Italian · Upper intermediate (B2) · Chapter 10 of 12
Formal writing
Una lettera formale
Write a formal email or letter in Italian: set phrases, formal connectors, and gerund and participle phrases.
In this chapter you'll learn to
- Start and end a formal email or letter
- Turn everyday Italian into formal written Italian
- Use the gerundio and participle phrases in writing
- Link ideas with pertanto, inoltre and in merito a
Listen
In Messina, Agata helps her father Nunzio write a complaint to an airline about his lost suitcase. Listen to the whole dialogue first, then line by line.
Agata
Allora, papà, scriviamo questa e-mail alla compagnia aerea. Cosa vuoi dire?
Right, Dad, let's write this email to the airline. What do you want to say?
Nunzio
Scrivi: “Mi avete perso la valigia e sono dieci giorni che aspetto. Ma vi sembra normale?”
Write: “You've lost my suitcase and I've been waiting for ten days. Do you think that's normal?”
Agata
Papà, così non va: è una lettera formale. Comincio con “Gentili Signori, con la presente desidero segnalare lo smarrimento del mio bagaglio.”
Dad, that won't do: it's a formal letter. I'll start with “Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to report the loss of my luggage.”
Nunzio
Lo smarrimento? Ma parla come mangi!
The loss? Oh, just say it plainly!
Agata
Nelle lettere formali si scrive così. Poi: “Il 3 maggio, arrivato a Catania con il volo delle 18:40 da Milano Linate, non ho trovato la mia valigia.”
That's how you write in formal letters. Then: “On 3 May, having arrived in Catania on the 6.40 pm flight from Milan Linate, I did not find my suitcase.”
Nunzio
E aggiungi che ho fatto subito la denuncia all'aeroporto, ma nessuno mi ha più chiamato.
And add that I reported it at the airport straight away, but nobody has called me since.
Agata
Va bene: “Pur avendo sporto denuncia all'ufficio bagagli, non ho ancora ricevuto nessuna notizia.”
All right: “Although I filed a report at the baggage office, I have not yet received any news.”
Nunzio
E voglio indietro i soldi di tutto quello che ho dovuto comprare: le medicine, due camicie, i pantaloni…
And I want the money back for everything I had to buy: my medicines, two shirts, trousers…
Agata
“Non avendo con me la valigia, ho dovuto sostenere alcune spese. Pertanto ne chiedo il rimborso e allego gli scontrini.”
“As I did not have my suitcase with me, I had to incur some expenses. I therefore request a refund of them, and I attach the receipts.”
Nunzio
E alla fine scrivi: “Rispondetemi subito!”
And at the end write: “Answer me straight away!”
Agata
Meglio: “Resto in attesa di un Vostro riscontro. Distinti saluti.”
Better: “I look forward to hearing from you. Yours faithfully.”
Nunzio
Mamma mia, sembra una lettera del Comune! Speriamo almeno che la leggano.
Good heavens, it sounds like a letter from the council. Let's hope they at least read it.
Understand
The gerundio in writing
You know the gerund from . On its own, it can replace a whole clause, especially in writing. It can give a reason ( = As I didn't have my clothes, …), say when something happened ( = On my way home, …) or how ( = You learn by making mistakes).
The compound gerund, or + participle, is for something that happened before: (Having arrived late, …). + gerund means “although”: , …. The subject of the gerund should be the same as the subject of the main verb, and pronouns join the end: .
| Gerund | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| being, as (I) am / was | ||
| having received | , … | |
| as (I) don't / didn't have | ||
| although (I) know / knew | , … |
Participle phrases
A past participle on its own can replace + a verb: (Having arrived in Catania, … = ). With verbs that take , it agrees with the subject; with the others, it agrees with the object: (Once I'd reported it, I went home).
Some participles are fixed phrases in formal writing: (given the delay), (seeing that), (once payment has been received). In speech, + participle is more common: .
- Finita la riunione, Le manderò il preventivo.Once the meeting is over, I'll send you the quote.
- Considerato il ritardo, chiedo il rimborso del biglietto.Given the delay, I request a refund of the ticket.
- Ricevuta la Sua e-mail, abbiamo controllato subito.Having received your email, we checked straight away.
Phrases for formal letters
Italian formal letters use fixed phrases, and or with a capital letter: (a reply from you), (your request). Link your points with formal connectors: (furthermore), (therefore), (regarding), (however).
You may also meet (if, should) + congiuntivo: , … (Should the suitcase not be found, …). is a little warmer than .
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| / | Dear Sir or Madam, / Dear Dr Rossi, |
| … | I am writing to… |
| , … | Regarding your request, … |
| … / … | Please find attached… / I attach… |
| I look forward to hearing from you. | |
| / | Yours faithfully / Kind regards |
More in the grammar: Connectors: tuttavia, eppure, sebbene, pertanto · The gerundio and participle phrases
New words
- la compagnia aereaairline
- la valigiasuitcase · plural:
- la letteraletter
- segnalareto report, to point out
- lo smarrimentoloss (formal) · = to lose (formal)
- il bagaglioluggage, baggage
- Parla come mangi!Say it plainly! · literally: speak the way you eat
- il voloflight
- aggiungereto add · participle:
- la denunciareport (to the police or an office) · / = to report, to file a report
- le speseexpenses, costs · = to incur expenses
- il rimborsorefund
- allegareto attach, to enclose · = attached
Practise
1.Which opening is right for a formal email to a company?
2.Complete with the compound gerund of .
Although I reported it straight away, I haven't received any news.
3.Complete with the past participle of (Nunzio).
Having arrived in Catania, I didn't find my suitcase.
4.Put the words in order.
Tap the words below in the right order.I look forward to hearing from you.
5.Which word means “therefore” in formal writing?
6.Match the Italian with the English.
Pick a word on the left, then its meaning on the right.
0 of 6 exercises done.
Say it out loud
Con la presente desidero segnalare un problema.
I am writing to report a problem.
Listen, then say it out loud, as close to the recording as you can.
Check
Five questions on this chapter. Then mark it as finished to add its words to your review deck.
0 of 5 answered.