INFORMAL E-MAILS

INFORMAL E-MAILS

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Informal e-mails and letters are sent to people you know well (e.g. friends, relatives, etc.) about your recent news, personal problems, information you need, etc.

They are written in an informal style using: 

-          Contractions

-          Colloquial expressions and informal structures/vocabulary

-          Shortenings and abbreviations

-          Phrasal verbs

-          Exclamations and questions

Useful sentences and expressions:

1.    GREETING:

Hi/Hello (+ name),

Hello there,

2.    INTRODUCTION: 

-Questions/ Wishes about the person’s health:

How are you? I’m fine.

I hope you’re well / I hope you’re feeling better

-A thank you to the person for their last e-mail/ letter:

 It was great/nice/lovely to hear from you again.

Thank you so much for your (lovely) letter/e-mail of … November 30th

-Comments about their news:

 I was really sorry to hear that you…  are ill.

It was really great to … get all your news. 

It was a nice surprise to … hear from you after all this time.

I’m glad that … you’re enjoying your new job.  

-An apology for a delay in writing: 

Sorry for/about not writing earlier but … I’ve been very busy preparing for my exams.

-The reason why you are writing:

 I’ve got some good news! I’ve got a new house.

 The reason why I’m writing is to … ask you if you would like to come to Tenerife next Christmas.

 I’m writing (to you) to see how you’re getting on … in your new flat/ with your new boy/girlfriend.

3.     BODY: main subject(s) of the e-mail/letter in detail, starting a new paragraph for each topic.

-Congratulating:

Congratulations!/ Well done!

Congratulations on sth / congratulate sb on sth / congratulate sb for doing sth: I’ve just heard that you passed all your exams. Congratulations! Congratulations on your new job

-Apologizing:

 I’m (really) sorry for (sth/sb/ + verb-ing): Sorry for arriving late at your party.

 I’m sorry about (sth/sb/ + verb-ing): I was sorry about your father.

I’m sorry + (that) …: I’m sorry (that) I got so angry.

I’m sorry + to infinitive: I was sorry to miss your concert.

-Inviting:

I’m writing to invite you to … my birthday party on 26th July.

 Would you come and spend next Easter with us at our apartment in the south of Tenerife? 

After the invitation you can add the following sentences:

 Think about it … and tell me soon.

 Let me know… if you can come.

I hope you can. / I really hope you can come.

-Thanking:

Thank you for + sth/-ing : Thank you for your invitation to stay with you for a week in August.

After thanking, to describe how you felt you can say: I had a fantastic/great/wonderful time. I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected. I would love to do it again.

-Making suggestions/ Giving advice:

 I think we/you should …, We/You should …, We/You shouldn’t …, We/You could …, We/You can…

 I think you should do some exercises and eat lots of fruit and green vegetables. You shouldn’t drink tea or coffee, but you could try chamomile tea, because it helps you relax. You can get a train to Brighton from the airport.

 Why don’t you/we …?:

 Why don’t you come in July? It would be great if we/you could…: It would be great if we could meet.

I think the best thing would be to … leave your job. It would be a good idea to… go on holiday together.

Imperative: Go to a specialist so s/he can tell you what to eat.

 Second conditional: If I were you, I would (+ inf)…: If I were you, I would travel by bus. After the advice you can say: I hope that this advice helps. 

-Asking for advice/opinion: 

I’ve got a problem and I’d like your advice.

I’m writing to ask for your advice.

 I’m writing to ask you if you could advise me on/about/of …  how to lose weight.

What do you think is … the right thing to do?/ the best month for me to go?

4. CONCLUSION:  

 - The reason why you must end the e-mail/letter:

 I have to finish now.

(Well) that’s all for now.

(Well) that’s all my news. 

 Greetings to the person’s family / friends:

Give my regards/ love to your family/ to Sarah.

My mother sends her love.

A request to the person to reply soon:

 (I’m) Looking forward to hearing from you.

 (I’m) Hoping to hear from you soon.

(I) Hope to hear from you soon.

(I’m) Looking forward to seeing you soon

 (Please) Write soon and tell me all your news. 

 A promise to write again soon:

 I’ll write as soon as I can.

Promises, wishes, thanks, invitations/suggestions…:

I promise I’ll come back and visit all of you as soon as I can.

Hope to see you soon/ at Christmas.

I hope that my advice helps.

Thanks again for … everything / … remembering my birthday / … the invitation.

Don’t forget my invitation to Tenerife.

5. CLOSING FORMULAS:

For close friends and relatives:

All my love/ Lots of love/ Love/Lots of kisses,    

Your name

More neutral:

Best wishes/ Regards/ Kind regards/Bye for now/Take care/See you soon,      

Your name

6. POSTSCRIPT:

PS I attach … a photo of the three of us