German language explaining formal email structure

How To Write Emails In German For the B2 Exam

Writing emails in German at the B2 level is an important skill for students, job seekers, and professionals. Whether you are a test taker for a B2 exam or learning German for academic or professional purposes, it is essential to know how to compose a formal, well-structured email.

At the B2 level, you should be writing coherently, clearly, and in a polite tone. From greeting and signing off an email in the correct way to not using bad grammar, German email writing involves hard work and practice. This blog will guide you through the structure of an email in German, distinguish between formal and informal writing, provide a phrase bank, and provide tips for practice.

Understanding the Email Format

German emails, particularly at the B2 level, are structured formally and logically. A good layout assists you in organizing your ideas properly and presents a professional image to the reader.

This is the typical format followed in German emails:

Betreff (Subject Line): A short and clear description of why you are writing the email.

Anrede (Salutation): An official or informal greeting, based on how well you know the recipient.

Einleitung (Introduction): A brief overview of why you are sending the email.

Hauptteil (Main Body): Point-by-point information, questions, or calls.

Schluss (Conclusion): Brief ending section with overview or call for action.

Grußformel (Farewell): Courteous sign-off.

Unterschrift (Signature): Your name and perhaps your contact details.

Mastering and understanding this structure is a fundamental step in German B2 writing.

Formal and Informal Style

German emails vary depending on whether or not they have a formal or informal tone. In the B2 level, particularly during exams, job applications, or professional communication, formal style is almost always required.

Formal Emails use:

Polite language

The use of the pronoun “Sie”

Structured and concise sentences

Traditional greetings and closings

Informal Emails use:

Informal tone and vocabulary

The use of the pronoun “du”

Loosener vocabulary and sentence forms

Informal greetings like “Hallo” or “Liebe/r”

As long as you have not specifically been instructed to use informal language in your assignment or exam, it is safer to remain formal so that you don’t make any mistakes.

Phrase Bank for Each Section

It’s useful to memorize and rehearse good phrases to use in each section of an email when writing. Here is an effective phrase bank to guide your German email practice and make you more confident.

Subject Line (Betreff):

Anfrage wegen Ihrer Anzeige (Inquiry regarding your advertisement)

Bewerbung um eine Stelle (Application for a position)

Information über den Deutschkurs (Information about the German course)

Greeting (Anrede):

Sehr geehrte Frau Müller, (Dear Ms. Müller,)
Sehr geehrter Herr Becker, (Dear Mr. Becker,)
Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren, (Dear Sir or Madam,)

Introduction (Einleitung):
Ich schreibe Ihnen, weil… (I am writing to you because…)
Bezugnehmend auf Ihre Anzeige… (Regarding your advertisement…)

Mit Interesse habe ich gelesen, dass… (I have read with interest that…)

Main Body (Hauptteil):

Könnten Sie bitte mitteilen, ob… (Could you please let me know if…)

Ich interessiere mich für… (I am interested in…)

Darüber hinaus möchte ich erfahren… (Furthermore, I would like to know…)}

Conclusion (Schluss):

Danke Ihnen im Voraus für Ihre Antwort. (Thank you in advance for your response.)

Ich freue mich auf Ihre Rückmeldung. (I look forward to your reply.)

Für weitere Informationen stehe ich Ihnen gerne zur Verfügung. (I am available for further information.)

Farewell (Grußformel):

Mit freundlichen Grüßen (Yours sincerely)

Hochachtungsvoll (Respectfully – very formal)

Sample Email for B2 Level

Here’s a German email example that shows how to apply everything you’ve learned. This would be suitable for a B2 exam writing task or real-life situation.

Betreff: Anfrage zum Deutsch B2 Kurs

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,

ich interessiere mich für Ihren Deutsch B2 Kurs, der ab dem nächsten Monat beginnt. Auf Ihrer Website habe ich bereits einige Informationen gefunden, doch ich hätte gerne mehr Details über die Unterrichtszeiten, Kursinhalte und die Prüfungsgebühren.

Außerdem würde ich gerne wissen, ob eine kostenlose Probestunde möglich ist und ob das Kursmaterial im Preis inbegriffen ist.

Ich danke Ihnen im Voraus für Ihre Rückmeldung und freue mich auf Ihre Antwort.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen

Anjali Menon
Kochi, Kerala
anjali.menon@email.com

This is a textbook example of German B2 email writing in formal tone, correct format, and exam-level language.

Frequent Mistakes to Be Avoided

When practicing German B2 writing, students make some common mistakes. Identifying and correcting them in advance will lead you to write more confidently and correctly.

Incorrect Greetings and Farewells: The salutation and closing should be in sync with the tone of the email. Use, for instance, “Hallo” only when writing an informal email.

Inconsistent Formal and Informal Language: Alternating between using “Sie” and “du” in the same email can be confusing and indicate weak language control.

Wrong Word Order: German sentence formation dictates that verb forms in the subordinate clause are placed at the end of the sentence. Errors in this area are common in B2 writing.

Spelling and Gender Mistakes: Spelling surnames or using gendered nouns (such as “der Kurs” instead of “die Kurs”) can impact the professionalism and clarity of your writing.

Translating Word for Word from English: Steer clear of word-for-word translations. German phrases tend to follow different structures and idiomatic expressions.

By resolving these problems, you can really enhance your German writing and get better grades in exams and everyday communication.

Practice Tips & Resources

To build up your email writing skills, regular practice and the right tools are essential. Here are some useful tips and resources.

Practice Tips:

Compose one formal email a week on actual-life or exam situations like enrolling in a course, asking for information, or complaining.

Exchange emails with other students or instructors and request comments and feedback.

Practice under timed conditions to replicate exam situations and enhance writing speed.

Create your phrasebook of common expressions and sentence patterns.

Helpful Sources:

The official model letters and examples are provided on the Goethe-Institut website.

DW Learn German offers interactive lessons and B2-level email exercises.

Lingolia and German.net are great for grammar rules and writing drills.

If you are a student of a German language institute, request your teachers to assign guided writing exercises and get your emails corrected regularly.

Conclusion

It is crucial to master German B2 email writing to ensure your academic, professional, and day-to-day communication in German-speaking settings. Familiarity with the right structure, appropriate vocabulary, and polite tone are all critical in writing formal emails.

With regular practice, learning from sample emails, and steering clear of mistakes, you will gain the confidence and ability to write effective, understandable German emails. If you’re gearing up for the B2 exam or using German in the workplace, a reputable German language institute can offer you the expert guidance and organized practice that you need.

Keep practicing, stick to the structure, and use the phrase bank to excel in your writing assignments.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to write an email in German format?

Stick to a structure with a subject line, greeting, body, conclusion, farewell, and signature.

How do I write an email in B2?

Use formal vocabulary, organized paragraphs, and suitable phrases depending on standard B2 themes.

How to start an email in German formal?

Start with “Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren”, or title and surname of the recipient.

What is an example of an email format?

A standard structure consists of a subject line, followed by a formal greeting, an introduction, body text, a conclusion, a courteous goodbye, and your name.