LETTER TO A FRIEND
GENERAL INFORMATION
GENERAL INFORMATION
A good letter should consist of:
a) an appropriate greeting (Dear Peter, Dear Mum, Dear Jane and Mike,);
b) an introduction clearly stating the reason you are writing (= opening remark);
c) a main body in which the subject is developed. Begin a new paragraph for each main point;
d) a final paragraph in which you sum up the topic or express your wish for something to be done; and
e) an appropriate ending (Yours, Best wishes, + first name)
Informal (friendly) letters are usually written to relatives, friends or other people we know very well. A good informal letter should be divided into paragraphs. Each paragraph, should deal with one aspect of the subject and start with a topic sentence which gives the main idea of the paragraph.
Present Perfect and Past Simple are often used in letters giving news. The Present Perfect is used to refer to recent activities and the Past Simple to refer to activities which happened at a stated time in the past.
STYLE IN INFORMAL LETTERS
- greeting (Dear Alex, Dear Dad,)
- informal language and style( idioms, colloquial English, phrasal verbs)
- abbreviated forms, pronouns omitted
- ending (Yours, Love, Best wishes, Regards, + first name)
OPENING/CLOSING REMARKS
Openings:
a) questions about recent events
b) a thank you to the person for their last letter, comments about their news
c) an apology for a delay in writing/replying
d) the reason why you are writing
Closing:
a) the reason why you must end the letter
b) greetings to the person's family/friends
c) whises, promises (eg. to write soon), an invitation, etc.
h) a request to the person to reply soon.
MODEL
Dear Mum,
I thought I'd drop you a line to tell you how everything is going here in Spain since I started university. I'm sorry for not writing sooner but I've been so busy I really haven't had time.
I managed to find a nice place to live. It's a small flat just around the corner from the university. I'm sharing the flat with a girl called Anita who seems really nice and has been here for a year.
I've become used to the surroundings and have been practising my Spanish, which is getting better by the day.
I wish I'll be back home for Christmas once the examinations are over. It will be wonderful to see everyone again. I get homesick, you know.
Write me back soon,
Love,
Julie
MODEL 2
Dear Sharon,
How are you? Sorry, I've taken so long to write, but I've been busy settling in. Anyway, I thought I'd drop you a line to let you know how I'm getting on here.
Birmingham is a really exciting city with millions of things to do. There's so much to choose from, I sometimes find it hard to make up my mind where to go! Although I still haven't got used to the traffic, the noise and the huge crowds, I think it's a great city.
I like living here now, but I sometimes feel homesick as I miss lots of things about Gowrie. I'll never forget the beautiful countryside and the old stone cottages. Living in the city means I can't go for long walks by the sea, either. Most of all, I miss my friends - especially you, of course! We always had such a great time together, didn't we?
Well, that's all my news for now. Please write back and let me know what you've been up to since I heard from you last. Say "hi" to Tom and Joanna, too. I promise I'll come back and visit all of you as soon as I can.
Lots of love,
Angie.
PHRASE BANK:
- Congratulations in passing your driving test!
- Write and tell me what it is like in Paris.
- I still can't get used to waking up so early in the morning.
- I thought I'd write and ask you to give me some advice.
- I hope everything will turn out all right.
- Sorry I haven't written for ages but I've been busy.
- Drop me a line and tell me all your news.
- I'm writing to apologise for not coming to your wedding.
- I look forward to hearing from you soon.
- Dont you think my news is exciting?
- What's up?
- How have you been?
- What have you been up to?
- I hope you're feeling better.
- I was sorry to hear that you aren't going to...
- I'll write as soon as I can and let you know about...
- Well, that's all my news. I'd better end now, because...
- The reason i'm writing is to ask you if...
- Give my best wishes to your parents.
- Sorry I've taken so long to put pen to paper, but...
- I'm having a fantastic time here at the camp.
- You'd never believe how well I've been getting on at school.
