Fixed phrases give your text structure and look assured. Whoever has a few good phrases ready gets through the written telc part faster and scores points for structure. Here are the most important ones, organised by function.
Phrases for the written telc part
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You can memorise the phrases sorted by their job in the text:
- Salutation and introduction: “Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren”, “ich schreibe Ihnen, weil …”, “mit dieser E-Mail möchte ich …”.
- Describing a problem: “leider muss ich feststellen, dass …”, “das Problem besteht darin, dass …”.
- Request or demand: “ich bitte Sie, …”, “ich erwarte, dass …”, “könnten Sie bitte …”.
- Suggestions: “ich schlage vor, …”, “eine Möglichkeit wäre, …”.
- Closing and sign-off: “ich freue mich auf Ihre Antwort”, “mit freundlichen Grüßen”.
Where these phrases belong is shown by the structure in formal email for the telc B2 exam, and for the B1 letter you find them in formal letter in the telc B1 exam. Which task lies behind this is on the page on telc B2 writing.
How to use them correctly
Do not just string the phrases together, but connect them meaningfully with connectors. Also pay attention to whether you are writing formally or informally, because the phrases differ.
The bottom line
With a handful of phrases per text section you write faster and more securely in the telc part. Learn them by function, then you immediately find the right one when it counts.
