Exam practice

French follow-up email: ask again when you have no reply

Write a courteous French follow-up that names the earlier email, repeats two unanswered questions and explains a planning deadline. Model and guided practice.

In short

Identify the earlier email, repeat the information you still need and ask for a reply. Je n’ai pas encore reçu de réponse is a neutral update. If you have a planning deadline, give it with the reason: avant vendredi pour organiser mon déplacement.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

An art learner following up on course details before a trip.
Lina writes une relance about the drawing course. Illustration: Atelier

How do you follow up an email in French?

Your follow-up on Wednesday
WhenWhat happenedUseful French
MondayYou asked about Saturday’s drawing course.Je vous ai écrit lundi.
WednesdayYou have received no reply.Je n’ai pas encore reçu de réponse.
Before FridayYou need the details to plan your journey.J’aurais besoin de ces informations avant vendredi.
A2 · Practical writing · follow-up emailNot an official exam paper

Nous sommes mercredi. Lundi, vous avez demandé l’heure de début du cours de dessin du samedi et si le matériel est fourni. Vous attendez toujours une réponse. Écrivez une relance. Vous avez besoin de ces informations avant vendredi pour organiser votre déplacement.

(60 mots minimum)

It is Wednesday. Follow up on Monday’s unanswered enquiry about Saturday’s drawing course. Repeat the questions about start time and materials, and explain that you need the details before Friday to plan your journey.

Your answer

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Read a model answer

Objet : Relance — cours de dessin du samedi

Bonjour,

Je vous ai écrit lundi au sujet du cours de dessin du samedi. Je n’ai pas encore reçu de réponse. Je souhaite participer au cours de cette semaine et j’ai besoin de ces détails pour préparer ma venue. À quelle heure commence le cours ? Est-ce que le matériel est fourni ? Si possible, j’aurais besoin de ces informations avant vendredi pour organiser mon déplacement.

Merci pour votre aide et pour votre réponse.

Cordialement,

Lina Moreau

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Before you finish

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How do you start a follow-up email in French?

Je vous ai écrit lundi au sujet de…I wrote to you on Monday about…

Focus: A plain reference to an earlier message.

Je vous ai écrit lundi au sujet du cours de dessin.
I wrote to you on Monday about the drawing course.

Je me permets de vous relancer au sujet de…I am following up with you about…

Focus: A common professional opening for a reminder.

Je me permets de vous relancer au sujet de mon message du 6 mai.
I am following up on my message of 6 May.

Both openings help the reader locate the request. The plain version is useful when you want a short message. In the model, j’aurais besoin introduces Lina’s planning need. The recipient can then see why a reply before Friday would help.

Question 1No account needed
Which phrase reports the missing reply neutrally?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Je n’ai pas encore reçu de réponse.. The middle sentence describes what the writer has received, while the others assign a position to the recipient.

Question 2No account needed
What are the two outstanding questions?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

The start time and whether materials are provided.. The task and model repeat the questions about start time and supplied materials.