Polite Email to a Neighbor Regarding Obstructions

Written by AI · TOEFL · email · full marks on this task's criteria · 110 words

The task

You share a small communal hallway in your apartment building where residents are expected to keep personal belongings tidy. Recently, several large moving boxes have been left in the walkway, making it difficult for you to get to your front door. Write an email to your neighbor. In your email, politely describe the difficulty the boxes are causing and ask them to move the items to a more appropriate storage location.

The answer

Hi Sarah,

I’m writing to ask if you could please move the moving boxes currently sitting in our communal hallway.

I completely understand that moving house is incredibly stressful and that space is tight, but the boxes are making it quite difficult for me to navigate to my front door with my groceries. I’m worried that someone might trip over them, especially during the evening when the lighting in the hallway is a bit dim.

Could you please find a different spot for them by the end of the weekend? I would really appreciate your help with this so we can keep the walkway clear for everyone. Thanks for understanding.

Why these choices work

Read these rather than the essay. Copying model phrasing is what costs marks — the technique is the part you can reuse.

I’m writing to ask

This is a direct, natural opening that avoids clunky, memorized academic formulas.

I completely understand

This is a concession move that validates the neighbor’s situation before making a request, which softens the tone.

quite difficult

Using a hedge or mitigator makes the complaint sound less aggressive and more reasonable.

I’m worried that

Framing the issue as a safety concern rather than a personal annoyance makes the request more persuasive.

by the end of the weekend

Providing a specific, reasonable timeframe ensures the request is actionable and clear.

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Written by OpenWriting Coach's AI writer and reviewed before publishing. OpenWriting Coach is an independent tool and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to IELTS, the British Council, IDP, Cambridge, or ETS.