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Formal letters in French worksheet answer key for French 4 (free PDF download)

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Writing Polite Formal Letters and Emails – French 4 worksheet answer key with Zoé, the Français PDF coach

The problems are on the Formal Letters In French worksheet. Try them on your own first, then compare with the answers below.

Quick answer: A formal French letter follows a fixed order: sender, recipient, place and date, subject line, greeting, body, closing formula and signature. This answer key corrects the 20 problems of the French 4 worksheet on formal letters in French, from match greeting and closing to write a complaint: the final answer in bold, the rule behind it, and a model answer for each writing task.

Here is the answer key of the French 4 worksheet on formal letters in French. Try the worksheet first, then compare, and reread the lesson if a rule is unclear.

The answer key explains the pattern behind each solution. Check formulas letter by letter, because a missing agreement or a mismatched title counts as an error in a formal text. For open writing, compare your text with the model and use the checklist.

Level: French 4 (high school, ACTFL Intermediate Mid) · Standards: ACTFL Intermediate Mid, WL 1.2 Interpretive, WL 1.3 Presentational, WL 4.1 Language Comparisons, WL 2.1 Cultural Practices

Formal letters in French: the answers explained

Problem 1 Match greeting and closing

The closing echoes the greeting. 1-b, 2-c, 3-a.

Problem 2 Choose the greeting

An unknown reader receives the neutral formula. Madame, Monsieur,

Problem 3 Switch to vous

  1. Avez-vous reçu mon dossier ?
  2. Votre bureau est-il ouvert le samedi ?
  3. Répondez-moi rapidement.

Possessive ton becomes votre; the imperative takes the -ez ending.

Problem 4 Name the blocks

1 le destinataire, 2 la date, 3 l’objet, 4 la formule d’appel, 5 la formule de politesse, 6 la signature.

Problem 5 Conditional for politeness

1 voudrais, 2 Pourriez, 3 aimerions, 4 serais. The conditional endings are -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient.

Problem 6 Most polite request

The conditional plus a question is the gentlest form. Pourriez-vous m’envoyer le catalogue ?

Problem 7 Translate into French

  1. Je voudrais m’inscrire au cours de langue.
  2. Pourriez-vous m’indiquer le prix ?
  3. Je vous écris afin d’obtenir des renseignements.

Renseignements is always plural when it means “information.”

Problem 8 From text message to email

Model answer: Bonjour Madame, Monsieur, auriez-vous encore des places pour le stage de théâtre ?

Check: greeting, vous form, conditional, no slang.

Problem 9 Correct the mistake

  1. Cher Monsieur, (masculine title)
  2. salutations distinguées (plural agreement)
  3. Je vous serais reconnaissant (conditional of être after je)

Problem 10 Finish the email

The email is addressed to a business with Bonjour Madame. Cordialement, The other options are for friends.

Problem 11 Read the complaint

  1. A helmet was promised.
  2. She bought one herself for 38 $.
  3. She asks for a refund of that amount.

Problem 12 Translate into English

  1. Thank you for your quick reply.
  2. I am taking the liberty of contacting you about my reservation.
  3. I look forward to your reply; I remain at your disposal.

Problem 13 Reconnaissant de bien vouloir

  1. Je vous serais reconnaissant(e) de bien vouloir m’envoyer une confirmation.
  2. … de bien vouloir corriger la facture.
  3. … de bien vouloir répondre avant le 15 mai.

The verb after de bien vouloir stays in the infinitive.

Problem 14 Echo the title

  1. Madame la Directrice
  2. Monsieur le Maire
  3. Madame, Monsieur

Problem 15 Tu or vous?

1 vous, 2 tu, 3 vous. A stranger and an official receive vous; a friend who uses tu first allows tu.

Problem 16 Opening a booking request

Model answer: Auriez-vous une chambre double disponible du 12 au 15 août ?

Check: conditional, du … au … for dates, capital letters only where needed.

Problem 17 Soften the complaint

Model answer: Je regrette de constater que je n’ai reçu aucune réponse à mes messages précédents.

Check: no insult, a fact, a polite verb.

Problem 18 Read the application

  1. A summer job in a café in Québec.
  2. Four years.
  3. From July 1 to August 15.
  4. Je joins mon CV.

Problem 19 Write a short request email

Model answer: Objet : demande d’attestation de présence. Madame, Monsieur, j’étais élève dans votre lycée l’an dernier. Pourriez-vous m’envoyer une attestation de présence ? J’en ai besoin pour mon dossier universitaire. Je vous remercie d’avance de votre aide. Cordialement, Léa Bouvier.

Check: subject line, greeting, conditional, thanks, closing.

Problem 20 Write a complaint

Model answer: J’ai loué une paire de skis dans votre magasin de Chamonix le 4 février. En les utilisant, j’ai constaté que les fixations étaient abîmées. Je ne peux donc pas les utiliser. Je vous demande de bien vouloir me rembourser la location.

Check: facts in order, polite request, formal tone.

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