Writing an informal email

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vmbo t, mavo
• Leerjaar 2,3

Informal email

Informal emails are the ones that people write to their friends, family members or people they know well. The language used in this type of emails is more casual and similar to the way that we speak.

When you write an email to your best friend, you write a formal email.

1. True
2. False

When you write an email to your boss, you write an informal email.

1. True
2. False

informal emails:

 friends

family members

people we know well 

formal emails: 

people we don’t know

bosses or managers

doctors and professors

Standard structure

1. Opening formula

2. Introductory paragraph

3. Subtask 1 (from the assignment)

4. Subtask 2 (from the assignment)

5. Closing paragraph

6. Closing formula

7. Signature

How many items should you include in your informal email structure?

1. 5
2. 6
3. 7
4. 8

Standard structure

1. Opening formula

2. Introductory paragraph

3. Subtask 1 (from the assignment)

4. Subtask 2 (from the assignment)

5. Closing paragraph

6. Closing formula

7. Signature

What is the correct structure of every informal email?

Introductory paragraph

Closing paragraph

Subtask 2 (from the assignment)

Signature

Closing formula

Subtask 1 (from the assigment)

Opening formula

What is the correct structure of an informal email?

Opening formula

We say hi! to the other person :-)

Useful expressions for the opening formula:

• Dear Olivia,

• Hello Susie,

• Hi Katie,

In the opening formula you say goodbye to the person you're writing to.

1. True
2. False

Introductory paragraph

We react to the news that the other person has shared or we apologize and might explain why we didn’t reply earlier.

Introductory paragraph

Useful expressions for the introductory paragraph:

• How’s it going?

• How are you doing?

• How are things?

• How are things going?

• It’s great to hear from you!

• Long time, no see!

• Sorry I haven’t written for ages, but

• I’m really sorry it’s taken me so long to get back to you.

In the introductory paragraph you can write about whatever you feel like.

1. True
2. False

In the introductory paragraph you can react to the news the other person has shared.

1. True
2. False

These are possible reactions to good news:

I’m glad to hear that… / I’m so happy that... / Great news about your... / I’m very happy to hear about… / It’s so great that...

1. True
2. False

These are possible reactions to good news:

I’m so sorry to hear about… / Sorry to read about... / I can’t tell you how sad I am that… / I’m extremely sorry to hear about… / It’s just awful to hear that…

1. True
2. False

Imagine this the general information of your assignment:

Your English friend Jack is visiting your city next summer. Write to him and tell him about the places he should visit and the clothes he should wear. You must also invite him to stay with you during his stay.

What should you write about in subtask 1?

1. tell him about your favourite Netflix-series
2. tell him about the places he should visit

What should you write about in subtask 2?

1. tell him about the clothes he should wear
2. tell him about your school

What else should you write about in subtask 2?

1. you must invite him to stay with you during his stay
2. you must explain to him what the correct structure is of an informal email

The general information tells you what you write about in the subtask 1 and 2 paragraphs:

The general information tells you what you should write about in the subtask 1 and 2 paragraphs

1. True
2. False

You can write about anything in the subtask paragraphs

1. True
2. False

These are useful expressions on how to start a new paragraph:

• Oh, by the way, ...

• Hey, did you hear about…?

• One more thing, ...

• As for...

• By the way, tell me about…

Closing paragraph:

In this paragraph you start the farewell by sending good wishes to the other person and asking them to reply soon

Closing paragraph:

Useful expressions for the closing paragraph:

• Well, I have to go now.

• Anyway, I should get going.

• I’ve got to leave you now.

• I’d better get going.

• Well, it’s time to go

• Make sure you write soon

• Don’t forget to drop me a line soon.

• Look after yourself.

• Take care of yourself.

This is an example of a closing paragraph:

Bye!

Rianne

1. True
2. False

This is a good closing paragraph:

Well, it’s time to go. Let's talk soon!

1. True
2. False

Closing formula:

We say goodbye! to the other person

Closing formula:

Useful expressions for the closing formula:

• All my love,

• Love,

• Lots of love,

• All the best,

• Take care,

• Best wishes,

• Best,

• Regards,

• Kind regards,

• Bye!

Signature:

Write down your name/ nickname

This is an example of a closing formula and signature:

Bye!

Rianne

1. True
2. False

Complete assignment (just like it will be on your test):

Sample answer:

Practice

We will practice 

with the 10 topics

 that you can't forget 

to write about!

Once more: what is the correct structure of every informal email?

Introductory paragraph

Closing paragraph

Subtask 2 (from the assignment)

Signature

Closing formula

Subtask 1 (from the assigment)

Opening formula

And finally, you really need to know this: what is the correct structure of an informal email?