Exam Writing: A Problem Email
Exam Writing: A Problem Email
This is a signature B1 written-production exam task: write a semi-formal email explaining a problem and requesting a solution. This lesson gives the fixed structural phrases examiners expect to see, building on the complaints vocabulary from the previous lesson.
Grammar Comparison
Grammar Comparison
Opening formula: je vous écris pour + infinitif
Je vous écris pour vous signaler un problème.
I am writing to inform you of a problem.
English business emails often open more directly ('I am writing regarding...', 'I wanted to let you know...'), with several equally natural options. French semi-formal emails favor this fixed pour + infinitif opening as close to a required formula rather than one option among many — treat je vous écris pour... as a template to reuse each time rather than a sentence to reinvent from scratch.
Vocabulary
Vocabulary
| French | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| je vous écris pour | zhuh voo zay-KREE poor | I am writing to you to |
| je vous signale que | zhuh voo see-NYAHL kuh | I would like to point out that |
| je souhaiterais que vous | zhuh swet-RAY kuh voo | I would like you to |
| dans les plus brefs délais | dahn lay plu brehf day-LEH | as soon as possible |
| je compte sur votre compréhension | zhuh kohnt sur voh-truh kohm-pray-ahn-see-OHN | I am counting on your understanding |
| veuillez trouver ci-joint | vuh-YAY troo-VAY see-ZHWAN | please find attached |
| en espérant une réponse rapide | ahn es-pay-RAHN un ray-POHNS rah-PEED | hoping for a quick reply |
| cordialement | kor-dee-ahl-MAHN | best regards |
| je vous remercie par avance | zhuh voo ruh-mair-SEE par ah-VAHNS | thank you in advance |
| résoudre le problème | ray-ZOO-druh luh proh-BLEM | to resolve the problem |
| prendre les mesures nécessaires | prahn-druh lay muh-ZUR nay-say-SEHR | to take the necessary measures |
| un dédommagement | uhn day-doh-mahzh-MAHN | compensation |