Letter of Enquiry

Enquiry Letter

What is an Enquiry Letter?

An enquiry letter is a formal letter. It is written to enquire or to get information about some study course, accommodation/services in hotel, products available in any centre, vacation trip, etc.

Purpose :

To draw information from and about any institution/office/college/centre

To find answers to your specific questions regarding any study course / accommodation / services / facilities / products / offers.

What does it include?

It must specify the particulars of enquiry, for example – fee, duration, place, timing, cost, facilities, services, norms, terms and conditions, etc.

The Format of an Enquiry Letter

Sender’s address

Leave a line

Date (11 June 2018)

Leave a line

Receiver’s address

Leave a line

Subject (topic in brief)
Salutation (Sir/Ma’am)

Content (3-4 paragraphs)         

Subscription (Yours faithfully/sincerely)

Writer’s Name (if given/ABC)

Contact number/email address/ designation (if required)

Content Specifications

1 Paragraph – state the purpose of writing letter, reference of newspaper/advertisement and about yourself/purpose

2 Paragraph – Include all the enquiry points/questions/queries

3 Paragraph – conclude the letter asking for reply, information, contact number, etc. as soon as possible

4 Paragraph – complimentary close, attachments (if any)

Language specifications

1.     Use formal but simple language.

2.     Be polite and respectful.

3.     All queries/questions must be clear and specific.

4.     Be precise and to the point in your enquiry.

5.     Don’t include irrelevant/unnecessary details/questions.

Possible queries

Total fees/cost/charges

Mode of payment

Duration of course / timings of classes
Accommodation in hotel/house

Other facilities/services/discount/offers

Admission procedure/norms/scholarship available or not 

eligibility criteria

Mode of transportation/place/distance

Hostel facilities

Other norms/terms and conditions

Campus placement

Hotel charges

Complimentary breakfast

Pick up from station or not

facilities of hot/cold water

driver stay available or not

vehicle for sight seeing

hotel view

Tour package

Places to visit/covered

Type of transport

Food facilities

Fun activities

Guide provided or not

Sight seeing options

Video on Letter for Placing Order

Sample Letter

Q. You Ajay/ Ankita, a resident of A-123, Uttam Nagar, New Delhi. You have passed senior secondary from CBSE and decided to pursue graduation in English honours. Write a letter to the Director of British School of Language, New Delhi seeking information about the English Speaking Course and admission procedure.

Ans.

A-123, Uttam Nagar

New Delhi

email : ajay0123@gmail.com

28 June 2018

The Director

British School of Language

New Delhi

Subject : Seeking information about English Speaking Course

Sir / Ma'am

With reference to your advertisement about your Institute in Hindustan Times dated 27 June 2018, I wish to seek admission in your school. I have just passed my Senior Secondary examination from CBSE and decided to pursue my Graduation in English honours. Along with that I wish to do a course in English speaking from your reputed institute to enhance my communication skills.

Therefore, I request you to furnish me the following details :

Total duration of course 

Timings of classes

Total cost of the course 

Mode of payment

Transport facilities

Eligibility criteria/qualifications

Date of commencement of course

I would be grateful if you could send me the brochure and contact and above mentioned details to my address at the earliest. 
Thank you.

Yours sincerely
Ajay/Ankita

Contact : 9811xxxxxx

Video on Enquiry Letter 
https://youtu.be/qGEdACwYmXo

Learning Present Continuous Tense

Tenses

The word ‘tense’ is derived from Latin word ‘tempus’ and it means time. Basically tense conveys the time of action.

Tenses are mainly divided into three parts – Present, Past and Future. They are further subdivided into four categories – Indefinite, Continuous, Perfect and Perfect Continuous.

Present Continuous Tense

Present Continuous Tense describes an action which is continued, in progress and incomplete at the time when it is talked about or reported. That’s why it is also known as Present Progressive Tense.

Present Continuous Tense is used to - 

1.     describe an action that is going on and is incomplete at the moment :

·        You are using the Internet.

·        We are studying Tenses.

2.     describe an action that is going on during this period of time :

·        Are you still working for the same company?

·        The school is managing without an English teacher.

3.     describe an action or event in near future :

·        We're going on holiday tomorrow. 

·        Are they visiting you this winter?

4.     describe a temporary event or situation or shift from regular or routine action :

·        He usually plays the drums, but he's playing bass guitar tonight.

·        The weather forecast was good, but it's raining at the moment.

5.     describe a trend in contemporary society or during this period of time :

·        Now a days more and more people are becoming vegetarian.

·        Today, everyone is spending time on Social Media.

Adverbs used in the tense

now                                        just now

right now                               this year

in evening                             today

this time                                this evening

now a days                            at this time
this weekend                         these days

Verb form used in the tense

Present continuous verb form consists of two things –

1. Present tense form of the verb ‘Be’ – am, is and are
am, (exclusively used with I) 
is, (singular) 
are (plural)

2. Present particle form (V1+ing) of main verb

 e.g. talking, playing, smiling, swimming, writing, cutting

Examples :

I am going to attend a family function today.

The boys are playing football after school.

Verbs not used in Present Continuous Tense :

The verbs which convey sensory actions, perception, possession and state of mind are not used in present Continuous Tense.

For example – I am feeling bad. (incorrect)

I feel bad. (correct)

She is knowing you. (incorrect)

She knows you. (correct)

More such verbs are:

 feel                           hear                           have(to possess)

 smell                         measure                    assume

 believe                      consider                    seem            

 find                           suppose                    forget                      

 imagine                    know                          mean            

 recognise                  remember                understand

 fear                           hate                            hope 

 love                          mind                          prefer

 wish                            cost                            hold                            

Certain rules regarding change in spelling of Present Continuous form of verb

1. When a main verb ends with a consonant which is preceded by a vowel, the last consonant gets doubled after adding ‘ing’ to it. (The consonants W, X and y are an exception. E.g. drawing, playing, waxing)

e. g. swim + ing = swimming

            run   + ing = running

            cut    + ing = cutting

2. When there are two syllable in a verb and second syllable is stressed, the last consonant preceded by a vowel gets doubled after adding ‘ing’ to it.

 e.g.    refer   + ing = referring

            travel + ing = travelling

           begin  + ing = beginning

3. When a main verb ends with ‘e’, the last ‘e’ gets dropped after adding ‘ing to it.

 e.g.    Smile  + ing = smiling

            write    + ing = writing

            drive  + ing + driving

4. When ‘e’ at the end of main verb is pronounced, (not silent) it is not dropped and remains there after adding ‘ing’ to it.

e.g.     Agree + ing = agreeing

            be       + ing = being

            see      + ing =seeing

5.     ‘ie’ at the end of verb gets replaced with ‘y’ after adding ‘ing’ to it.

e.g.     die      + ing = dying

lie        + ing = lying

Note : All other verbs that don’t fall in category of above rules remain unchanged after adding ‘ing’ to them. Their spellings don’t change.  E. g. going, opening, watching, singing, hearing, smelling, laughing, etc. ) 

More examples:

The baby is sleeping in his crib.

            We are visiting the museum in the afternoon.

            Rose is reading a book, now.

            She is not going to the game tonight.

            He is meeting his friends after school.

            Are you visiting your cousin this weekend?

            Is John playing football today?

            Frank is talking on phone at the moment.

Video on Integrated grammar practice

Let’s practise.

1.     Sam _____________  his car. (wash)

2.     I ____________ to drive. (learn)

3.     Murli _____________ the pool, now. (swim)

4.     We ___________ to have dinner in Yuturn tonight. (go)

5.     The students ________  for Annual Function. (Practise)

6.     Where _____ you ________ in the coming holidays? (go)

7.     ____  you __________ to Paris, this weekend? (travel)

8.     It _____________ heavily at the moment. (rain)

9.     Which film _____________ in Ansal Plaza? (run)

10.           Father _____________ a shower. (take)

Answers :

1.     Is washing    2. Am learning        3. Is swimming        4. Are going             5. Are practising     6. Are going                  7. Are travelling      8. Is raining  9. Is running            10. Is taking

      Video on Present Continuous 
      https://youtu.be/K677u8JXHfI

    All Present Tenses in One Video

Learning Present Indefinite Tense

Tenses

The word ‘tense’ is derived from Latin word ‘tempus’ and it means time. Basically tense conveys the time of action.

Tenses are mainly divided into parts – Present, Past and Future. They are further subdivided into three categories – Indefinite, Continuous, Perfect and Perfect Continuous.

PRESENT TENSE	PAST TENSE	FUTURE TENSE
PRESENT INDEFINITE	PAST INDEFINITE	FUTURE INDEFINITE
PRESENT CONTINUOUS	PAST CONTINUOUS	FUTURE CONTINUOUS
PRESENT PERFECT	PAST PERFECT	FUTURE PERFECT
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS	PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS	FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

PRESENT TENSE AT A GLANCE

SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE OR PRESENT INDEFINITE TENSE

SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE is generally used to describe actions that occur in the present time but that are not happening right now.

We use the Simple Present Tense when an action takes place now, or when it happens regularly, daily or generally.

Basic structure of a sentence in this tense is Subject + Verb 1 + Object (S+V+O)

Simple Present Tense is used to –

1. express a habitual action :

e.g.     He tells a lie.

      

            Paul practises piano every day.

     

            Puja swims in morning.

2. convey a work done as a daily routine :

e.g. My mother cooks for me.

       We take eggs in breakfast.

       My father goes for a walk in morning.

3. express facts and general/universal truths :

e.g.  The Sun rises in the east.

        They  deal in Electronics.       

       

        My aunt is German by birth.

4. denote a planned or arranged event :

e.g. The Super Kids starts at 8:30 p.m.

        The Shatabdi Express arrives at 9 a.m.

        Mr. Verma travels during the summer.

5. express preference, character, condition :

e.g. I love to read books.

      

       The car looks old.

       Sweta is punctual.

Video on Integrated Present Tense

Adverbs/Adverb phrases used -

 Always                      Daily

Usually                      Sometimes

Never                         Seldom

Rarely                                    Often

Every day                 Generally

Twice a day              In morning

Verb form used in the Tense–

Verb's base form is used (first form of verb)

 Singular subject takes singular verb. (verb 1+ s/es)

 Plural subject takes plural verb. (verb 1 without s/es)

Plural verbs   Verb 1 (first form)	Singular verbs   Verb 1 + s / es
sleep	sleeps
Work	Works
Play	Plays
Try	Tries
Go	Goes
Do	Does
watch	watches
relax	relaxes
dance	dances
write	writes

Examples :

 You seem tired.

 I brush my teeth twice a day.

 Rohini enjoys playing the piano.

 Spiders make webs.

 He is very hard working.

My sister knows Bharatnatyam.

 Sonu does not like vanilla.

 These girls practise every day for three hours.

 Ananya studies in a boarding school.

I love to read mystery books.

Note : I and You in spite of being singular take plural verb. It is an exception to the rule.

Present Tense

Exercise for practice

1.     Mr. Smith _________ us Spanish. (teach)

2.     Mona ______________ how to swim. (not know)

3.     Cows ________ in fields. (graze)

4.     Rakesh _________ care of his sister. (take)

5.      I _________ coffee to tea. (prefer)

6.     My granny _________ very beautiful. (be)

7.     We _________ every day for an hour. (play)

8.     My parents _____________ English. (not speak)

9.     Aunt Lisa __________ cookies for me. (bake)

10.                        One of my friends ________ very well. (dance)   

Answers :

1.     Teaches   2. Does not know    3. Graze   4. Take   5. Prefer

6. Is   7. Play   8. Do not speak   9. Bakes   10. dances

Video on Integrated Tense Practice

                         

https://youtu.be/_oNSt-QWCPY