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  4. An email explaining a problem

An email explaining a problem

An email explaining a problem

Learn how to write an email to explain a problem.

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

Preparation

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Reading text

From: Jameela Lee
To: Professor Kim Hart
Subject: Absence from class for two weeks
Attached: doctor's_certificate.pdf

Dear Professor Hart,

I'm writing to let you know that I can't attend class for two weeks as I've had an accident and hurt my back. I'm afraid I also need to ask for an extension for next week's essay.

I have medicine for the pain but I can't get up or walk around much, and the doctor said I should stay in bed and rest as much as possible. This makes reading and studying very difficult for me at the moment. I've attached a copy of the doctor's certificate and I hope to be back in class from 12 May.

Until then, my friend is going to record the lectures so I can listen to them at home. I will try to catch up with all the reading too. However, I don't think I can submit the essay next week. Is it possible to have an extension?

Thank you for your understanding.

Regards,

Jameela

(ENG101 class)

Tips

  1. Start with Dear and the person's title and name.
  2. Say what the problem is first. Then, give more details. Finally, offer a solution or say what you hope will happen next.
  3. Make it short and clear. Just include the most important information.
  4. Say Thank you for your understanding at the end. It shows that you hope the reader will understand your problems.

Task 1

Exercise

Task 2

Exercise

Task 3

Exercise

Discussion

Have you ever missed several days of work, university or school? How did you keep up with your work?

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Language level

A2 Pre-intermediate
Average: 4.1 (22 votes)
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Submitted by Matt18 on Thu, 27/08/2020 - 11:37

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Dear Sir?madam, I am writing to let you know I cannot attend to science class for three weeks, as I have caught a cold and I should isolate myself home. I have got medicine, but I have not allowed to go out till three weeks. I am struggling to read and study nowadays, I attached a copy of doctor's certificate.I asked my friend to record the lectures. She is going to record it for me and it will makes possible to listen it and i try to catch up with the class and hopefully, come back to the class as soon as possible. Would you please keep a copy of all handouts for me? Many Thanks, Mehdi

Submitted by shironeiko on Wed, 26/08/2020 - 01:05

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In my teenage years, I often cut off the class with the health reason, several times per years. Fortunatelly, I just have 2-3 days off so that not influence to my study. I often borrow my friend-notebook to rewrite anything, practising folow the text book. I'll try to go to school if we have an examination.
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Submitted by shelly on Sun, 23/08/2020 - 09:07

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Yes, I had. At the beginning of this years, there was an outbreak of covid-19 virus. It was time to go back to my work place after the annual vacation of Chian the spring festival, but I have to quarantine for at 14 days based on the rugulation of my company as two people were infected near community. I wrote a letter to my manager as following: Dear John, I am wrting to tell you I have to quatantine for 14 days before I go back to factory. As you must learn from the news that two people were infected near my community, for the safety of my collegue or people around me, I would not leave my home until everything is fine for me. Regarding the assignment you allocate I think I can finish it perfectly in my home, please donot worry about this. Best wished, shelly

Submitted by Venus on Sat, 22/08/2020 - 03:59

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It was in 2008 fall when I was playing with my little brother, I fell from the stairs and broke my leg. As far as I remembered, I had to cancel 5 days of school. The next week, I had piles of homework and tasks to finish, and obviously I coudn't ace the upcoming exam that month.

Submitted by Rinaa on Tue, 18/08/2020 - 21:58

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Dear teacher Hope this email finds you well. I'm writing to let you know that I cant attend classes for the next three weeks. I have had an accident with car as a result I injured my leg. I'm taking medicine and special treatment in hospital for the last 10 days, but my doctor recommended me to rest and stay in bed for at least one month. That makes me difficult to attend classes and to have the English exam next week. I hope to be back in class from 1st March until that date I will try to revise lessons at home. Is it possible to have the exams after I recover? that will help me a lot, I don’t want to miss any level. I have attached with email the certificate from the doctor as evidence for injuring. Thank you for understanding I'm looking forward to hear from you soon.

Submitted by Hussein Alattas on Sun, 09/08/2020 - 13:42

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I remember when i was 12 years old i had an accident i went to the closer hospital, doctors told me because the accident i broke down my right leg and right hand, also told me to rest for 3 weeks. after that i send my medicine for the pain with my brother and they allowed me to not come to school.

Submitted by Phan Bao Dung on Tue, 04/08/2020 - 20:32

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I studied at the master while worked as a laboratory technician at the pharmaceutical company. So I also missed several days of my class due to my business trips. At those times, I asked my classmate to record the lectures so I could listen to them at the hotel.
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Submitted by Hennadii on Mon, 20/07/2020 - 11:51

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Of course, I missed my work due to the illness several times. It's a s**t but it happens sometimes. The longest absence was when I hurt my leg skiing and get a chest cold at the same time. I missed about a month. It was horrible, my leg bloated, hurt, and became deep blue and I coughed all the time which made the pain stronger. By the way, it was a pre-smartphones era so lying in the bed was really boring. And, of course, I saw a huge mess at my workplace (piles and piles of documents) and my work mailbox was full. No, more accurately will be - fuuuuuull ((

Submitted by M.Saleh on Sun, 12/07/2020 - 22:38

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Honestly, I was flaking out of my university many times before and asked my colleagues to record the culture fro me.

Submitted by Dastenova Firuza on Sun, 12/07/2020 - 18:19

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I missed school for several days when I was ill. I informed my teacher on phone, then I gave a certificate about my health to the teacher when I went to school. I caught up with my class doing extra tasks at home.