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Wrong item delivered: write a French email with a model answer

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Practise an A2 French complaint email: contrast the ordered and delivered items, give the order number and ask how to arrange an exchange.

In short

Use J’ai commandé… mais j’ai reçu… to state the mismatch. Give the order number, then ask Pourriez-vous m’indiquer comment… ? A short factual comparison makes the next step clear.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

A red notebook in an open plain delivery box beside a blue notebook.
J’ai commandé… mais j’ai reçu… states the colour mismatch. Illustration: Atelier

Name both sides of the comparison

A2 · Production écrite · practice taskNot an official exam paper

Vous avez commandé un carnet bleu, mais vous avez reçu un carnet rouge. Votre commande porte la référence CD18. Le carnet reçu est en bon état. Écrivez au service client : expliquez le problème, donnez la référence et demandez comment obtenir le carnet bleu et retourner le carnet rouge.

(60 mots minimum)

You ordered a blue notebook and received a red one in good condition. The order reference is CD18. Email customer service: explain the mismatch, give the reference and ask how to obtain the blue notebook and return the red one.

Your answer

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Read a model answer

Objet : Commande CD18 — erreur de couleur

Bonjour,

J’ai commandé un carnet bleu, mais j’ai reçu un carnet rouge. La référence de ma commande est CD18. Le carnet reçu est en bon état, mais sa couleur ne correspond pas à ma commande.

Pourriez-vous m’indiquer comment obtenir le carnet bleu et retourner le carnet rouge ? Dois-je utiliser une étiquette de retour ?

Merci de votre aide.

Cordialement,

Inès Petit

Review your draft

Before you finish

A self-review aid, not an exam mark. Ticks are not saved.

Choose the stage you mean
FrenchMeaning
J’ai commandé le carnet.The order has been placed.
J’ai reçu le carnet.The delivery has arrived.
Comment puis-je le retourner ?I am asking for instructions.
J’ai retourné le carnet.The return has already happened.

Keep the item name when it helps: le carnet bleu and le carnet rouge are easy to follow. With plates, both colour adjectives take the feminine plural: deux assiettes blanches, deux assiettes vertes. A return question asks for the procedure; the reply will tell you the arrangements.

Question 1No account needed
Which sentence matches the task?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

J’ai commandé un carnet bleu, mais j’ai reçu un carnet rouge.. The order was blue and the delivered notebook was red. The sentence keeps both roles clear.

Question 2No account needed
Which sentence asks how to return the notebook?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Pourriez-vous m’indiquer comment le retourner ?. The question asks for instructions. The other sentences describe a return that has already taken place.

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