Passage II An Invitation Letter

Passage II An Invitation Letter

Session 3

Section IV Trying Your Hand

Passage 2 An Invitation Letter

Lead in

Global Reading

Practice

Section III

1. Related Information

2. Warm-up Questions

3.Understanding an Invitation Letter

Lead in

Lead in

Related Information

This is an informal letter between friends. The tone of

this letter is casual. The language is not so formal. This

kind of informal invitation letter is often written in the third

person. For example, “in the hope that it will be possible

for you both to spend a few days with us during your stay

in England.” “ and it would be nice if you could come then,

too.” But a formal invitation card is usually written in the

first person.

Sentences Often Used in a Letter

Lead in

1. It seems ages since we heard from you.2. I am writing straightaway in the hope that (it will be possible for you both to spend a few days with us during your stay in England).3. There’s not a great deal to report from our end.4. I’d better stop here now; I’m supposed to be spending this evening (writing Christmas cards).5. Write or phone as soon as you can--- and come!6. Love from us all.7. Yours ever, (Richard).

Warm-up Questions

1. Have you ever received an invitation letter in English?

2. What points should an invitation letter include?

Understanding an Invitation Letter

Who invites whom? What is the aim of the invitation?

On what occasion is the invitation given?

When and where is the event to be held?

Is a reply to the invitation needed?

Global Reading

1.Comprehension of the letter

2. Words and Sentences

Comprehension of the letter

1. Question for Para. 1:

Why does Richard write to Michael?

He wants to invite Michael and Lucia to spend a few days with his family in England.



What job is Richard doing now?

He is teaching English literature in a university.


3. Question for Para. 3: Who else will be invited to his house over

the

New Year weekend?

Mike and Rosa Griffiths .

If weather permitting, what outdoor activity will

Richard arrange for his friends?

Visiting the Carters.



How are Richard’s family getting along ?

Quite well.

An Invitation Letter 10 November 2006

Para. 1 My dear Michael,

It seems ages since we heard from you — and even

longer since you went to work in China. But recently we

happened to bump into Charlie Wright at a party, and from him

we learnt that you and Lucia will be coming to England over the

Christmas holidays. So I am writing straightaway — to

make sure this reaches you well before you leave Shanghai — in

the hope that it will be possible for you both to spend a few days

with us during your stay in England.

Text

1

2

Para. 2 I am still teaching English Literature in a

university and I am getting well along with my colleagues. I

also have some Chinese students here, who are very friendly and

intelligent.

Text

Para. 3 I imagine you will be spending Christmas with

your parents, but surely you will have some time after that

before your Christmas holidays end. We shall be

having two other friends of ours staying with us over the

New Year weekend, and it would be nice if you could come

then, too. Mike and Rosa Griffiths are old friends and a

3

Para. 4 There’s not a great deal to report from our

end. Mary is well and still enjoying her school teaching (

at least, I think so); the children are growing up at a terrifying

rate; I am still working for Sanderson’s and liking it well

enough — though occasionally pining for the footloose days of

long ago. But let’s hope you will soon be here to see for

yourselves — and help us see the New Year in!

Text

nice couple; I’m sure you will like them. They used to live in China, too, so we shall have something in common. And if we get some decent weather, we might all go off one day and visit the Carters — I’m sure we can get Uncle Arthur to lend us his minibus.

4

Para. 5 I’d better stop here now; I’m supposed to be

spending this evening writing Christmas cards.

Write or phone as soon as you can —— and come!

Love from us all!

Yours ever,

Richard

Text











Text

1

2

1.(Para. 1) It seems ages since we heard from you.

Analysis: It seems ages since... means “it seems a long time since ...’’ .

Translation: 似乎很长时间没有收到你的信了。 Example:

It seems ages since I saw you in Shanghai. CloseClose











Text

1

2

2. (Para. 1) So I am writing straightaway—to make sure this reaches you well before you leave Shanghai—in the hope that it will be possible for you both to spend a few days with us during your stay in England.

Analysis:

To make sure… is an adverbial of purpose, and in the hope ,a prepositional phrase used also as an adverbial of purpose.Translation: 所以我马上写信，好让你在离开上海之前肯定收到这封信 —— 希望你们俩能在英格兰逗留期间和我们一起住几天。 Example: I am sending this card to you today —to m

ake sure you receive it before the Christmas Day.CloseClose




intelligent.

Text






then, too. Mike and Rosa Griffiths are old friends and very

3

3.(Para. 3) I imagine you will be spending Christmas itself

with your parents, but surely you will have some time after

that before your Christmas holidays end.

Analysis: Surely is used to express that someone is certain or almost certain about something.

我猜想你将在你的父母家过圣诞节 , 但肯定在你的圣诞节假日结束之前还会有一些时间。 Translation:

Example: These children surely deserve something better than a life on the streets.

CloseClose








Text


4

4.(Para. 4) I am still working for Sanderson’s and liking it

well enough—though occasionally pining for the footloose

days of long ago.

Analysis:

Sanderson’s here refers to a company implying Sanderson’s

Company; though is introducing a participle clause pining for …

and serving as the adverbial of concession.

Translation: 我还在桑德森公司工作，而且工作很称心 —— 虽然偶尔我也渴望从前自由自在的日子。 Example: They are working happily with Kent’s, though

sometimes pining for the footloose school days. CloseClose











Text

1

2

happen to do sth.: have or do sth. by or as if by chance

FOR EXAMPLE:

If you happen to see him, ask him to phone me. There happened to be a young man there, so I asked him the way.

CloseClose











Text

1

2

make sure: find out if something is true or check that something has been done

FOR EXAMPLE:

Make sure of the time and place. I think there is a flight to Shanghai at 2:30, but you’d better make sure. CloseClose




intelligent.

Text






then, too. Mike and Rosa Griffiths are old friends and very

3

colleague n. someone that you work with

FOR EXAMPLE:

I’d like you to meet a colleague of mine, Jean Michael. He was never popular with his colleagues.

CloseClose

Text









4

at least: not less than

FOR EXAMPLE:

We spent at least two weeks there. The swimming suit costs at least $25.

CloseClose

Text








yourselves — and help us see the New Year in! 4

Occasionally: adv. once in a while

FOR EXAMPLE:

He visits me occasionally. We have a shower occasionally on a summer day.

CloseClose

Read and Judge

Practice

Read and Rewrite

Read and Translate

7. Are the following statements true or false according to the passage?Write T/F accordingly.

Read and Judge

1. Michael heard from Richard a long time ago.

2. Recently Richard met Charlie at a party.

3. Michael and Lucia will come back to England over the Christmas holidays.

4. Michael and Lucia will probably leave Shanghai as soon as they get the invitation letter.

5. Mary is teaching at Sanderson’s.

6. Richard will be busy writing Christmas cards.

TT

TT

TT

FF

FF

TT

Read and Rewrite8. Rewrite the third paragraph in the third person. You can begin the passage like this:

Richard guesses Michael and Lucia will be spending Christmas with their parents ...

Read and Rewrite

Richard guesses Michael and Lucia will be spending Christmas with their parents, but surely they will have some time after that before their Christmas holidays end. Richard and Mary will be having two other friends, Mike and Rosa Griffiths staying with them over the New Year weekend, and they think it would be nice if Michael and Lucia could come then, too. Mike and Rosa Griffiths are old friends and a very nice couple; Richard is sure Michael and Lucia could like them. Michael and Lucia used to live in China, too, so they all will have something in common. And if they get some decent weather, they might all go off one day and visit the Carters — they are sure they can get Uncle Arthur to lend them his minibus.

Reference

Read and Translate9. Translate the following sentences into Chinese.

1. It seems ages since we heard from you —— and e

ven longer since you went to work in China.

Key: 似乎很长时间没有收到你的来信了，从你到中国工作时算起，到现在就更久了。

很长一段时间


2. So I am writing straightaway — to make sure this reaches you well before you leave Shanghai ——in the hope that it will be possible for you both to spend a few days with us during your stay in England.

立刻，马上

Key: 所以我马上写信 —— 好让你离开上海之前肯定能收到这封信 —— 希望你们俩在英格兰逗留期间能和我们一起住几天。


3.We shall be having two other friends of ours

staying with us over the New Year weekend, and it would be nice if you could come then, too.

Key: 我们还有两个朋友和我们一起度新年的周末，所以，到时候你也能来的话就太好了。


4. And if we get some decent weather, we might all go off one day and visit the Carters — I’m sure we can get Uncle Arthur to lend us his minibus.

Key: 而且如果我们遇上好天气的话，我们可以找一天一起出去拜访卡特一家 —— 我们一定可以让阿瑟叔叔把他的面包车借给我们。

体面的；象样的，还不错的


5 . Mary is well and still enjoying her school teaching (at least, I think so); the children are growing up at a terrifying rate; I am still working for Sanderson’s and liking it well enough —— though occasionally pinning for the footloose days of long ago.

Key: 玛丽很好而且喜欢她的教学工作（至少我这样认为）；孩子们长得飞快；我还在桑德森公司工作，而且工作很称心 --- 虽然偶尔我也会渴望从前自由自在的日子。

以令人惊异的速度至少

Section IVTrying Your Hand

Applied Writing

Grammar Review

Sentence Writing

Applied Writing

Read and Simulate

Simulate and Create

Format Analysis

Language Features

Additional Samples

Format analysis

A letter of invitation to a formal occasion, say, a s

ymposium, forum or conference is different from a p

ersonal letter. It is more like the announcement of a

n event, informing the recipient of the aim, topic(s) a

nd sponsor(s) of the event, and the place and time it

is to be held. Usually a registration form and a list of

topics are attached to it. Dates for papers, social eve

nts, and an introduction of local sightseeing tours, e

tc., are also stated.

Language featuresSentences used in making an invitation and giving a reply.

1. We have pleasure in inviting you to (our annual conference).

2. We would be very grateful if you would (consider giving us an update on this issue).

3. We would appreciate it if you could confirm your participation at your earliest convenience.

4. Thank you for your letter of (25 May) and I am pleased to confirm my participation in (this year’s conference to be held in July).5. I would be grateful if you could send me further details about the program.

6. I look forward to attending the conference. (I am looking forward to attending the conference.)

Additional samples

1. A formal invitation:

Chairman

Of the Students’ Union

requests the pleasure of

Mr. And Mrs. John Smith’s company

at the New Year’s Party

at the University Hall

on Thursday

December 30th, 7:00 pm.

R,S.V.P. Dec. 28, 2006

Additional samples

2. An informal invitation:

May we have the pleasure of your company at our Silver

Wedding Party in our house on Friday, June 1st, at 7:30 p.m.?

Yours very truly,

(Signature)

Sam Hekinen

Dear Mr. And Mrs. Silver,

Additional samples

3. A formal reply:

Mr. And Mrs. John Smith

accept with pleasure the kind invitation

from Chairman of the Students’ Union

to be present at the New Year’s Party

on December 30th.

December 28th

Additional samples

3. A formal reply:

December

28th

Mr. And Mrs. Tony Silver regret that Mr.

Silver’s hospitalization on account of a serious

cold prevents them from accepting the kind

invitation of Chairman of the Students’ Union to

be present at the New Year’s Party on

December 30th.

4. An informal reply:

Additional samples

Dear Mr. And Mrs. Hekinen, Thank you very much for inviting me and my wife to your Silver Wedding Party on June 1st, which my wife and I are very much delighted to accept. Sincerely yours, (Signature) Tony Silver

Dear Mr. And Mrs. Hekinen, Thank you very much for inviting me and my wife to your Silver Wedding Party on June 1st, which my wife and I are very much delighted to accept. Sincerely yours, (Signature) Tony Silver

Additional samples

4. An informal reply:

Dear Mr. And Mrs. Hekinen, Thank you very much for inviting me and my wife to your Silver Wedding Party on June 1st. However, I regret to inform you that owing to a previous engagement we shall not be able to come. Sincerely yours, (Signature) Tony Silver

Dear Mr. And Mrs. Hekinen, Thank you very much for inviting me and my wife to your Silver Wedding Party on June 1st. However, I regret to inform you that owing to a previous engagement we shall not be able to come. Sincerely yours, (Signature) Tony Silver

Read and SimulateRead and Simulate

1.Read the following two samples of invitation and

learn to write your own. TECHNOLOGY IN ENGINEERING CONFERENCE

45 BROUGHTON Street, Brighton

J. Higgins

Purchasing Manager

Zacron Engineering

Unit 5

Hempstead Industrial Estate

Hemel Hempstead HP2 7FX 25 May, 2007

SAMPLE 1

SAMPLE 1

SAMPLE 1

SAMPLE 1


Dear Mr. Higgins, We have pleasure in inviting you to our annual ( 年度的 ) conference. This year it will be taking place at the Metropole Hotel, Brighton, from 24 to 28 July. We enclose details of the conference, accommodation arrangements and an activity program. Last year you gave a very interesting talk on the subject of “Purchasing ( 采购 ) High Technology.” We would be very grateful if you would consider giving us an update on this. We would appreciate it if you could confirm your participation ( 参加 ) at your earliest convenience.

Yours sincerely, P Matthews

P Matthews Conference Organizer


亲爱的希金斯先生 : 很荣幸能邀请您参加我们的年会。今年，会议将于7 月 24 日到 28 日在布莱顿市的 Metropole 宾馆举行。随信寄去会议的详尽日程、食宿安排和活动计划。去年您给我们做了题为“高科技采购”的颇为生动的发言。如果您能考虑就此问题给我们作最新发展的报告，我们将不胜感激。如能尽快确认您将出席会议，不胜感激。 P. 马修斯

会议组织人谨启

2007 年 5 月 25日

TranslationTranslation


Zacron Engineering Unit 5, Hempstead Industrial Estate Hemel Hempstead Mr. P Matthews Technology in Engineering Conference 45 Broughton Street Brighton BN25 1XL

1 June 2007

Read and SimulateRead and Simulate Sample 2Dear Mr. Matthews, Thank you for your letter of 25 May and I am pleased to confirm my participation in this year’s conference in July. I would be grateful if you could send me further details about the program. Unfortunately, I will not be able to give an update on last year’s talk. I am afraid that pressure of work will not allow time to prepare a talk. However, I look forward to attending the conference again. Yours sincerely, J. Higgins Purchasing Manager

亲爱的马修斯先生：鉴于你 5 月 25 日的来信，我很高兴地告诉你我将出席今年 7 月的年会。如果你能给我寄来更为详细的会议日程，我将非常感激。遗憾的是，我不能对去年的发言做最新补充。工作繁忙使我没有时间做准备。无论如何，我期待再次参加会议。

此致敬礼

J. 希金斯采购部经理 2007 年 6 月 1 日

Read and SimulateRead and Simulate TranslationTranslation

Simulate and CreateSimulate and Create 2. Translate the following invitation letter into Chinese, using the data bank in the Workbook for reference.

24 June, 2007 Dear Mr. Bool, We have pleasure in inviting you to our annual conference. This year it will be taking place at the University of Nottingham, from 20 to 24 August. We enclose details of the conference, accommodation arrangements and a business activity program. Last year you gave a very interesting talk on the subject of “Academic Standards and Expectations”. We would be very grateful if you would consider giving an update on this. We would appreciate it if you could confirm your participation at your earliest convenience.

Yours sincerely, Philip Luford

Conference Organizer

Simulate and CreateSimulate and Create

亲爱的布尔先生：很荣幸邀请您参加我们的年会。今年的会议将于 8 月 20 日到24 日在诺丁汉大学举行。随信寄去会议的详细内容、住宿安排及业务活动计划。去年您做了题为“学术标准及展望”的非常有趣的报告。如果您这次能就此专题的最新发展给我们做一发言，我们将非常感激。如果您能在您方便的时候尽快通知我们您能否出席此次会议，我们将不胜感激。

您忠诚的菲力浦 ·卢伏特（会议组者） 2007 年 6 月 24 日

KeyKey

3 . Write a reply to the above letter. Your reply should

include the following.


thanks for the above letter

confirmation of your participation

request for more information about the program

apology for not being able to give another talk

(pressure of work— no time for preparation)

a complimentary close to end the letter

Some parts of the letter have already been done for you.

Dear Mr. Luford, Thank you for your letter of 24 June and I am pleased to ____________________________________________________.


I would be grateful if_________________________________________________________________.

Unfortunately, __________________________________. I am afraid ________________ .

However, _____________________________________. Yours Sincerely H.Bool

KeyKey

Dear Mr. Luford, Thank you for your letter of 24 June and I am pleased to confirm my participation in this year’s conference in August. I would be grateful if you could send me further details about the program. Unfortunately, I will not be able to give an update on last time’s talk. I am afraid that pressure of work will not allow time to prepare a talk. However, I look forward to attending the conference again.

Yours sincerely,

H. Bool

Simulate and CreateSimulate and CreateKeyKey

4. Translate the following message into English, referring to

the Data Bank in the Workbook for reference.


我很希望能参加你的毕业聚会。我知道这一

定会很有意思。遗憾的是，我父母已经邀请了几

位亲属来我家里吃饭。我想知道你是否可以在星

期六晚上来我家，告诉我有关聚会的情况。

I wish I could attend your graduation

party. I know it will be lots of fun.

Unfortunately my parents have already

invited several of our relatives over for a

reunion. I wonder if you could come on

Saturday evening so you can tell me all

about the party.

Simulate and CreateSimulate and Create KeyKey

Grammar ReviewWord Order in a Subordinate Clause

Simple wh-question ： What is she doing now?

Wh-question as an objective clause ： I don’t know what she is doing now.

Simple wh-question ： When will they go to Shanghai?

Wh-question as a subjective clause ： When they will go to

Shanghai hasn’t yet been decided.

It hasn’t yet been decided when they will go to Shanghai.

Grammar ReviewWord Order in a Subordinate Clause

Simple wh-question ： What does he want to read today?

Wh-question as a predicative clause ： This is what he wants to read today.

Simple wh-question ： Where are you now?

Wh-question as an adverbial clause ： Could you stay for awhile where you are now?

Write Through Applying Grammar Rules

Write Through Correcting Mistakes

Write Through Translating

Write Through Describing a picture

Sentence Writing


5. Find the correct choices in the brackets to make correct

sentences.

1. “Who is he?”— “I don’t know. You may ask Mary __________

(who he is, who is he)

2. “We’re late. The play has started.”— “I wonder how long ago

__________ (did it begin, it began)

3. He asked me if __________ (I had enjoyed, had I enjoyed) the

film.

4. Helen asked Roger, “Can you tell me when __________ (you will

have time, will you have time) to see me?”


sentences.






film.




sentences.






film.




sentences.






film.




sentences.






film.



5. The teacher asked me __________ (how old was I,

how old I was)

6. She asked him if __________ (he would marry her,

would he marry her)

7. Do you think __________ (should we, we should)

invite the Browns?

8. I’d like to know how __________ (could I, I could)

improve the design.



how old I was)


would he marry her)


invite the Browns?


improve the design.


how old I was)


would he marry her)


invite the Browns?


improve the design.


how old I was)


would he marry her)


invite the Browns?


improve the design.


how old I was)


would he marry her)


invite the Browns?


improve the design.

Write Through Correcting MistakesCorrect the errors in the following sentences.

1. Jane told her not to worry where might be her son.

where her son might be

2. She said I am going to the cinema.

she was going to


3. She wanted to know what was his job.

what his job was

4 .I wondered did he really mean it.

if he really meant it


5. He asked which chair should he take.

which chair he should take

6. He asked why hadn’t I stopped the car.

why I hadn’t stopped the car


7. He remarked what it was a lovely house.

what a lovely house it was

8. He said how the garden was beautiful.

how beautiful the garden was


9. He asks when will they leave.

when they will leave

10. I don’t know where is he.

where he is

Write Through TranslationTranslate the following sentences into English.

1. 你能告诉我在哪儿可以买到口香糖吗？

Can you tell me where I can buy some chewing gum?

2. 警察想知道她长得什么样儿。

The police wanted to know what she looked like.

Do you know what she was wearing?

3. 你知道她穿的是什么衣服吗 ?

Write Through TranslationTranslate the following sentences into English.

4 . 在报告中他们问到银行里有几架安全摄像机。In the report, they asked how many security cameras there were in the bank.

5. 面试官问他已经工作几年了。 The interviewer asked him how many years he hadworked.

Do you want to know when he will leave for Shanghai?

6. 你想了解他什么时候去上海吗 ?

7. 我只是想知道你喜欢什么颜色 , 红色还是黄色。 I want to know which color you prefer—red or yellow.

Write Through Describing a Picture

8. Write a short passage of about 100 words to describe the

picture. Some useful words and phrases are provided here to help

you. Start the passage with “Sandra was writing a letter to decline

Mary’s invitation to her birthday party.”

Useful words and phrases

She would love to come;

but not able to come;

Peter, Sandra’s husband, and Sandra going to Italy

on July 9th on holiday;

stay in Rome for ten days;

go on to travel to England on July 20th;

have a whole month there;

before closing the letter;

give best wishes

ReferenceReference

Sandra was writing a letter to decline Mary’s invitation to

her birthday party. She would love to come, but

unfortunately, she was not able to. She had to decline

Mary’s invitation by saying, “Thank you for the invitation

for your birthday party. We’d love to come but I’m afraid

that Peter and I are going to Italy on holiday on July 9th.

“We’ll stay in Rome for ten days and then go on to travel to

England on July 20th so that we’ll have a whole month

there.” Before closing the letter, Sandra asked Mary to give

her best wishes to her family.

Assignments for this session

Do Exercises 8-9 of Passage 2.

Do Exercises 7-8 of Section IV.

Do the grammar exercises in the Workbook.

Read and remember the new words in Passage 2.

Prepare Section I in Unit Two.

Documents

Passage II An Invitation Letter