Will do.

Hi Craig

December balance

Could
sheet you send me the
Regard
please?
s
Harriet

Will + verb is used to say what you will

do after this
email

Will do is used toWill

reply
do.
quickly to
request emails in informal style.

Hi
Harriet
Will do.

Closing Small
Talk
Positive future statements informal style

Here we are generally

Good luck with the presentation.

Enjoy your day off.

leaving

Ellipsis

out (omitting) the

subject I and verbs such
as hope and wish.

Positive Closing
Statements

Present simple
sounds more

look
forward
to
hearing
formal
I
you
from
am looking forward to
.
I
seeing
you
.

Warning!

Common
from
hea
you.
r Error
I look forward to

Use the V+ing or

n
a
Present continuous sounds warmer and
noun after

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ybusinessenglish.com