Writing: A Formal Email Making a Request
A formal email making a request is the B1 writing genre that introduces professional register. The format covers formal greetings (Dear Mr/Ms X, Dear Sir/Madam), framing the request politely (I am writing to enquire about, I would be grateful if you could), providing context and reasoning, specifying the action needed, and closing politely (Thank you for your consideration, I look forward to hearing from you, Kind regards). Learners build the polite-firmness skill central to professional B1 writing.
This worksheet builds B1 writing fluency with formal-request email format.
Worksheet preview
What’s inside:
- A model formal request email with annotated structure
- Phrase bank organised by email phase (opening, framing, justifying, closing)
- Rewriting task: convert direct demands into polite professional requests
- Email gap-fill targeting register markers
- Original-writing task: write a request email for a workplace or service scenario
- Full Answer Key plus Teacher Notes
Common challenges: Politeness register at B1 — Could you please, I would appreciate it if, would it be possible to anchor polite framing. Avoiding bluntness: Send me the report sounds rude; Could you send me the report when you have a moment is appropriate. Modal verbs for politeness: could, would, may, might.
For: Adult and teenage learners (14+) at CEFR B1, in intermediate classes, 1:1 lessons, or self-study. Maps onto Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET) Writing and BEC Preliminary. Part of the Emails & Letters collection — the natural next step is A Letter of Complaint, which extends formal email writing into higher-stakes correspondence.
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