Portuguese · Upper intermediate (B2) · Chapter 10 of 12
Formal writing
Escrita formal
Write formal letters and emails in Portuguese: set phrases, procuram alguém que fale…, caso, desde que and a menos que, and formal pronoun placement.
In this chapter you'll learn to
- Write a formal letter or email: greetings, set phrases and endings
- Use the subjunctive in relative clauses: procuram alguém que fale inglês
- Use antes que, a menos que, caso, desde que and sem que
- Link ideas in writing with ademais, contudo and portanto
Listen
In Petrópolis, Arthur asks his aunt Márcia, a retired teacher, to help him write a cover letter for a job at the visitor centre of the Serra dos Órgãos national park. Listen to the whole dialogue first, then line by line.
Arthur
Tia, você me dá uma mão com a carta de apresentação? Tenho que mandar antes que as inscrições fechem, na sexta.
Auntie, can you give me a hand with my cover letter? I have to send it before applications close on Friday.
Márcia
Claro. Deixa eu ver o anúncio da vaga. O que eles pedem, exatamente?
Of course. Let me see the job advert. What exactly are they asking for?
Arthur
Procuram alguém que fale inglês e espanhol, que tenha experiência com atendimento ao público e que conheça bem a Serra dos Órgãos.
They're looking for someone who speaks English and Spanish, who has experience dealing with the public and who knows the Serra dos Órgãos well.
Márcia
Então é você. Você fala inglês muito bem e faz essas trilhas desde criança. Como você começou a carta?
Then it's you. You speak English very well and you've been doing those trails since you were a child. How did you start the letter?
Arthur
Coloquei: “Oi, tudo bem? Meu nome é Arthur e eu queria muito essa vaga.”
I put: “Hi, how are you? My name's Arthur and I'd really like this job.”
Márcia
Ai, Arthur, assim não. Numa carta formal, você escreve: “Prezados senhores, venho por meio desta candidatar-me à vaga de atendente do Centro de Visitantes.”
Oh, Arthur, not like that. In a formal letter you write: “Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to apply for the position of assistant at the Visitor Centre.”
Arthur
Tá bom, tá bom. E a experiência? Eu só trabalhei um verão numa pousada em Itaipava.
OK, OK. And my experience? I've only worked one summer at a guesthouse in Itaipava.
Márcia
Serve, sim. Escreve algo como: “Ademais, conto com experiência em atendimento ao público.” E manda o currículo em anexo, a menos que eles peçam outra coisa.
That counts. Write something like: “Furthermore, I have experience in customer service.” And attach your CV, unless they ask for something else.
Arthur
Eles pedem em PDF. E eu falo que não tenho carro? O centro fica longe do ponto de ônibus.
They want it as a PDF. And do I say I haven't got a car? The centre is a long way from the bus stop.
Márcia
Não, isso não. Caso eles perguntem na entrevista, aí você explica. Uma boa carta fala do que você tem, não do que falta.
No, not that. If they ask you in the interview, you can explain then. A good letter talks about what you have, not what you lack.
Arthur
Faz sentido. E como é que eu termino?
Makes sense. And how do I finish?
Márcia
“Fico à disposição para uma entrevista. Atenciosamente, Arthur Monteiro.” E eu te ajudo, desde que você me leve para fazer uma trilha quando começar.
“I remain at your disposal for an interview. Yours faithfully, Arthur Monteiro.” And I'll help you, as long as you take me on a hike when you start.
Understand
Formal letters and emails
Formal Portuguese letters and emails use fixed phrases and / or no “you” at all. The greeting is usually followed by a comma: or when you don't know who will read it. refers to ; in an email, write ().
Formal writing avoids starting a sentence with an object pronoun, so the pronoun goes after the verb: , . After and similar words it goes before: . With the future and conditional, very formal and legal texts even put it in the middle (, ); you only need to recognise this.
| Portuguese | English |
|---|---|
| / | Dear Mr Almeida, / Dear Madam, |
| Dear Sir or Madam, | |
| … | I am writing to… |
| Please find my CV attached. | |
| … | I remain at your disposal for… |
| / | Yours faithfully / sincerely, / Kind regards, |
Procuram alguém que fale inglês
In a relative clause, use the subjunctive for a person or thing you don't know exists: (They're looking for someone who speaks English, whoever that may be). Use the indicative for someone you know exists: . After and , the verb is always subjunctive.
Some conjunctions always take the subjunctive, because they talk about things that haven't happened or may not happen. After a past verb, use the imperfect subjunctive: .
| Conjunction | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| before | ||
| unless | ||
| if, in case | ||
| as long as, provided that | ||
| without |
Connectors for writing
Written Portuguese has its own connectors, more formal than the ones you use in speech. (furthermore) adds a point, (however) introduces a contrast, and (therefore) gives a conclusion. Note that means “as long as” with the subjunctive, but “since” with the indicative: (since I arrived).
| Written | Spoken equivalent | English |
|---|---|---|
| furthermore, besides | ||
| , | however | |
| , | therefore, so | |
| if, in case |
More in the grammar: Object pronouns and where they go · Relative pronouns · Connectors and discourse markers
New words
- a carta de apresentaçãocover letter · feminine
- a inscriçãoapplication, registration · feminine; : applications close on Friday
- o anúncioadvert, announcement · : the job advert
- o atendimento ao públicocustomer service, dealing with the public · masculine
- prezado / prezadadear (in formal letters)
- candidatar-se ato apply for · formal writing:
- a trilhatrail, hiking path · : to go on a hike
- ademaisfurthermore (formal)
- contar comto have (formal); to count on · : I have experience
- em anexoattached · : Please find attached
- casoif, in case · + subjunctive:
- Fico à disposição.I remain at your disposal. (formal)
- atenciosamenteyours faithfully, yours sincerely (to end a formal letter)
- desde queas long as, provided that · + subjunctive; with the indicative it means “since”
Practise
1.Complete: “Procuram alguém que … inglês.”
2.Complete with the subjunctive of : “Attach your CV, unless they ask for something else.”
Attach your CV, unless they ask for something else.
3.Start a formal letter to people you don't know.
Dear Sir or Madam,
4.Put the words in order.
Tap the words below in the right order.I remain at your disposal for an interview.
5.Match the Portuguese with the English.
Pick a word on the left, then its meaning on the right.
6.Which sentence is correct at the start of a formal letter?
0 of 6 exercises done.
Say it out loud
Venho por meio desta candidatar-me à vaga.
I am writing to apply for the position.
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.