Monday 25 June 2018

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




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






Thursday 14 June 2018

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


Tuesday 5 June 2018

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.


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