Past perfect passive & Formal letters — O/L English

What must I remember about Past perfect passive & Formal letters?

• Formal business letter structure comprises seven obligatory elements: Sender's address, Date, Recipient's designation & address, Salutation, Heading/Subject, Body (3-4 paragraphs), Complimentary close & Signature.
• Salutation and complimentary close concordance: 'Dear Sir/Madam' pairs strictly with 'Yours faithfully'; 'Dear Mr./Ms. [Surname]' pairs with 'Yours sincerely'.
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) conventions: Personal particulars, Educational qualifications (chronological or reverse), Professional skills, Referees.
• Professional register vocabulary: 'apply for the post of', 'requisite qualifications', 'enclosed herewith', 'convenient interview'.
• Modals of polite request in professional communication: 'I should be grateful if', 'Would you kindly grant me'.

Test yourself (1 minute)

1. The salutation-closing mismatch trap

   Mixing 'Dear Sir' with 'Yours sincerely' loses format marks in Paper 2 Test 14 (Formal Letter).

2. Capitalization in complimentary closes

   Write 'Yours faithfully' (small 'f') and 'Yours sincerely' (small 's'); capitalizing the second word is a frequent penalty.

3. Job application body paragraph 2

   State educational qualifications clearly with examination years, subjects, and passes.

Practise Past perfect passive & Formal letters questions today

Source: NIE G.C.E. (O/L) English Language Syllabus (Grade 10, Unit 11)

What comes next?

Next in the syllabus

Where does Past perfect passive & Formal letters fit in the syllabus?

Grade 10 · Term 3