Structure

of
informal
e-mails
and letters
1. An informal greeting:

Begin letters with Dear + name and we use a comma at the end, not a colon (:)
Also with Hi/Hello + name.

2. 1st paragraph:

an introduction in which you ask about the person’s health, thank for their previous email/letter,etc. and
mention your reason/s for writing. (Read below for useful language).

3. 2nd / 3rd (etc) paragraphs:

a main body in which you write the main subject(s) of the e-mail/letter in detail, starting a new
paragraph for each topic. Example topics could be:giving news, talking about plans, describing your new
boy/girl-friend, describing the place where you are living now, making suggestions about what to do in
your city to a friend who is coming to see you, etc. (Read below for useful language).

4. Last paragraph:

A conclusion in which you write your closing remarks. (Read below for useful language).

5. An informal ending:

->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,
Your name
1-FIRST PARAGRAPH - typical first sentences:
1- Questions/ Wishes about the person’s health: How are you? I’m fine. I hope you’re
well.

2-A thank you to the person for their last e-mail/ letter: Thank you so much for your
(lovely) letter/e-mail of ... November 30th.

3-An apology for a delay in writing: Sorry for/about not writing earlier but ... I was very
busy preparing for my exams.

4- The reason why you are writing: I’ve got some good news! I’ve got a new house.
5-The reason why I’m writing is to ... invite you to come to Tenerife next Christmas

2-BODY PARAGRAPHS - typical sentences:

1- Describe somebody: use the present simple.
2-Talk about your routines...: use the present simple, and adverbs and expressions of
frequency: Every day I wake up at seven o’clock. Then I always have a coffee and toast for breakfast.

3- Talk about your likes and dislikes. You can use these structures:
a)I prefer XX to XX: I prefer fish to meat./ I prefer swimming to going running.
b)I (dis)like/love/hate/prefer/enjoy/don’t mind/recommend/suggest + noun/-ing: I like

my timetable. I dislike making phone calls because it’s boring.

c)I would like/ would love/ would hate/ would prefer + noun/ to infinitive: I would prefer

some flowers. / I would prefer to give her flowers because she is on a diet, so she probably
doesn’t want chocolates.

4- Talk about your expectations, wishes (what you hope to happen). You can use:
a) I want + to infinitive: I want to get a qualification.
b) I would like + to infinitive: I'd like to get a job next year.

c) I hope + to infinitive: I hope to travel to Madrid next Christmas.

5- Ask for advice/for an opinion:

Would you (+ inf)...?: Would you go to a doctor’s?

Can you recommend ...?: Can you recommend a good hotel, not too expensive?
Could you tell me ...?: Could you tell me a bit about her?
6-Make a suggestion / Give advice. You can use a lot of structures:
Structures + infinitive: I think we/you could

We/You can...: You can get a train to Brighton from the airport.

Why don’t you/we ...?: Why don’t you come to my house on Saturday?
Let’s + infinitive: Let’s go to the cinema tonight.

Structures + to infinitive :Would you like to watch a film?

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

7-Invite:
I would like to invite you to ... my birthday party on 26th July.

Would you like (sth)...: Would you like a new watch?

Would you like to (verb)...: Would you like to come to a dinner party on Friday 3rd

November at 9 p.m.?

8-Apologize:
I’m (really) sorry for (sth/sb/ + verb-ing): Sorry for arriving late at your party.
Thank:Thank you for + sth/-ing : Thank you for your invitation to stay with you in August.

3-LAST PARAGRAPH - typical last sentences:

- The reason why you must end the email: (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. -

-Request to the person to reply soon:

(I) Look forward to hearing from you soon.

(I) Hope to hear from you soon.

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

- Wishes, thanks, invitations/suggestions...:

Hope to see you soon/ at Christmas. / I hope that my advice helps.

Thanks again for ... everything / ... for remembering my birthday / ... for the invitation.
Don’t forget my invitation to Tenerife.
- Postscript: PS I’m sending you ... a photo of my family.
In letters we write: PS I enclose ... a photo of my baby.

In e-mails we write: PS I attach ... a photo of the three of us.

1.
WRITING INFORMAL E-MAILS Basic level 1

From: Carmen Luisa ([email protected]) addresser’s

email
To: Juan ([email protected]) addressee’s
email
CC: Ana ([email protected]) carbon
copy
Subject: Holidays subject of
email
GREETING Dear…, / Hi…, / Hello…,
How are you? I’m fine. / I hope you’re well.
INTRODUCTION Thank you very much for your last e-mail.
I have some good news. I’m writing to tell you about my last holidays.
BODY (One or more paragraphs)
Well, that’s all my news.
CONCLUSION Give my love/regards to your parents/sister/boyfriend… / My mother sends her love.
I look forward to hearing from you. / I hope to hear from you soon. / Write soon.

Lots of love,
ENDING Love,
Best wishes,
Regards,

SIGNATURE Carmen Luisa

When you finish your e-mail you should check:

- spelling and punctuation (capital letters, full stops, commas, etc.)
- grammar
- vocabulary
- the structure of paragraphs
WRITING INFORMAL LETTERS Basic level 1

ADDRESS
number, street
city/village
postcode

DATE
18 December*

GREETING Dear…,
How are you? I’m fine. / I hope you’re well.
INTRODUCTION Thank you very much for your letter of December 1st.
I have some good news. I’m writing to … (tell you about my last holidays/my
school/etc.)
BODY (One or more paragraphs)
Well, that’s all my news.
CONCLUSION Give my love/regards to your parents/sister/boyfriend… / My mother sends her love.
I look forward to hearing from you. / I hope to hear from you soon. / Write soon.

Lots of love,
ENDING Love,
Best wishes,
Regards,

SIGNATURE Mariana

* There are different ways of writing the date:

18th March, 2016 18 March, 2016 18th March 18.3.16
th
March 18 , 2016 March 18, 2016 March 18th 18.3.2016

When you finish your letter you should check:

- spelling and punctuation (capital letters, full stops, commas, etc.)
- grammar
- vocabulary
- the structure of paragraphs