Learn how to write an email to ask a colleague to do something.

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

Reading text

From: Gabriela Flores
To: Yuki Sato
Subject: Request for new price list for V1698 face creams

Dear Yuki,  

We are presenting to some new clients next Monday 10 December and they are interested in our V1698 face creams.

I understand from Kate that the prices have changed recently. She mentioned that you have the new price list. Do you think you could email it to me?

I would be grateful if we could have it by close of business on Thursday 6 December. That would give us time to prepare for our presentation.

Thanks very much for your help.

Best regards,

Gabriela

Tips

  1. Some people prefer you to use their first names, and others prefer you to use their title (e.g. Ms/Mr) + their surnames. Find out what is normal in your company when writing emails.
  2. Explain the reason for the request.
  3. Give a deadline when possible.
  4. Give dates clearly.
  5. Make your request polite by starting it with Do you think you could … ? or I would be grateful if you/we/I could … .
  6. If you don't know the person you are writing to well, you can finish by writing Best regards just before you sign your name.

Task 1

Exercise

Task 2

Exercise

Task 3

Exercise

Discussion

Do you write a lot of emails to your colleagues?

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Language level

Pre-intermediate: A2

Comments

Huyen's picture Huyen replied on Turks and Caicos Islands (British Overseas Territory)

Yes, I often write an e-mail to my colleague. In case of I need the important information, I will phone, then mail to remind my request.
For the other information, I will only make a phone call.

cittàutopica's picture cittàutopica replied on Italy

I don't write a lot of emails to my colleagues, but I do it only in specific situations; otherwise I prefer to talk directly. Obviously I use email when I need to talk with my colleagues who work in other cities.

Loc Dang's picture Loc Dang replied on Spain

Of course, writing an email to colleagues is always necessary as we have to contact each other for some news or information regarding our job. An email is sometimes a piece of evidence in some particular circumstances when we need to give accurate fact.

Achmad Shocheb's picture Achmad Shocheb replied on Indonesia

Will it be okkay if I write 'Thank very much for your help'? without 's' at the end of word 'thank'

Kirk's picture Kirk replied on Spain

Hello Achmad Shocheb

No, I'm afraid that wouldn't be correct. You could say 'Thank you very much for your help', however, and that would be correct.

All the best

Kirk

The LearnEnglish Team

saydin's picture saydin replied on Italy

hello,
I write a lot of email to my colleague because our job is to give support another people and we must be in touch.

dw3222's picture dw3222 replied on Iran

Hello
' We are presenting to some new clients ', presenting is a verb or gerund?

dw3222's picture dw3222 replied on Iran

Hello everyone
In the sentence " I understand from Kate that the prices have changed recently" Isn't that better to say, I understood from Kate that the prices have changed recently. please help me

Kirk's picture Kirk replied on Spain

Hello dw3222
In the context of an email like this, 'I understand from Kate' is another way of saying 'Kate has told me' or 'Kate told me'. 'I understood from Kate' is grammatically correct, but it would be more common for someone to write 'I understand from Kate' or 'Kate told me' here.
All the best
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team

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