Informal Letter

Hints:
Imagine that you write to a real friend of yours.

Friends usually have names ;-) so address him/her with a name: begin the letter with Dear Joey/
Tim /Rebecca, etc.
Begin your letter with some general statements. Refer to the letter you have received from your
friend and thank him/her for it or apologise for the fact that you have not answered the last letter
soon enough.
Use the proper register. The letter is supposed to be informal so you can use contractions, informal
linking words like well, by the way, anyway, so, colloquial expressions, etc.
You can use more-conversation-like statements or questions in your letter: You know that I had
this exam, right? You think he will be able to come to the party?
Use questions to ask about your friend - arrange the next meeting, send greetings to his/her friends
and family, etc.
End your letter in informal way: Best wishes; Love; Regards. Instead of these phrases you may
put two XXs. They indicate sending kisses ;-)

Useful expressions:
Thank you for your letter. It was nice to hear from you.
Your last letter was a real surprise. It was so nice of you to remember about...

Thanks a lot for the information you've sent me in your last letter.
I've just received your letter. I'm so happy to hear that...

I'm sorry I haven't answered earlier but I was really busy with my school.
I'm sorry I haven't written for so long but...

Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Well, that's all for now. Will talk to you soon.

Give my regards to your Mummy.

I hope we will be able to arrange a get-together.

Do write back as I'm waiting for the news from you.

Sample answer:
Q: You are abroad spending your holidays in a very exciting places you have always wanted to
visit. The people you travel with are really nice so you enjoy their companionship. Write a
letter to your friend describing what you have been doing so far and what you still plan to do.
Dear Amy,
Thank you a lot for your last letter. It was a nice surprise to hear from you. I'm sorry I haven't
written to you earlier but I had to organise some things concerning my trip.
As you probably remember I've always wanted to visit some unusual places. And now, at last, off I
went! But you'd never guess where I've chosen to spend my holiday. It's Antarctica! You would
never think of it, would you? I'm so excited about the whole event!
The people I travel with are incredible. It's their fourteenth expedition there. They know every path
in the snow by heart and they are very helpful. They share their knowledge and experience with me.
Would you believe that here everything is different? You even need to set your tent in a special way.
It's all very challenging. Tomorrow we plan to move further North so I may not be able to stay in
touch for a while.
Anyway, I'd like to meet you when I get back. Hope you are enjoying your holiday. Do write back
soon.
Love,
Becky
[184 words]

Transactional Letter
Hints:
Remember to write in a formal letter format

Begin your letter with:

Dear Sir/Madam (if you do not know the name of your addressee) or
Dear Mrs Penney (if the name is given in the task)

Explain who you are and why you are writing this letter

Do not copy phrases from the question.

State clearly and politely what actions you want to be taken.

Do not use contractions.

Use formal language.

In this type of letter you may need to use a construction that is called a dependant question.
Regular (independent) questions in English are formed by inversion:
Where is my book?
When does it start?

However, if you precede these questions by phrases like: I do not know; Could you tell me; I
want to ask, the word order remains like in the statement, not question. Note that these sentences
do not end with question marks, either.
Compare:
Could you tell me where my book is.
I want to ask when it starts.

Useful expressions:
1. Complaining:

2.

I am writing to complain about...

I am sorry to inform you that...
I was very disappointed with...
I have some complaints about...
Requesting:

3.

I am writing for information about...

I would like to learn/ know more about...
I would like to ask whether/ if...
I would be grateful if you could...
Asking for particular actions:
I would like to ask you for...
I would suggest that you/ your company...

I think that I can ask for some compensation.

In the light of the above, I would like to ask you for...

Sample answer:
1.

Letter of complaint
Q: You invited your friend to a fancy restaurant. You found their advertisement in the local
newspaper and it looked convincing. Unfortunately, the place did not meet your expectations
and you were disappointed. Write a letter to Mrs Talker, the manager of the restaurant, and
ask for some money back.
Advertisement:
Restaurant 'Romantica' is the best place you can meet your friend and spend a nice evening in a
good company. The place is designed to ensure lots of privacy. Comfortable armchairs and quiet
soothing music in the background make the place perfect for those tired of everyday rush. Discreet
service is our first priority. Our menu is created by people who worked for the best restaurants in
the world. Great choice of vegetarian dishes. Come and enjoy! Satisfaction guaranteed!
Dear Mrs Talker,
I am writing to inform you that I was very disappointed with my visit to your restaurant two days
ago. I read your advertisement in the newspaper and decided to spend an evening there with my
friend. Unfortunately, I have a couple of complaints concerning this visit.
According to your advertisement the place is perfect for having private conversations in relaxing
atmosphere. However, it turned out that the music was so loud that I could hardly concentrate on
the chat with my friend. The waiter asked to turn the music down shrugged his shoulders and said
that other guests liked it that way. Is that what you mean by 'discreet service'?
To make matters worse, the place was crowded and waiting for an ordered meal was intolerably
long. I must admit that the cuisine was quite good but the prices were way too high.
I would like you to take my points under consideration and I expect a refund from your restaurant.
I trust you will give this matter immediate attention. I look forward to receiving a reply from you.
Yours sincerely,
David Beckham
[186 words]