Making Complaints Politely - Functional Language
Practise making complaints politely at B2–C1 level with useful phrase patterns and short situation-based responses. A separate page of suggested answers supports checking and discussion of other appropriate responses.
What’s in the worksheet?
- Useful phrase patterns
- Situation-based response practice
- Space for written responses
- Suggested answers on page 2
Raise a professional concern with the facts, impact and a clear requested next step.
Worksheet preview
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Page 1 of 2 · A4 printable PDF
Page 2 of 2 · Answer key · A4 printable PDF
A simple way to teach it
Before the lesson
Give learners page 1; use the suggested answers on page 2 after they have written and compared their own responses.
- Compare spoken concern language with I am writing to complain about, which suits a written message.
- Write short complaints about incomplete delivery, double charging, missing information and other situations.
- Expand one reply into fact, impact and request, checking that it does not add an unsupported accusation.
Support and extension
Provide a three-part outline. Extend by requesting a response date. Accept suitable alternatives; a request under a warranty is language practice, not a statement of universal consumer entitlement.
Suggested approach. Adjust the pace and number of questions to suit your class.
