Now let’s move on and look at openikng and closing set-phrases for ‘hope’ and ‘wish’. Many people are confused about the difference in meaning between these two verbs. My advice is not to focus on the meaning of the single words, but to learn the set-phrases in which these words are used. You will see in the following tasks, that they’re quite different. Let’s begin with ‘hope’. In emails ‘hope’ can be used for opening and closing.
Task 1: Sort the following set-phrases with ‘hope’ into the table below.
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I hope this email finds you well.
I hope this helps.
I hope this is clear.
I hope this is ok.
I hope this is the beginning of a long and prosperous relationship.
I hope to hear from you soon.
I hope to see you there.
I hope we can move this along quickly.
I hope you are feeling better now.
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I hope you are well.
I hope you had a good trip.
I hope you had a nice weekend.
I hope you have a good trip.
I hope you understand our position on this.
I hope your meeting was successful.
We hope to be hearing from you soon.
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Opening
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Closing
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*2015/06/26更新
Check out the language bank and my comments below.
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Opening
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Closing
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I hope you had a nice weekend.
I hope you had a good trip.
I hope your meeting was successful.
I hope you are feeling better now.
I hope this email finds you well.
I hope you are well.
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I hope this is clear.
I hope we can move this along quickly.
I hope this is ok.
I hope to hear from you soon.
I hope this helps.
I hope this is the beginning of a long and prosperous relationship.
We hope to be hearing from you soon.
I hope to see you there.
I hope you have a good trip.
I hope you understand our position on this.
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*You can see from these set-phrases that most of the time ‘hope’ is followed by a v.p. Later we will look at a different meaning and use of ‘hope’.
*Notice also that you should always write the subject: ‘I hope…’, not ‘Hope…’
*‘I hope this is clear.’ Use this when you are sending information which you think might be difficult for the reader to understand.
*‘I hope we can move this along quickly.’ Use this when the reader is very slow to respond, or if the transaction is urgent. It basically means: Please hurry up with this.
*‘I hope this is the beginning of a long and prosperous relationship.’ Use this at the end of a first contact email, or when you have concluded your first business transaction with the customer.
*‘I hope you understand our position on this.’ Use this when you have to decline a customer’s request.
