Spanish · Upper intermediate (B2) · Chapter 10 of 12
Formal writing
La escritura formal
Write formal letters and emails in Spanish, use the subjunctive after buscan a alguien que… and after a menos que, en caso de que and con tal de que.
In this chapter you'll learn to
- Write a formal letter or email: greetings, set phrases and endings
- Use the subjunctive in relative clauses: buscan a alguien que hable francés
- Use antes de que, a menos que, en caso de que and con tal de que
- Link ideas in writing with asimismo, no obstante and por lo tanto
Listen
In Huesca, Gabriel asks his aunt Alicia, a retired teacher, to help him write a cover letter for a job at a tourist office in the Pyrenees. Listen to the whole dialogue first, then line by line.
Gabriel
Tía, ¿me echas una mano con la carta de presentación? Tengo que enviarla antes de que cierren el plazo, el viernes.
Can you give me a hand with my cover letter? I have to send it before the deadline closes on Friday.
Alicia
Claro. A ver, ¿qué dice exactamente la oferta de empleo?
Of course. Let's see, what exactly does the job advert say?
Gabriel
Buscan a alguien que hable inglés y francés, que tenga experiencia en turismo y que conozca bien el Pirineo.
They're looking for someone who speaks English and French, who has experience in tourism and who knows the Pyrenees well.
Alicia
Pues tú hablas francés perfectamente y conoces el Pirineo como nadie. ¿Cómo empiezas la carta?
Well, you speak perfect French and you know the Pyrenees like nobody else. How do you start the letter?
Gabriel
He puesto: «Hola, ¿qué tal? Me llamo Gabriel y quiero el trabajo».
I've put: “Hi, how are you? My name's Gabriel and I want the job.”
Alicia
¡Ay, Gabriel! Así no. En una carta formal se escribe: «Estimados señores: Me dirijo a ustedes para presentar mi candidatura al puesto de técnico de turismo».
Oh, Gabriel! Not like that. In a formal letter you write: “Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing to apply for the post of tourism officer.”
Gabriel
Vale, vale. ¿Y mi experiencia? He trabajado un verano en un camping y nada más.
OK, OK. And my experience? I've worked one summer at a campsite and that's it.
Alicia
No importa. Escribe algo como: «Asimismo, cuento con experiencia en atención al cliente». Y adjunta el currículum, a menos que pidan otra cosa.
It doesn't matter. Write something like: “I also have experience in customer service.” And attach your CV, unless they ask for something else.
Gabriel
Vale, lo piden en PDF. Oye, ¿y pongo que no tengo coche?
OK, they want it as a PDF. Hey, and should I put that I haven't got a car?
Alicia
No, eso no. En caso de que te lo pregunten en la entrevista, ya lo explicarás entonces.
No, not that. If they ask you about it in the interview, you can explain it then.
Gabriel
Vale. ¿Y cómo termino?
OK. And how do I finish?
Alicia
«Quedo a la espera de sus noticias. Atentamente, Gabriel Lanuza». Te ayudo con tal de que me invites a comer cuando te den el trabajo.
“I look forward to hearing from you. Yours faithfully, Gabriel Lanuza.” I'll help you as long as you take me out for lunch when you get the job.
Understand
Formal letters and emails
Formal Spanish letters and emails use fixed phrases and / . The greeting ends with a colon, not a comma: . Use when you don't know who will read it.
Formal writing also uses its own connectors: (also, likewise), (however), (therefore).
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| / | Dear Mr López, / Dear Mrs Pérez, |
| Dear Sir or Madam, | |
| … | I am writing to… |
| … | I am writing with regard to… |
| Please find my CV attached. | |
| I look forward to hearing from you. | |
| / | Yours faithfully / sincerely, / Kind regards, |
Buscan a alguien que hable francés
In a relative clause, use the subjunctive when you're describing a person or thing that you don't know exists, or that doesn't exist: (They're looking for someone who speaks French, whoever that may be). Use the indicative for a person or thing you know exists: .
After , and , the verb is always subjunctive: .
- Buscan a alguien que tenga experiencia.They're looking for someone who has experience.
- Conozco a una chica que tiene experiencia.I know a girl who has experience.
- ¿Hay alguien que hable alemán?Is there anyone who speaks German?
- No hay nadie que lo sepa todo.There's nobody who knows everything.
A menos que, en caso de que, con tal de que
Some conjunctions are always followed by the subjunctive, because they talk about things that haven't happened yet or may not happen. You know from B1. After a past verb, use the imperfect subjunctive: .
With , and , use the infinitive when the subject is the same: (Read it before you send it).
| Conjunction | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| before | ||
| unless | ||
| in case, if | ||
| as long as, provided that | ||
| without | ||
| so that |
More in the grammar: Discourse markers: sin embargo, por lo tanto, o sea · More uses of the subjunctive: aunque, a menos que, alguien que
New words
- la carta de presentacióncover letter · feminine; : letter
- antes de quebefore · + subjunctive
- la oferta de empleojob advert, job offer · feminine; : employment, job
- dirigirse ato address, to write to (formal) · : I am writing to you
- la candidaturaapplication (for a post) · : to apply
- asimismoalso, likewise (formal)
- contar conto have (formal); to count on · o → ue:
- la atención al clientecustomer service · feminine
- adjuntarto attach · : Please find my CV attached
- a menos queunless · + subjunctive
- en caso de quein case, if · + subjunctive
- Quedo a la espera de sus noticias.I look forward to hearing from you. (formal)
- atentamenteyours faithfully, yours sincerely (to end a formal letter)
- con tal de queas long as, provided that · + subjunctive
Practise
1.Complete: “Buscan a alguien que … francés.”
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 look forward to hearing from you.
5.Match the Spanish with the English.
Pick a word on the left, then its meaning on the right.
6.Which sentence is correct?
0 of 6 exercises done.
Say it out loud
Me dirijo a ustedes para presentar mi candidatura.
I am writing to apply for the post.
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.