An email explaining a problem

An email explaining a problem

Learn how to write an email to explain a problem.

Do the preparation task first. Then read the text and tips and do the exercises.

Preparation

Reading text

From: Jameela Lee
To: Professor Kim Hart
Subject: Absence from class for two weeks
Attached: doctor's_certificate.pdf

Dear Professor Hart,

I'm writing to let you know that I can't attend class for two weeks as I've had an accident and hurt my back. I'm afraid I also need to ask for an extension for next week's essay.

I have medicine for the pain but I can't get up or walk around much, and the doctor said I should stay in bed and rest as much as possible. This makes reading and studying very difficult for me at the moment. I've attached a copy of the doctor's certificate and I hope to be back in class from 12 May.

Until then, my friend is going to record the lectures so I can listen to them at home. I will try to catch up with all the reading too. However, I don't think I can submit the essay next week. Is it possible to have an extension?

Thank you for your understanding.

Regards,

Jameela

(ENG101 class)

Tips

  1. Start with Dear and the person's title and name.
  2. Say what the problem is first. Then, give more details. Finally, offer a solution or say what you hope will happen next.
  3. Make it short and clear. Just include the most important information.
  4. Say Thank you for your understanding at the end. It shows that you hope the reader will understand your problems.

Task 1

Task 2

Task 3

Discussion

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Language level

Average: 4.1 (21 votes)
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Submitted by khalidait on Sun, 15/11/2020 - 14:55

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yeah . actually i have missed several days from school because i had an ear pain so for that i could not attended to class but i attached a copy of the doctor and maybe i will extension more few days . but however i used that period to learn by myself on internet

Submitted by Khant Khant on Tue, 03/11/2020 - 14:16

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I've ever missed morning class as I used to get up late. My friend recorded lecture videos and helped me to catch up with this class.

Submitted by thaika354 on Wed, 14/10/2020 - 08:54

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funny that I've just have several days off from my work due to my wedding and come back recently, well for the keep up part I'm still working on it

Submitted by Moon Wathan on Wed, 14/10/2020 - 08:17

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Yes, I have ever missed the class when I was attend the university. At that time, I copied the lectures from my friends on the next day. Now I am also in work, I have missed the duty because I have graduation ceremony for Master Degree. At that time, I wrote the leave form to my Division Head. That's why she gave me leave day for graduation. So, It was ok for me that day.

Submitted by habibao.medo on Tue, 13/10/2020 - 08:58

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yes , i have missed a lot of classes because i had another exam for the university, when i was in my final year at school all the student had to pass an exam called qudorat to go to the university so i missed a lot of classes to study hard to pass the exam

Submitted by Ugulhan on Mon, 28/09/2020 - 09:13

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Yes, I have missed several days of my lectures at University. I have written also like this an email for explaining a problem. Why I can not come to the lecture and I tried to show to them the result as possible.

Submitted by Matt18 on Thu, 27/08/2020 - 11:37

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Dear Sir?madam, I am writing to let you know I cannot attend to science class for three weeks, as I have caught a cold and I should isolate myself home. I have got medicine, but I have not allowed to go out till three weeks. I am struggling to read and study nowadays, I attached a copy of doctor's certificate.I asked my friend to record the lectures. She is going to record it for me and it will makes possible to listen it and i try to catch up with the class and hopefully, come back to the class as soon as possible. Would you please keep a copy of all handouts for me? Many Thanks, Mehdi

Submitted by shironeiko on Wed, 26/08/2020 - 01:05

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In my teenage years, I often cut off the class with the health reason, several times per years. Fortunatelly, I just have 2-3 days off so that not influence to my study. I often borrow my friend-notebook to rewrite anything, practising folow the text book. I'll try to go to school if we have an examination.
Profile picture for user shelly

Submitted by shelly on Sun, 23/08/2020 - 09:07

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Yes, I had. At the beginning of this years, there was an outbreak of covid-19 virus. It was time to go back to my work place after the annual vacation of Chian the spring festival, but I have to quarantine for at 14 days based on the rugulation of my company as two people were infected near community. I wrote a letter to my manager as following: Dear John, I am wrting to tell you I have to quatantine for 14 days before I go back to factory. As you must learn from the news that two people were infected near my community, for the safety of my collegue or people around me, I would not leave my home until everything is fine for me. Regarding the assignment you allocate I think I can finish it perfectly in my home, please donot worry about this. Best wished, shelly

Submitted by Venus on Sat, 22/08/2020 - 03:59

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It was in 2008 fall when I was playing with my little brother, I fell from the stairs and broke my leg. As far as I remembered, I had to cancel 5 days of school. The next week, I had piles of homework and tasks to finish, and obviously I coudn't ace the upcoming exam that month.