Leave of Absence Letter: Vocabulary and Structures

You will read an example of a formal letter requesting a leave of absence. As you read, note the use of formal expressions, "softening" and polite phrases and constructions to talk about the future.

After you have read the letter, you will answer some vocabulary and grammar questions. Click YES to go to the next page to read the letter.

Yes

Dear Mrs Doe,

My name is Joe Bloggs and I am studying Business Administration in your Year 1 at Town College. I am writing to ask you for a leave of absence from college for 6 weeks.

The reason for my request is personal. I have to travel to my country to look after my elderly father after he is released from hospital. Although my father is recovering now, he will need round-the clock care for a few weeks at home and I am his only child.

I have not booked my plane tickets yet but I am planning to leave around 16th April and I hope to come back to the course at the end of May.

I am afraid I will have to miss the end of the term and the exams in April and I am very sorry about this. Would it be possible to sit these exams in June?

I will continue to use my email while I am away so I hope you don’t mind sending me some course material which I can study on my own. I would really appreciate an opportunity to continue the course.

Could you please let me know as soon as possible if you accept my request. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you need more information or documentation.

Thank you for your help and support.

Yours sincerely,

Jo Bloggs

Dear Mrs Doe,

My name is Joe Bloggs and I am studying Business Administration in your Year 1 at Town College. I am writing to ask you for a leave of absence from college for 6 weeks.

I have not booked my plane tickets yet but I am planning to leave around 16th April and I hope to come back to the course at the end of May.

I am afraid I will have to miss the end of the term and the exams in April and I am very sorry about this. Would it be possible to sit these exams in June?

Could you please let me know as soon as possible if you accept my request. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you need more information or documentation.

Thank you for your help and support.

Yours sincerely,

Jo Bloggs

What's the best way to address a person whom you know when writing a formal letter?

Hello [First Name]

Dear Mrs/Mr/Ms [Surname]

Respected Sir/Madam

Dear Sir/Madam

Select the best start for a leave of absence letter.

My name is Joe Bloggs and I am studying Business Administration in your Year 1 at Town College.

My name is Joe Bloggs. I am studying Business Administration in your Year 1 at Town College.

I am studying Business Administration in your Year 1 at Town College and my name is Joe.

My name is Joe and I'm a student here.

Select the best way to state your request.

I want to ask you for a leave of absence from college for 6 weeks.

Please grant me a leave of absence from college for 6 weeks.

I am writing to ask you for a leave of absence from college for 6 weeks.

Can I please go away for 6 weeks, sir/madam?

Choose the best way to complete the sentence: "The reason for my request is ........"

None of anyone's business

A secret

Personal

Very important

Choose TWO best options to fill in the gap: "I ________ travel to my country to look after my elderly father after he is released from hospital."

Will

Might

Would like to

Have to

Choose the correct conjunction to go in the gap: "____________my father is recovering now, he will still need round-the clock care for a few weeks at home.

However

Although

But

Choose the best construction to express future in the sentence: "I have not booked my plane tickets yet but I _______________________ around 16th April."

Will leave

Am planning to leave

Leave

Want to leave

Choose the best TWO options to complete the sentence "I ____________come back to the course at the end of May."

Want to

Hope to

Hope I must

Am hoping to

Choose the best TWO options to softer the negative message in this sentence:

"_______________ I will have to miss the end of the term and the exams in April and I am very sorry about this."

I'm afraid

Sorry, Teacher, but

Unfortunately,

I hope it's okay

Choose the most polite and formal way to express a request.

Can I sit these exams in June?

May I sit these exams in June?

Please let me sit these exams in June.

Would it be possible to sit these exams in June?

Choose the correct option to go in the gap: "I will continue to use my email while I am away so I hope you don’t mind ___________________ which I can study on my own.

Sending me some course material

Send me some course material

To send me some course material

Some course material

Choose the most polite and formal option to fill in the gap. "I would really __________________an opportunity to continue the course."

Want

Love

Appreciate

Choose the most polite and formal option to fill in the gap. "Could you please _____________ as soon as possible if you accept my request."

Tell me

Email me

Let me know

Write me

Choose the best TWO options to complete the sentence. "Please don’t hesitate to contact me if _____________more information or documentation."

You need

You require

You want

You will need

Choose the right preposition to go in the gap: "Thank you ______ your help and support."

About

For

With

Which is the best way to sign off a formal letter addressed to the person whose name you know?

Yours sincerely,

Yours faithfully,

With respect,

Best wishes to you and your family,

Now type the letter which you have studied as you remember it, sentence by sentence.

You can compare it with the original on the next page if you click on NEXT or press ENTER. You can always go back and correct what you have typed.

Dear Mrs Doe,

My name is Joe Bloggs and I am studying Business Administration in your Year 1 at Town College. I am writing to ask you for a leave of absence from college for 6 weeks.

The reason for my request is personal. I have to travel to my country to look after my elderly father after he is released from hospital. Although my father is recovering now, he will need round-the-clock care for a few weeks at home and I am his only child.

I have not booked my plane tickets yet but I am planning to leave around 16th April and I hope to come back to the course at the end of May.

I am afraid I will have to miss the end of the term and the exams in April and I am very sorry about this. Would it be possible to sit these exams in June?

Could you please let me know as soon as possible if you accept my request. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you need more information or documentation.

Thank you for your help and support.

Yours sincerely,

Jo Bloggs

Dear Mrs Doe,

My name is Joe Bloggs and I am studying Business Administration in your Year 1 at Town College. I am writing to ask you for a leave of absence from college for 6 weeks.

The reason for my request is personal. I have to travel to my country to look after my elderly father after he is released from hospital. Although my father is recovering now, he will need round-the-clock care for a few weeks at home and I am his only child.

I have not booked my plane tickets yet but I am planning to leave around 16th April and I hope to come back to the course at the end of May.

I am afraid I will have to miss the end of the term and the exams in April and I am very sorry about this. Would it be possible to sit these exams in June?

Could you please let me know as soon as possible if you accept my request. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you need more information or documentation.

Thank you for your help and support.

Yours sincerely,

Jo Bloggs

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Leave of Absence Letter: Vocabulary and Structures

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