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Enquiries are one of the major links in conducting business. When importers w ish to buy goods，they usually send a letter of enquiry to the exporters. The enquiry may be a request for a price list，a quotation or an offer coupled w ith catalogues，samples and/or a commodity list. The w riter，as a prospective buyer，can ask for any of the above according to his need. This letter is an incoming letter，w ritten by a foreign firm in Lagos，Nigeria. They expressed their interest in buying Iron Nails and requested the addressee to send them quotationsand samples. Obviously it is a first enquiry and also a general enquiry.

Offers are another important link in foreign trade. Exporters usually make offers in reply to enquiries from importers.

Letter B is w ritten in reply to the previous letter enquiring for Iron Nails. We can see from the content that it is a non-firm offer，subject to the confirmation of the sellers.

II. Additional notes:

1. interested adj.感兴趣的

1) to be interested+动词不定式

We are interested to buy large quantities of iron nails.

我们有意购买大量铁钉。

We are interested to place orders for electric goods.

我们有意订购电子商品。

2) to be interested+ in+名词/不定式

We are interested in importing Iron Nails of all sizes.

We are interested in Iron Nails of all sizes.

我们有意进口各种尺寸的铁钉。

2. Iron W ire Nails of all sizes= all sizes of Iron W ire Nails paper of various kinds= various kinds of paper

3. to be obliged感激

Your immediate shipmentw ill oblige(us).

如能立即装船当不胜感激。

We shall be obliged if you w ill...

如蒙贵方……我们将不胜感激。

We shall be obliged if you w ill arrange for immediate shipment.

如蒙贵方安排立即装运，我方将不胜感激。

类似的表达方式如下:

We shall be grateful if you could arrange for immediate shipment.

We should be thankful if you would arrange for immediate shipment.

We shall appreciate it if you will arrange for immediate shipment.

4. forward v.寄送;运送

We have forwarded the samples per parcel post(to you).

我们以把样品用邮包寄给你们。

The goodsw ill be forwarded in a few days(to you).

货物几日内即可运出。

forward adj.期货的

We cannot accept forward shipment.

我们不能接受远期装运。

We look forward to your early reply.

期待你方早日答复。

5. prefer v.比较喜欢，宁愿

在商业信中prefer主要用于以下几种结构:

1) prefer+ infinitive

We would prefer to watch themarket for a while.

我们宁愿对市场观望一个时期。

2) prefer+ noun+ to+ noun

We prefer Type A to Type B.

我们对A型比B型更中意。

3) prefer+ gerund+ to+ gerund

We prefer waiting to buying immediately.

我们宁愿等待而不立即买进。

4) prefer+ infinitive+ rather than+ infinitive without“to”

We prefer to wait rather than buy at present.

我们目前宁愿观望而不购买。

5) prefer sb.+ infinitive

We prefer you to item ize the articles for convenience in placing order.

为了便于下订单，我们愿你方将各项商品分别列号。

We prefer that you would give us a straight answer.

我们喜欢你方给我们一个坦白的答复。

6. supply v.供应;提供

supply sb. w ith sth.

We shall be pleased to supply you w ith any information you may require concerning these products.

我们非常愿意提供你方所需要的关于这些产品任何信息。

We supply all kinds of leather shoes to you.

我们向你方提供各种皮鞋。

We believe we can supply any reasonable quantity you require.

我们相信我方可以提供你方所需要的任何合理数量。

7. confidence信心;把握

have confidence in sth.

have confidence that...

place confidence in sb.

confident adj.确信的;有信心的

be/feel confident of sth.

We thank you for the confidence you placed in us.

我们感谢你方给予我们的信任。

We hope you w ill place confidence in us thatwe can supply you in larger quantities regularly.

我们希望你方相信，我们可以定期供应更多数量。

We have full confidence in the quality of your goods.

我们充分相信你方产品的质量。

We have full confidence that you w ill be satisfied with our first shipment.

我们充分相信你方会对于我们的第一批船货非常满意。

We feel confident of the quality of your goods.

我们相信你方商品的质量。

8. by return立即，收信后立即

也可以说by return mail，by return ofmail，by return post/of post

但这些说法比较陈旧，不如说:

as soon as possible(尽快)，shortly(不久) before(不久)，very soon(很快)等。

9. acknow ledge v.证实(收到)

We acknow ledge your letter of...

We acknow ledge(the) receipt of your letter of...

Acknow ledgement ismade to your letter of...

We acknow ledge the receipt of your enquiry of May 5 for our groundnutmeat.

兹证实收到你方5月5日关于花生的询盘。

1)通常置于句首，译为:此复，兹函复

In reply，we would like to observe thatwe can not do business on your terms. 2)也可置于句末，译为:此复，特此函复

We have duly noted your request for detailed information on our export lines and are sending you under separate cover our catalogues，sample books and a price list in reply.

我们已经及时了解了你们需要我方出口商品的详细资料并另封寄去商品目录、样品册和一些现货的价目表，特此函复。

in reply to...为答复……

In reply to your e-mail enquiry of April 15 for Jute(黄麻)，we regret to inform you that there is no supply available at present.

兹答复你方4月15日关于黄麻询盘的电邮，我们遗憾地通知你方目前没有现货供应。

11. offer n./v.报盘

名词offer与动词make，send，give，fax，e-mail等连用，后接介词for，on或of，接for最普遍，接on较少见。

买方提及卖方的报盘时，接of为好。

Pleasemake/send/give/fax us an offer for/on Iron Nails.

请给予/寄送/传真给我方铁钉的报盘。

We are working on your offer of 2，000 kilos Black Tea.

我们正在办理你方2 000千克红茶的报盘。

动词offer可以作及物动词，也可以作不及物动词。作及物动词时宾语可以是人也可以是物，还可以有双宾语。

1) to offer+ object(person)

We offer you firm subject to your reply here October 2.

我方报给你方实盘，以你方十月二日复到为有效。

2) to offer+ object(thing)

We offer firm the follow ing on the same terms and conditions.

我们以相同的条款条件报以下实盘。

3) to offer+ double objects(to offer sb. sth.)

We offer you the follow ing on the same terms and conditions.

我们以相同的条款条件报以下实盘。

4) to offer(used intransitively)

We w ill offer as soon as possible.

我们立即报盘。

If you can offer，please fax us.

如果你方报盘，请传真告知我方。

12. as follows中的as是关系代词，follows是单数第三人称，也可以作为习惯用语，不论句子的主语是单数还是复数，其形式不变。

We'd like to make you our firm offer for walnuts as follows:

兹报给你方核桃实盘如下:

13. assure v.保证，使确信

主要用于以下四种结构:

1) assure sb. of sth.

We assure you of our prompt attention to all your enquiries.

我们向你方保证将如期办理你们所有的询盘。

2) assure sb. that...

We assure you that all your enquiriesw ill receive our prompt attention.

我们向你方保证将如期办理你们所有的询盘。

3) be/rest assured of sth.

Please(or: You may) be/rest assured of our continued cooperation.

请放心我们将一如既往进行合作。

4) be/rest assured that

Please(or: You may) be/rest assured that we shall revert to your enquiry as soon as possible.

请放心我们将尽快重新考虑你方询盘。

We w ish to be assured that all our future shipmentsw ill bemade punctually.

我们希望贵方确保将如期装运我们将来的船货。

III. Chinese version of the letter:

我们拟大量购买各种尺寸的铁钉。如能报来CFR尼日利亚拉各斯每公吨的价格我方将十分感激，并请寄来样品和/或商品小册子，谢谢。

我们一向从别处购买此商品，但我们现在更愿意向你公司购买，因为据我们了解，你方能以较具吸引力的价格供应更多数量。此外，我们相信中国产品的质量。

盼望你方立即答复。

兹答复贵方8月15日来函。此复，现报盘如下，以我方最后确认为准:

品名:普通圆铁钉

包装:散装于净重60公斤重的胶合板桶内

价格:每桶CFR拉格斯净价……美元

装运期:2012年9/10月份

支付方式:凭装船前30天开出的保兑的、不可撤销的即期信用证支付。

我方已另邮寄去各种尺寸的样品以及所需要的样品小册子。

如果以上可以接受，请传真确认。

IV. Key to exercises:

1. Fill in the blanksw ith the right words given below:

1) acceptable 2. accept 3. accepting 4.acceptable 5. accepted

2. Com p lete the sentenceswith the given Chinese:

1) a. send us samples immediately.

b. offer us100 metric tons(of) Iron Nails.

c. quote us the lowest price CIF Lagos

2) a. send us your catalogue and price list.

b. furnish usw ith the goods required.

c. supply usw ith 500 M T Walnutmeat at an attractive price.

3. Comp lete the follow ing in English:

1) To promote trade，

2) your offer for 200 cases of w indow glass CIF Lagos.

3) please quote us the lowest price for ourmen's shirts.

4) We prefer to buy goods from your country，

5) As soon aswe have fresh supplies available

6) you can supply uswith 50 cases of Qingdao Black Bristles at an attractive price.

7) we are not in a position to supply you in large quantities for the time being

8) please quote on that basis.

4. Translate the following into English:

1) Please quote us for 200 metric tons Steel Plate CIF Qingdao，stating the specifications in detail.

2) We are forwarding you our price list covering these goods.

3) Our price for pen is USD 50 per dozen CIF Lagos.

4) We used to import bicycles from USA butwould now like to buy from your corporation.

5) We shall appreciate it if you w ill send us your latest sample and price list.

6) Please let us know the quantity and price of superior white granulated sugar suppliable.

7) Owing to the limited stock of this article at present，we suggest your immediate accepting our offer.

V. Optional reading:

We are glad to know that you，one of the biggest suppliers of tea in the UK，are interested in our products. In order to establish long friendly business relationswith you，we are now making you a special offer subject to our final confirmation.

We are sending you under separate cover the samples of Green Tea and Tea Sets for your reference. We are confident that you w ill be satisfied w ith both the quality of our products and their competitive prices.

We await your favorable news.

我们高兴地得知贵方是英国最大的茶叶供应商之一，并且对我们的产品感兴趣。为了与你方建立长久的业务关系，我们现在报给你方一个特殊发盘，以我方最后确认为准。

我们另封邮寄绿茶和茶具的样品供你方参考。我们相信我们产品质量和具有竞争力的价格都会令你方满意。