(一)书信
概述
书信是人们在日常生活和工作中进行交际的工具，也是高考书面表达中常见的考试文体。由于民族语言和习惯上的差异，英语信件在书写格式及表达方式上与汉语不大一样，有些地方迥然不同。本章将向大家介绍一般格式及各种常见信件，如家信、祝贺信、道歉信及自荐信等。
一般格式
英文书信的构成可分为8个部分：
信头(Heading), 日期(Date), 收信人姓名及地址(Inside Name and Address), 称呼(Salutation), 信文(Body of the letter), 结束语(Complimentary close), 署名(Signature), 附言(P. S.)
(1)信头(Heading)
信头是指发信人的单位名称或地址。一般情况下发信人只需把自己的地址写(打字，手写均可)在信的右上角，离开信纸的顶头约1英寸，占二三行或四行均可，格式如下：①齐头式 ②缩进式
注意：写地址的次序与中文不同，应先写门牌号码街道，然后城市和国名。写地址时采用齐头或缩进式，以及每行后要不要加标点符号，都没有固定的规定。如写给经常往来的亲友，这项地址也可以省略。
(2)日期(Date): 写日期注意下列各点：①年份应写全，例如不能用“99”来代替“1999”；②月份应写英文名称，除May, July外，可用缩写，如：Sep., Oct.。但不要用数字来代替，如7／4／99 或7， 4， 99，因为在英国此日期代表 7th April，1999，而美国则代表4th July，1999。 ③日期可用1，2，3，4…11，12…21，22…31等，也可用lst，2nd，3rd，4th…11th，21th…22nd…31st等。
日期的几种写法：a．July 7，1998 b．1st October, 1998 c．30 Nov., 1997 d．Sep. 3rd, 1999
④特别注意英文书信日期应紧接着写信人地址下一行，不能像写中文书信那样写在书信签名之后，这是很多学生的常见错误。
(3)收信人姓名及地址(Inside Name and Address)
写信人的地址和日期写好以后，接着就要写收信人的姓名和地址，一般的事务信件或给较生疏的朋友的信件要写，而在给极熟的朋友的信中则可省去。这一项写在日期下一行的左上角。收信人姓名写一行，收信人地址可分两行或三行写，和写信人的地址一样，上下可取齐，也可以向右缩进。在姓名前一般要加上称号，称号因人而异。
①对普通男子用Mr；②对未婚女子用Miss；③对已婚女子用Mrs，对婚姻状况不明确的通常用Ms(后跟本人姓)；
④对男子用Master；⑤对教授或博士(医生)用Prof．或Dr．
(4)称呼(Salutation)
称呼指的是信文开头的那种称呼，如Dear , Mr, Uncle，各种称呼因人而异。在称呼后面一般是用逗号，但也有用冒号的。现归纳如下：①对父母、兄弟、姐妹等；a．Father, b．My dear Mother, c. Dear Sister, d. Dear Tom,
②对亲戚：a．My dear Auntie, b．Dear Cousin, c．My dear Cousin,
③对朋友、同学a．My dear friend, b．Dear Mr Jackson, c．My dear Mr Jackson, d．Dear Sir,
④对未婚女子：a．Dear Miss Luce, b．My dear Miss Luce,
⑤对一般女子，不论是否结婚：a．Madame, b．Dear Madame,
⑥对已婚女子：a．Dear Mrs Helen Jackson, b．My dear Mrs Helen Jackson,
⑦对公司、工厂、学校等：a．Dear Sirs, b．Sirs, c．Gentlemen,
(5)信文(Body of the letter)
信文是信件的主体部分，也就是信的内容。正文应在称呼下两行开始。信的开头第一个字母通常和称呼开头第一个词平齐。也有往后退四个或八个字母的。下面介绍一些开头语和结尾语。
开头语
①相当于中文的“敬君者”。
a．I beg to inform you that…
b．I beg to take this opportunity to inform you that …
c．I have the honor to address you that…
d． I write in a hurry to inform you that…
e．I have the pleasure to tell you that…
f. I'm very much delighted to inform you that…
②相当于中文的“接读某月某日来信，一切知悉”。
a．I thank you very much for your letter of May 20th …
b．Your letter of May 20th has been received with thanks.
c．It gives me great pleasure to receive your kind of May 20th.
d．In answer to your kind letter of May 20th, I deeply regret that …
e．I have received your kind letter of May 20th.
f．Words can't express my delight on finding your favor of yesterday on my desk this morning.
g．Your letter dated May 20th has been received.
结尾语
采用三种方法：
①采用分词短语：句末用逗号，不用句号。例如：
a．Waiting for your good news,
b．Looking forward to your early reply,
c．Hoping to hear from you soon,
d．Hoping you are enjoying good health,
e．Regretting that I can't give you a more favorite reply,
f．Regretting the trouble I'm causing you,
g．Wishing you every success,
h．Wishing you a pleasant journey,
i．Wishing you a happy New Year,
②采用介词短语，例如：
a．With best regards,
b．With kind regards to your family,
c．With best wishes to you and yours,
d．With best wishes for your success and happiness,
e．With best wishes for your success in your new field of work,
f．With best regards and wishing you all success,
g．With warmest regards,
h．With best regards to you and your family,
i．With the season's greetings,
③采用完整句子：
a．We are waiting for your good news.
b．I hope to receive your early reply.
c．We look forward to your reply at your earliest convenience.
d．I thank you very much for your services, and wish your continued success.
(6)结束语(Complimentary Close)
结束语的一般写法如下：
① 业务书信常用：Yours faithfully, Faithfully yours, Yours truly, Truly yours, Sincerely yours,
② 公函常用：Yours respectfully, Respectfully yours, Yours sincerely,
③私人书信常用：Sincerely yours, Yours very sincerely, Yours affectionately, Yours ever,
④给亲戚朋友的信常用：Love, All my love, Your(ever)loving son/daughter/cousin , etc.
Your affectionate nephew, lovingly, Lovingly yours,
(7)署名(Signature)
下面是署名的例子：
① 个人署名：truly, W. J. Watson ,Yours faithfully,
②公司署名：Legend Computer Company, Wang Lin ,Sales Manager
(8)附言(Postscript)
发信人有时在写完信后又想起一件比较重要的事没有说，可以在信末署名下面几行写上， P. S. (Postscript
的缩写)，然后将要补充的话写上。不过要注意写信时最好将事情一次讲清楚，尽量少用或不用P.S.。
以上英文书信结构8个部分在信内的位置如下：
精选范文
①
101 Hankou Road
Shanghai, China
12th Feb., 1982
The Registrar
Oxford University
England
Dear Sir,
I wish enter an Oxford College to study for an Arts degree in English Literature. I enclose a list of my qualifications, and you will see what I have been studying at…University for the last three years. I have, of course, No English examination qualifications. Could you kindly suggest which of the various colleges would be most likely to receive my application so that I can apply to them individually? Looking forward to an early reply, I remain,
Yours truly,
Denis Green
P. S. Kindly send me a syllabus.
②生日贺信
Dear Bob,
Tomorrow is your birthday. I imagine your family is planning a celebration for you. I write this letter to offer you my heartiest congratulations and best wishes for merry returns of the day. With my sincere wishes for your success.
Yours truly,
Tom
③圣诞节及新年贺信
Dear Mary and Helen,
A merry Christmas and a Happy Year to you! Allow me to offer you Season Greetings. May the New Year will bring you a bright and prosperous(繁荣) future. My family who are well and happy, join me in my good wishes.
Yours very sincerely,
Barbara
④感谢信
Dear Sir,
With feelings of deep gratitude I address you to give my thanks for your noble and generous efforts by which my son was saved from the lake. Surely, if it had not been for your help, my son would not be alive now. I shall be most happy to have a chance of serving you in return. I extend you again a thousand thanks for the great favor.
Yours faithfully,
Wang Bing
⑤
Dear Harry,
I expect to leave Shanghai for Nanjing next Monday and intend to stay there for a month or so. You told me you had been there for a long time and knew a lot of people. I, therefore, shall thank you if you will kindly let me have one or two letters of introduction to them as I am an entire stranger in that place.
Yours,
John
⑥申请信(申请作为研究助理)
Dear Sir,
I'm a graduate student in the Physics Department of Qinghua University. Recently I read that you are hiring an assistant to do research on solar physics. As you can see from my re' sume' (简历).I have had experience in this field. I'm very interested in your project and hope to work with you. My telephone number is 83745102. Thank you for your consideration. I am looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely,
Wang Ling
练习
①假定你的名字是李桦，你给World Youth杂志寄去了你的姓名住址，征求笔友。下面是你收到的一封信，请给此信写一封约100字的回信。(1999)
16 South Street
Epping T33 B54 UK
6th Jan.,1999
Dear Li Hua,
I got your name and address from “World Youth”and I would like to be your penfriend. I am a boy of 14. I live with my parents in Epping, a town near London. I go to the Epping School. I'm in form 2. This term we have maths, physics, biology, history, English and physical education. For my foreign language I take French. I would like to take Chinese only they don't teach it here. After school I like playing football and I am on the school team. I also like collecting stamps. Can you send me some Chinese stamps? Please write and tell me about yourself and your school.
Your new friend,
Alex Baker
②英语杂志 BBC ENGLISH有一专栏“Can I help you?”专门解答读者提出的英语问题。专栏编者叫Jill Welfare(女)。该杂志社地址是：BBC English Magazine, P. O. Box76, Bush House, London WC2B 4PH, U. K. 假定你叫李红，是北京第一中学高三学生。现由你写一封信到该杂志社请教以下两个问题：
a．你的老师认为应该说：“He is taller than I.”但你听到有人说：“He is taller than me.”你想知道哪个对及为什么？
b．你想知道further和farther在意义上、用法上是完全一样，还是有什么不同？
注意：a．只要把该问题的问题问清楚，不要翻译试题说明。(字数：80～120)
b．不要在信中使用自己的真实姓名和地址。
参考词语: have…to ask mean the same thing
③假定你的名字是魏勇，住在北京东长安街233号。
今年6月份，美国青年学生Jack Gooper随青年访华团访问北京。最后一天在青年宫举行告别会(farewell party)。你参加了，坐在Jack Cooper旁边，散会时你和他互相拿错了对方的笔记本(notebook)。事后你翻看笔记本，发现他的名字地址，才知道拿错了。现在你把笔记本寄回去给他，写一封简单的信说明，同时请他把你的笔记本按你所给的地址寄来给你。(字数：80～140)
参考词语: take…by mistake look into by post at the address
④假定你叫李霞，是天津市第二中学高三年级学生，你在阅读英文中遇到一些问题，4月25日你写信给复旦大学的王教授，请他抽出一个小时的时间来为你解答学习英语中的一些问题，请王教授安排时间和地点。(字数：80～100)
参考词语: senior grade three appreciate spare
⑤下面是某中外合资企业刊登在China Daily上的一则招聘广告。
Office secretary, with experience in book-keeping, Type-writing
Public relations, operating PC= (personal computer)
Address, age, health and education
A950 Tomas Office
请根据广告中所提出的招聘职务、应聘条件和你自己的简要情况，用80个左右单词写一封自我介绍信，联系地址A950 Tomas Office。假定你的名字是王华，通信处是威海市45信箱(P.O. Box 45)时间为1999年7月8日，注意书信格式。参考词语be fit for ,in good health ,teach oneself,
⑥假定你叫林华，是学生会干事，你于8月9日写信给在京的美国朋友Charlie。 你和Charlie自春节以来没有见面，他刚刚从南京旅行回来，向他问好。为了庆祝五四青年节，学生会计划举行各种活动，将召开晚会，举行座谈会，请历史老师讲中国青年运动史，并拟请Charlie介绍现在美国青年的生活、学习及工作情况。
注意：信件包括上述全部内容，可适当增加细节，使全文连贯。
参考词语 青年节：The Youth Day 春节：The Spring Festival 学生会：The Student Union
⑦假设你是环宇丝绸贸易公司(Huanyu Silk Trade Company)人事部主任Maty Walter，请用英语给一位名叫Li
Gang的求职者写一封100词左右的回信，通知他公司经理将与他面谈。写信日期为2月8日。信的内容要点如下：面谈地点：经理办公室。面谈时间：3月18日，上午9点半。面谈内容：求职动机、特长及录用后的打算。
体检时间：面谈一周之后。录用与否：4月初告知。
参考词语: have a talk medical examination
⑧某进出口公司在报上登了一则广告，想招聘一名秘书，其条件如下：
年龄不超过28周岁，未婚；男性身高1.72米以上，女性身高1.60米以上；身体健康；大学毕业，会两门外国语者优先(但必须懂英文)；能进行计算机操作。假如你是李卫，想应聘，请根据上述要点写一封100字左右的求职信。
参考词语 ask for the job operate a computer
⑨假如你叫Mary, 你的朋友Jane生病了，主要是因为工作太辛苦，又缺乏锻炼。请你写一封信给她，劝她每天至少要运动一个小时，并告诉她；你明天休息，将去看望她。
注意写信格式。(字数：80～100)
⑩假定你的名字叫王红，你的朋友孙刚邀请你参加他的生日晚会，你不能去。请你给孙刚写封信，表示歉意，并说明理由：因要参加高考，没有办法答应。最后要表示祝贺并送上生日贺卡一张，你住在上海市长沙路192号，写信日期1999年7月1日。
注意书信格式。(字数：80～100)
(11)假定你是英国学生(John)，在上海二中学习，于6月1日给Babara写信，谈谈伦敦与上海的不同，100～120字，内容如下：
伦敦 上海
汽车靠左行 汽车靠右行
很多人乘汽车上班 多数人骑自行车上班
阴天多 晴天多
一星期工作五天 一星期工作五天
懂汉语人少 懂英语的人多
学生较放松 学生较勤奋
参考词语
气候：climate
(一)书信
① ××Middle School
Guangzhou, China
March 17, 1999
Dear Alex,
I've just received your postcard and I am very pleased with it.The city where I live is called Guangzhou. It is a big city in the south of China.The climate here is good. It is not so hot in summer and quite mild in winter, though it rains a lot in spring. There are flowers everywhere almost throughout the year. So we call Guangzhou“the Gity of Flowers”.Guangzhou is a famous and important city. Its industry is rather developed, and many meetings are held here.
Guangzhou has many places for sightseeing. For example,the Baiyun Mountain,the Yuexiu Park and the Cultural Park. If you come I'll show you around.I am looking forward to your coming.
Your friend,
Li Hua
Beijing
People's Republic of China
July, 1999
Ms/Miss Jill Welfare,
“Can I help you?”
BBC ENGLISH Magazine
P. O. Box 76, Bush House
London WC2B 4PH
U.K.
Dear MS/Miss Welfare,
I have two questions to ask you.1．I have heard some people say“He is taller than me.”instead of “He is taller
than I.” Which is correct? Can you please explain why?2．Do “further” and“farther” mean the same thing? If not, what is the difference? When do we use the one and when do we use the other? Will you please answer these questions for me? Thank you very much.
Yours truly,
Li Hong
233 Dong Changan Street
Beijing
People's Republic of China
July 17, 1999
Dear Jack,
In June when you were visiting Beijing on the last day of your trip a farewell party was given at the Youth Palace. At the party I sat next to you. Then at the end when we went away we took each other's notebook by mistake. I discovered
this only afterwards when I looked into the notebook and found your name and address inside. I am now sending your notebook by post to you. Will you please send my notebook to me at the address which is given above? Thank you very much.I hope you will visit Beijing again soon.
Your Chinese friend,
Wei Yong
(4) No.2 Middle School
Tianjin
April 25, 1999
Dear Professor Wang,
I'm a senior Grade Three student. I study in Tianjin No.2 Middle School. I have some questions on my English reading. I'd like you to help me with them. I’ll appreciate it very much if you would kindly spare me an hour or so. And I'll be
very glad to receive your letter telling me when and where we shall get together.Hoping this won't trouble your too much.
Yours,
Li Xia
(5)P.O.Box45
Weihai City
July 8th, 1999
A950
Tomas Office
Dear Sir,
I've read your ad. in yesterday's China Daily. I feed I am fit for the job needed in your company. I'm 20 years old and in good health. After graduation from a middle school. I taught myself English for two years. I studied book-keeping, typewriting and public relations. I'm good at both operating personal computer and English in listening and speaking. I'm
interested in the position of a secretary.I want very much to be accepted by your company, I'll work hard if I can be a
member in your company.
Wanghua
(6) Aug 9th
Dear Charlie,
We haven't seen each other since the Spring Festival. I was told that you had just come back from Nanjing, and how about your trip? May 4 is The Youth Day in China. In order to celebrate it many activities will be held by the Student Union in our school. We plan to have a party and a talk. A history teacher will talk about the history of the Chinese Youth Movement. Since students are interested in how the young people in the United States are living, studying and working, I hope that you will come and tell us something abut it. We would appreciate it If you could come.I hope that we will meet soon.
With best wishes,
Yours truly,
Lin Hua
⑦
Huanyu Silk Trade Company
Feb. 8th,
Dear Li Gang,
Glad to have received your letter. I'd like to tell you that our manager is going to have a talk with you in his office at 9∶30 on the morning of March 18. Here are some questions you are expected to answer：Why do you want to work in our company? What are you good at? How many foreign languages do you know?What do you plan to do if you are employed?There will be a medical examination a week later. We'll let you know whether you will be employed or not at the beginning of April.Wish you good luck,
Yours sincerely,
Maty Walter
⑧
Oct 8， 1999
Dear sir,
After reading your advertisement for a secretary in today's newspaper. I want to ask for the job.I am Li Wei, 25 years old, male, and unmarried. I am 1.75 metres tall and I am healthy and strong. I graduated from Qinghua University three years ago. I have been an English teacher in No. 1 High School in Anyang, Henan Province since then. I'm good at English and my students like listening to me. I can also speak and write in French, and operate a computer and type very well.
I would like to be a secretary very much.I am looking forward to your reply.
Yours sincerely,
Li Wei
⑨
April 30
My dear Jane,
I'm sorry to hear that you have been ill for days and hope you've got better now. You have been working so hard and have so little exercises This is very harmful to your health. I suggest you take at least one hour's exercises every
day.It will do you good. If you keep on doing exercises every day, you will certainly feel better. Tomorrow is a holiday. I'll come to see you.
With best wishes,
Truly yours,
Mary
(10) 192 Changsha Road Shanghai,
July 1st 1999
Dear Sun Gang,
Thank you for inviting me to your birthday party, but I'm afraid I can't come. I have so much homework to do. You know, I will have the college entrance examination next week. And it is so important to me. However, I'll be thinking of you alone. I am writing this letter and send you this birthday card to express my best wishes to you. I wish your party success and also wish you many happy returns.
Yours Truly,
Wang Hong
(11)The No.2 Middle School
Shanghai China
July 1st
Dear Babara,
It is Children's Day and I have a day off.I'm going to tell you something about China.In our country cars are driven on the left side of the road, but here on the right side. Many people of London go to work by car while most people in Shanghai go to work by bike. The climate of Shanghai is better than ours, which is fine for long But London has so many cloudy days. Workers in Shanghai work five days a week just as in London. Students here work hard at their lessons and a lot of people can speak English. It's a pity that students in our country don't make full use of time and few know Chinese.That's all for today. Please write to me.
Yours Lovely,
John