I have read your letter today. I am glad that you are fine! I am very happy that you successfully passed your Chinese exam. My congratulations! I know you had been studying hard to pass it.
Now, let me tell you my news.
As usual, I study deeply English and maths. My mathematics teacher moved to Germany for a year. That is why I have another teacher at the moment. But I like him as well.
I am doing well at English. I have been watching films in English every day for two months already. At the moment I am watching films with subtitles, but hopefully, soon I will be able to understand everything without them. I think, this is a very good way to enlarge one’s vocabulary.
I have recently been playing volleyball in the park. You know, I like this kind of sports. I have met a really nice girl there. Her name is Lena. Next time I am going to invite her to the cinema. It looks like I go to the park to see her rather than play volleyball)))
My brother has started to work in an interior design studio. He enjoys it a lot more than his previous job. My parents are planning to buy a new flat. This one is too small now.
Valera, Andrey and I often think about you. It is a pity that you had to go. It was so much fun when you were here. It is Andrey’s birthday soon. It is sad that we will have to celebrate it without you. I hope you will be able to come and visit us when it is my birthday.
Yesterday we met Sveta and Natasha. They gave their regards to you. They asked if you liked your new place. We told them that you did. By the way, Natasha dyed her hair black. She is a brunette now! It suits her, though.
Please give my regards to your mom, dad and sister! Come to visit us as soon as you have an opportunity! Do not forget to write! We miss you so much!
Wishing you best of luck!
Dear Sergey!
Today I read your letter. I'm glad you're doing well! I am very happy that you passed the Chinese language exam! Congratulations! I know you studied very hard to pass it.
Now I’ll tell you what’s new in my life.
As usual, I am studying English and mathematics in depth. My math teacher moved to Germany for a year, so now I’m studying with someone else. But I like him too.
Everything is fine with English. For two months now I have been watching films in English every day. I currently watch films with subtitles, but I hope to soon be able to understand everything without them. In my opinion this is very good way replenishment of vocabulary.
IN Lately I go to the park to play volleyball. You know I love this sport. There I met a very pretty girl. Her name is Lena. Next time I'll invite her to the cinema. In my opinion, I go to the park because of her, and not because of volleyball)))
My brother started working in an interior design studio. He likes this job much more than his previous one. My parents want to buy a new apartment, since this one is already cramped for us.
Valera, Andrey and I often remember you. It's a shame you left. It was so much fun having you here. Andrey's birthday is coming soon. Unfortunately, we will celebrate without you. I hope you can come for my birthday.
Yesterday we saw Sveta and Natasha. They said hi to you. They asked how you like your new place? We said yes. By the way, Natasha dyed her hair black! Now she's a brunette! But it suits her.
Say hi to your mom, dad and sister for me! Come as soon as possible! Don't forget to write! We miss you very much!
I wish all the best!
To begin with, dear readers, let's define the goals of our lesson. So, we must determine what a personal letter is and how it differs from a business letter, study its structure, and most importantly, learn how to independently write a letter to a friend in English using ready-made templates.
People use letters as a way to exchange information around the world. Letters can be written to friends, relatives, acquaintances or people with whom we are unfamiliar, for example, business partners. It is the person to whom your letter is addressed that determines whether it belongs to business or personal correspondence, and the form, structure and style of writing your letter depends on its affiliation. You could familiarize yourself with the rules for writing business letters in our previous article, letter in English, and now we will get acquainted with the features of writing personal letters in English.
So, friendly or personal letters are usually addressed to people you know personally (friends, relatives, loved ones). The language used to write such letters may be colloquial. For example, 1st and 2nd person pronouns (I, you) are used very often. It is possible to use dialect words, slang words, exclamations, interjections, vernacular, modal verbs, affectionate forms, etc. In personal letters, you can freely express your opinion, i.e., a subjective assessment of any situation is not prohibited. Personal letters can have a strong emotional overtones. As you can see, friendly correspondence does not have such strict stylistic restrictions as business correspondence.
As for the structure of a personal letter in English, its form is practically no different from a business letter; it’s just that some points can be neglected at your discretion. You can familiarize yourself with the structure of a letter in the article “Learning to write letters in English correctly.” If you have to write a personal letter to a friend in English, for example, during an exam, then of course the form of the letter cannot be neglected.
Step-by-step letter structure with template phrases
So, a personal letter to a friend in English must, according to all the rules, include 5 points:
The first point is the “header” of the letter, i.e. the sender’s address and date. (Heading: address and date)
The address is written in the upper right corner and has the following sequence: house number with the street name, separated by a comma, apartment number. The next line shows the city and postal code, and the next line shows the country. Do not put any commas or periods.
46 Riverview Park
New York 542 210
USA
15th February, 2008
On the next line or every other line immediately below the address, the date is written. Several spelling options are possible:
May 12, 2014
May 12th, 2014
May 12, 2014
May 12, 2014
The 2nd point is “appeal”. (salutation or greeting) The appeal is written on a new line on the left. After the address, as a rule, a comma is placed.
Very often the address begins with the word Dear + the name of the person to whom you are writing.
Dear Rima, Dear Karan
Dear Daddy, Dear Mammy
Dear Uncle Ray
Dear Mr. Green
Various options are possible. It all depends on who you are writing to.
My dear Jim
dearest
My darling
Or simply - Hello, my dear Olya
The 3rd point is “the main text of the letter”. (body/message)
The first paragraph of the main text is an introduction or an opening sentence, where you can thank your friend for the previous letter, tell him why you haven’t written for so long, or simply write that you were very glad to hear news from your friend. It roughly looks like this:
I’m writing to (thank/ tell/ ask/ congratulate/ apologize/ etc.) - I am writing to you to (thank, say, ask, congratulate, express regret, etc.)
I’m writing to thank you very much for the nice post card... - I’m writing to you to thank you for the wonderful postcard...
Many thanks for your letter… — Thank you very much for your letter...
I was very glad to get your letter... - I was very glad to receive your letter...
Thanks for your recent letter. It was good to hear from you... - Thank you for your last letter. I was glad to hear from you...
I've been meaning to write to you for ages but somehow just haven't been able to find the time I really should have written sooner…- I was going to write to you a long time ago, but somehow I never found the time, I really late with the answer...
I’m sorry I haven’t written for so long but I’ve been really busy with... - Sorry for not writing for so long, but I was really busy...
I must apologize for not writing earlier... - I must apologize for not writing earlier...
I’m sorry I’ve taken such a long time to reply to your last letter... - Sorry that it took me so long to answer your last letter...
In the second paragraph you can answer your friend's questions. If you are writing a letter to a friend in English as an assignment for an exam, the assignment will usually include questions that you must answer.
You are asking me about... I"ll do my best to answer your questions. - You asked me about... I will try to answer your questions.
That's about all I can tell you on this problem. - That's all I can tell you about this.
In the third and fourth paragraphs, you talk about events in your life, share news and ask your questions to a friend.
Nice is some news about... - I have news about...
I think you are studying hard now. Have you already chosen the university where you are going to apply? Will it be difficult to study there? “I think you’re studying hard now.” Have you already chosen the university you will attend? Will it be difficult to study there?
How has your summer been? - How was your summer?
What have you been up to? — What interesting happened to you?
Are you playing any sports? — Do you do any sports?
Have you been traveling? -Have you traveled?
I am preparing for entrance exams to the university. — I am preparing for the entrance exams to the university.
We are going to travel to Turkey. — We are going to go to Turkey.
The fifth paragraph is the closing sentence, where you bring your message to a close and can wish success, ask for something, or express hope for something. You can also write that you are in a hurry somewhere or it’s time for you to go somewhere.
Anyway, I must go and get on with my work. - In any case, I have to go on working.
Well, got to go now. - Well, that's all.
I’ve got loads of homework to do tonight. — I have a whole bunch of homework for today.
I must finish my letter because it is very late and I must go to bed (because my Mum is calling me / because I have to do my homework). — I’m finishing my letter because it’s late and it’s time for me to sleep (because my mother is calling me / because I need to do my homework)
Hope to hear from you soon. “I hope to hear from you soon.”
Drop me a line when you are free. - Write me a few lines when you are free.
Looking forward to hearing from you. - I look forward to hearing from you.
Write soon. - Write as soon as possible.
See you soon! - See you soon!
Do keep in touch! - We'll be in touch!
Don't forget to write! - Don't forget to answer!
Looking forward to seeing you. - I'm looking forward to meeting you.
Write back to me soon. - Answer as soon as possible.
Let me know what happens. - Let me know what's going on.
I hope this advice is of some help to you. — I hope that my advice will be useful for you.
The 4th point is the final polite phrase (subscription/ closing). A comma must be placed after the final phrase.
Love,
Best wishes,
All the best,
Yours,
The 5th final point is your signature. You put your signature on the next line under the final phrase without a period.
So, as you noticed, a letter to a friend in English has the same structure as a business letter. The main difference lies in the style of the language. This is why template phrases for personal and business letters are completely different.
I want to give you a couple more tips for successfully writing a letter to a friend in English. To ensure that the text is complete and sounds good, use linking words and conjunctions: just now, and, at all, but, that's why, also, as for me, maybe, though, so, not only, to tell the truth, besides, now, first, also, finally, but, however, so that, such as, for example as, because, when, while, Well, Right… Use short forms of verbs: I've, there's, I'd...
If your English vocabulary is not that great, you can still easily cope with a task such as writing a letter to a friend in English. To do this, you will have to visually remember the structure of the letter and memorize a ready-made template, which will need to be supplemented with a couple of sentences.
You can create a template yourself using the phrases we have selected for each item.
Letter template to a friend in English
46 Riverview Park
New York 542 210
USA
My dear Jim,
Thanks for your letter. I’m sorry I haven’t written for so long but I’ve been really busy with…
You are asking me about… I’ll do my best to answer your questions. (answer questions)
Nice is some news about... (telling the news)
What have you been up to... (ask your questions)
I must finish my letter because it is very late and I must go to bed. Hope to hear from you soon.
Love,
Mary
Here's how to easily write a letter to a friend in English using template phrases! All you have to do is add a couple of sentences and the letter is ready!
Study the following letters to a friend in English with translation in order to better understand the structure of such letters.
Examples letters in English with translation
46 Riverview Park
Glentown
Dublin 23
Dear Jim,
How are things in Wicklow? I have not seen you for ages so I decided to write and give you all the news from Glentown.
The football team is doing really well this season. We have reached the semi-final of the Cup. The new goalkeeper we got after you left is great. He has not let in a goal in the last three matches.
My sister, Sandra, Has just had a baby girl, so I am now an uncle. Maybe I will be able to make some money from baby- sitting and then I can come down on the train to visit you.
Write soon and let me know all the news.
Your friend,
Martin
46 Riverview Park
Glentown
Dublin 23
Dear Jim,
How are things in Wicklow? I haven't seen you for ages, so I decided to write to you and tell you all the news about Glentown.
The football team is really doing well this season. We have reached the semi-finals of the Cup. The new goalkeeper who joined us after you left is great. He hasn't conceded a single goal in his last three matches.
My sister, Sandra, just had a baby girl, so I'm now an uncle. Perhaps I can earn some money as a nanny and come by train to visit you.
Reply to me as soon as possible and tell me all the news.
Your friend,
Martin
12 Hill Drive
Navan
Co. Meath
Dear Susan,
I hope everything is well with you. It has been ages since we saw you here in Meath.
I am writing to ask you to come and stay with us the weekend of the 6th June. We are having a little get together because John is going to Australia for a year. It would be lovely for him to see you before he goes, you are his godmother after all. Let me know if you can make it, don’t worry if not, any weekend before then is fine.
We are all in good form here. Very busy trying to get John organised. I will miss him while he's away.
I do hope all the family are well.
12 Hill Drive
Navan
County Meath
Dear Susan,
I hope you are doing well. It's been forever since we've seen you here in Meath.
I am writing to ask you to come and stay with us on the weekend of June 6th. We're all getting together because John is going to Australia for a year. It would be great for him to see you before he leaves, after all, you are his godmother. Let me know if you manage to come, if not, don’t worry, you can come any weekend before he leaves.
We are fine. Constantly busy trying to get John ready for the trip. I will miss him very much when he leaves.
I really hope everything is okay with your family.
With love,
Mary
12 Hilly Drive
Navan
Co. Meath
Dear Susan,
I am writing to say thank you for the lovely flowers. I can’t believe you remembered my birthday! You are so thoughtful.
We are all in good form here. I do hope all the family are well. Paul is starting a new job next week. I hope to get down to Cork to visit you soon.
Thanks again.
12 Hill Drive
Navan
County Meath
Dear Susan,
I am writing to thank you for the beautiful flowers. I can't believe you remembered my birthday! You are so attentive.
We are fine. I hope everyone is doing well too. Paul starts new job next week. I'm thinking of coming to visit you in Cork soon.
Thank you very much again.
With love,
Mary
46 Riverview Park
New York 542 210
USA
Hi Sophie,
I’m writing this from the cutest little café in New York! Mum’s been making sure we don’t miss one sight in the whole city, so we’ve been walking almost all day. So far we've seen Times Square, Broadway, Central Park and The Plaza. I caught a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty but we’re going to go and see it properly tomorrow!
The streets are super busy here and everyone looks amazing in their winter coats and hats. I had to buy mittens today! I miss being able to feel my fingers!
Hope you're enjoying your holidays.
Miss you times a million, see you back in Adelaide on the 20th!
Love,
Ashley
PS: I’m bringing you back a souvenir!
46 Riverview Park
NY
USA
Hi Sophie,
I'm writing to you now from the cutest little cafe in New York! Mom does everything possible to ensure that we never miss anything interesting in the city, so we spent almost the entire day on our feet. So far we have already seen Times Square, Broadway, Central Park and the Square. I caught a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty, but we're going to explore it properly tomorrow!
The streets here are super busy and everyone looks amazing in their winter coats and hats. Today I had to buy mittens! I'm losing the ability to feel my fingers!
I hope you enjoy your holiday.
Miss you like crazy, see you again in Adelaide on the 20th!
With love,
Ashley
PS: I'll bring you a souvenir!
12 Tulip Road
Flowertown
Dublin 20
Dear Sally,
How are you settling down in your new school in Cork? Our class is quite different since you left. It’s much quitter for a start. All the teachers are remarking on it!
We had an English test yesterday. WhenMrs. Byrne came in today with the results she was so mad there was nearly smoke coming out of her ears!
Phil Martin and Sandra Byrne have split up. Phil is really down in the dumps. But otherwise everyone is in great form. We are all going down to the club in the Sports Center on Friday night. It’s a pity you won’t be with us.
Write soon and tell us all about Cork. Goodbye for now.
12 Tulip Road
Flowertown
Dublin 20
Dear Sally,
How have you settled into your new school in Cork? Our class has changed a lot since you left. Many people have become lazy. All teachers notice this!
Yesterday we had an English test. When Ms Byrne came in with the results today, she was so angry she thought she was about to have smoke coming out of her ears!
Phil Martin and Sandra Byrne fled. Phil is now walking around like he's lost. But in all other respects we are fine. We're going to the club at the Sports Center on Friday night. It's a pity that you won't be with us.
Write as soon as possible and tell us about Cork. Well, bye.
With love,
Joe
2 West Road
Violetville
Cork
Dear Joe
Greetings from Cork! Now that we have settled in our new house I am having a house- warming party to celebrate.
I am inviting some of the gang from Dublin and some of my new school friends from Cork.
The fun begins at 9 pm on Saturday, 3rd March. Why not come down on Friday night and stay for the weekend? I have asked Sandra and Brian to stay over also.
The train leaves Dublin at 4.15 pm and arrives in Cork at 7.30 pm.
Nowadays it is rarely used for friendly correspondence Email, I'm not talking about paper. We correspond with friends on social networks, via SMS or using messenger programs like WhatsApp or Telegram. But sometimes an email is a more appropriate choice, for example, when you need to write a long message or talk about something in detail. Email is also often used for communication between penpals - pen pals who practice foreign languages.
This article is written primarily for those who speak English. You will learn what elements a letter consists of, what useful phrases there are for correspondence, and I will also give examples of informal letters: a letter to a friend, a letter to a relative and a love letter.
What does a friendly letter include?
When you write a letter to a friend in English, there is no need to follow any strict structure. There is no need for formalities. However, common sense dictates that the letter should still contain some elements:
- Subject of the letter– a friend will open and read your email anyway, but it will be better if you indicate what the message is about. It is better to indicate the topic briefly and clearly.
- Greetings– in chats and instant messengers it is usually not considered rude to write something without “Hello”, especially if it is something urgent. Letters always begin with a greeting.
- The main content of the letter.
- Farewell, wishes– the letter traditionally ends with a farewell and the name of the sender.
What does a paper letter include?
I doubt very much that you will communicate with pen pals using paper mail, but what if you want to send a postcard or just be original?
A paper letter does not have a subject line, like an e-mail, but there is a header in the upper right corner, in which only the date is usually written. The date format can be any, for example:
- May 4, 2016.
- 2016, May 4.
- 5/04/16.
Don't forget that in the USA dates are written in the format “Month/Day/Year”, and not “Day/Month/Year”, as in Russia or the UK. That is, in the USA, 04/03/11 is the fourth of March, not the third of April.
In the USA, the address on the envelope is not written as we are used to, but vice versa: first the name of the recipient, then the address, city, state.
Chloe Price (recipient's name)
44 Cedar ave. (house number, street name)
Arcadia Bay (city)
Oregon 97141 (state, zip code)
Greetings and farewells in a letter to a friend
Between colleagues, it is considered normal to start a letter with just a name, for example:
I just wanted to inform you that...
Especially if this is not the first letter in the correspondence, that is, in the first letter, having started discussing the issue, you wrote “Hello Alex”, and then, clarifying the details, you simply write “Alex”. In a friendly letter, calling by name without “hello” or other greeting will look strange, especially in paper.
Here are the standard greetings:
- Dear Alex– the word “dear” is more often used in business correspondence, this is something like our “dear/respected”. But it may also be appropriate in a friendly letter, a letter to a relative, in which case the meaning is closer to “dear/darling.”
- Hello Alex– the greeting “hello” is the most universal. It is suitable for any occasion except very strict business letters.
- Hi Alex- an analogue of our “hello”. This way you can contact your work colleagues, close friends, and pen pal.
- Hey Alex– also “hello”, but with a slightly more friendly, informal tone. Something like our “great”. It is so appropriate to contact a friend, a pen pal, or colleagues with whom you are on short terms. By the way, the greeting “hey” in films is often translated incorrectly as “hey”, and not as “hello”. It turns out to be complete nonsense: two friends met, said “hey” to each other and went their separate ways.
Please note that there is no romantic connotation in the word “dear” at the beginning of a letter, but “dearest” or “my dear” are written to lovers or family members (for example, parents to children).
The letter ends with a farewell word or wish and the name of the sender, for example:
Here are the standard farewell options:
- Bye– “bye”, the easiest way to say goodbye.
- Best wishes- "With Best wishes" So they write as in business letters, and in friendly ones.
- Kind regards– similar to “best wishes”. Often they simply write “regards”.
You can also write to lovers, relatives, close friends:
- Love- “I love”, “with love”.
- Kiss- "kiss".
- Hug- “hugs.”
Sometimes letters end with these strange abbreviations:
- X– kiss.
- XO– hug and kiss.
- XOXO– hugs and kisses.
There are different versions of the origin of the X at the end of the letter meaning “kiss”. One of them says that in the Middle Ages a cross (a Christian symbol) was depicted on letters as a sign of sincerity and honesty of the letter. And having drawn a cross, you had to kiss it. According to another version, the letter X, which is read as simply consonant with “a kiss”. Why the letter O symbolizes hugs is a mystery shrouded in darkness.
Useful phrases for a friendly letter
In informal correspondence, you can express thoughts as conveniently as possible, using abbreviations, slang, and colloquial expressions. Here are some templates that may be useful in correspondence.
Examples of letters to a friend in English with translation
I will give three examples: a letter to a pen pal, a letter to a relative, a love letter.
Example 1: A typical letter to a foreign pen pal.
|
Thanks for your letter! You asked me to tell you about my favorite day of the week. Well, it’s definitely Tuesday. The reason I like Tuesday is because I have my favorite subjects at school: PE and Chemistry. In PE we play basketball. I’m good at it and our team usually wins. Chemistry’s great because we do experiments in the lab and our teacher, Mr. White, is a real genius (but he’s kinda strange lately). Last time he said that Chemistry in not the study of matter but the study of change and showed us some cool experiment with fire burns in different colors. We also have Spanish on Tuesdays, which is actually my least favorite subject. Tell me about your favorite day in your next letter. Hope to hear from you soon. Best wishes, |
Hello Anna, Thank you for your letter! You asked what my favorite day of the week is. Well, it's Tuesday, of course. The reason I like Tuesday is because on this day my favorite subjects at school are physical education and chemistry. In physical education we play basketball. I play well and our team usually wins. I love chemistry because it involves us doing experiments in the lab, and our teacher, Mr. White, is a real genius (though he's been a bit weird lately). Last time he said that chemistry is not the science of matter, but the science of change. And he showed us a cool experiment with multi-colored fire. We also have Spanish on Tuesdays, which is actually my least favorite subject. Tell me about your favorite day of the week in your next email. Waiting for your letter! Best wishes, |
Example 2: letter to a relative.
Letter from the game “Life is Strange”
|
Sorry for not staying in touch since the accident. Work has been piling up and I’m being sent to Salt Lake City to oversee a new parking lot. You have to go where the work is these days. I wish I could have sent you a bigger check but you know the story. Money is nobody's favorite thing. Maybe I’ll see you near spring for a visit. Your brother, |
HI Bill, I'm sorry I didn't write to you after the accident. A lot of work has accumulated, and now I am sent to Salt Lake City to manage a new parking lot. These days, wherever there is work, that’s where you have to go. I'm sorry I couldn't send you a larger check, but you're up to date. Money is a sore subject for everyone. Maybe I'll visit you closer to spring. Your brother, |
Example 3: love letter.
This letter is taken from the movie “The Notebook”. The translation of the letter is taken from the film in Russian dubbing.
When was the last time you received a paper letter? To remember, you need to think carefully. I can’t remember either. True, every New Year I continue to send paper cards to all relatives and friends. The whole problem is that no one sends me anything in response...
It seems to everyone that writing letters, sending postcards is outdated a long time ago, because there is a telephone, e-mail, social media- they help to get to a person faster... Especially the sentimental ones will say that we have lost romance in the pursuit of time and convenience. But there is something in the modern world that remains unchanged - this is a letter in English, which is still written according to the rules - these rules also apply to emails.
I propose to get down to business and figure out exactly how to write an informal letter or a letter to a friend in English.
- Put the date if you are writing the letter by hand.
In the upper right corner, indicate exactly when you wrote the letter.
The date can be written in two ways: 26 March , 2017 orMarch 26, 2017 .
It must be admitted that with the advent of electronic messages, the practice of setting a date itself disappeared. The email client itself displays the date and time the letter was sent, accurate to the second. But, if you are writing a letter on paper, take care of this important detail.
Another note concerns the address if you are sending a paper letter. Sometimes the email outline will include the address in the upper right corner, right before the date. This is not necessary because it is written on the envelope. But knowing the order of where the street is and where the index is is very important, because it is different from the Russian-language model.
42 Chaykovskogo str.,
Leningrad region,
Saint Petersburg,
- Greetings.
At this point there is no longer any difference - a paper letter or an electronic one. It always starts with the same. Usually the greeting is placed from the initial line, that is, on the left. You contact the recipient in any of the following ways:
Do not forget! Be sure to add a comma after the greeting (e.g. Dear Tom, … My darling, …).
- Main message.
It is also called the body of the letter, and it consists of three parts.
— Introductory part;
- Main part;
- Conclusion.
- What is the introductory part?
This small paragraph, which sets the overall tone of the letter, is an indicator of politeness. In this part, you should say that you are glad to receive a letter from your friend, then you should repeat the information that he wrote to you - thereby you will show that his words have reached you.
Let's see what we can use to get things done the right way:
- Main part.
Here you can give free rein to your imagination. Write about why you actually took up the letter. Everything will depend on the degree of intimacy - if there is trust and revelation between you, then going into detail is possible; if you are just friends, then you shouldn’t talk too much about yourself and your personal life. There are no established phrases or clichés in this part - this is completely your domain, where you can use the phrases that you like. It is better to break the main part into several paragraphs, rather than write everything in a continuous “sheet” - this way the information is easier to perceive and assimilate for the reader. Keep in mind that in emails it is common to leave a blank line between paragraphs for visual convenience.
- Conclusion. No, no, it’s too early to say goodbye here.
At the end of the main part of the letter, be sure to ask how things are going with latest project, at what stage of the renovation, and how the scientific conference in Paris went - ask a question! This will show your interest in the recipient and encourage him to continue the correspondence.
You can also end with the following phrases:
- Signature.
An obligatory part of a letter that logically completes it. The signature reflects the entire tone of what was written - whether it was neutral or emphatically friendly - this is the signature you need to choose.
- P. S.
A letter often ends not with a farewell, but with a postscript - it will always come in handy at the end if you forgot to say something or... specially saved it for later. What sometimes happens is that a humorous postscript or remark sometimes negates the entire impression of what was written - I think that you would not want to offend your interlocutor, especially if he is English - they are so sensitive in the epistolary genre.
Some general rules when writing an informal letter in English:
- Be polite, even if you are writing to a fellow member of your rock band - abnormality does not negate politeness.
- After the greeting, always express your joy at receiving the letter and make a reference to what was written to you, react to the content of the letter you received.
- Start a new thought on a new line (and a new paragraph, skipping a line)
- Don't forget to use linking words and introductory words:
So,… - So
Well,… - Well, …
Anyway,... - in short, in any case ...
Besides…besides …
Firstly,…- Firstly
Finally,...and finally
By the way,…By the way
- Do not overuse exclamation marks and emoticons, even if you are writing to a friend or close relative.
Don't forget that writing in English still has a clear structure and generally accepted norms. Seems like a good idea. This template can be used to write any letter, in any language, and will always be in place. Now let's see what we got:
Although almost no one writes paper letters anymore, e-mail is a great way to communicate. Imagine that your friend is in a place where the Internet is only a few hours a day, and you won’t be able to communicate via instant messengers. Do you understand what needs to be written? letter to a friend in English. I will tell you below in the article how to do this, where to start and what phrases may be useful.
From the article you will learn:
How to write a letter in English to a friend
First of all, to write a letter to a friend in English, you need to make an outline in Russian. Think about what you want to tell your friend? There is no need to try to talk about everything at once; highlight one topic.
For example, talk about your plans for the holidays or your new pet. You can write a letter of review about a book you read or a movie you watched, talk about your favorite anime or your new hobby.
Of course, know the rules of spelling and punctuation of the English language and try to follow them - good tone. The person to whom you addressed the letter will be pleased to read a well-written letter.
Structure of a letter to a friend and useful phrases
Like any letter, a letter to a friend should contain:
- Greetings.
- The main part.
- The final part (farewell and wishes).
Let's consider each point.
In the first part of the letter people greet a friend or acquaintance. Here are common greeting phrases in English:
“My dear + name” - which translated means - “My (my) dear + name.”
Eg,
Hello, my dear Olya. - Hello, my dear Olya.
It is also possible to use just a name:
Hello, Olga. - Hello, Olga.
Body of the letter consists of several paragraphs that reveal the topic on which you are writing the letter.
A letter to a friend in English is not an official document, so you can use different ones, for example:
- As far as I know— as far as I know
- By the way - by the way
- In a nutshell - in short
In the final part, according to the norms of etiquette, it is necessary to say goodbye to a friend. The following phrases can be used:
- Many happy returns of the day - all the best on this day.
- Sincerely yours— sincerely yours.
- Yours truly always devoted to you.
- best wishes - best wishes.
- Yours Ever - always yours.
- Good luck - Good luck.
Example 1. Letter to a friend in English with translation about plans for the future
The first example of a letter to a friend in English will be about plans for future holidays.
I am writing to tell you about my next winter holidays.
I want to spend them in mountains. Skiing is a very popular sport in my country. It is very interesting. Even our prime minister likes skiing, it is his hobby. I began to ski with my father and sister in my childhood. We often go to the forest and spend our time there. I think that the fresh air, clear nature and sport are very healthy for me. That’s why my hobby is skiing.
The mountain-skiing camp site is located in Karpaty. It is about 200 kilometers from my city. This camp site is very popular and many people visit it every year. There are 4 skiing tracks. Three of them are for skiing and one is for snowboards. In addition, there is the elevator, a cafe and the house, where you can have a rest. The length of the track is about 3 kilometers. The speed that you can gather there is very fast. Later, after this camp site I want to visit my grandfather who lives in another city. I miss him.
So, that is all about my holidays. Write to me more often. Good luck.
Truly Yours,
Maxim
.
Dear Anton,
I am writing to you to tell you about my next winter holidays.
I want to spend them in the mountains. Skiing is a very popular sport in my country. It is very interesting. Even our Prime Minister loves skiing - it's his hobby. I started skiing when I was little, with my dad and sister. We often go to the forest and spend our time there. I think that fresh air, clean nature and sports are very good for me. That's why my favorite hobby- skiing.
The ski resort is located in the Carpathians. It's two hundred kilometers from my city. This base is very popular and many people visit it every year. There are 4 ski slopes there. Three of them are for skis, one is for snowboarding. There is also a ski lift, a cafe and a house where you can relax. The length of the route is approximately 3 kilometers. The speed that can be developed there is very high. Then, after this base, I want to go to my grandfather, who lives in another city. I miss him.
So that's it for my vacation. Write me more often. Good luck.
Sincerely yours,
Maksim
Below you will find more two examples of letters to a friend in English with translation into Russian. One letter about sports, the second letter about a pet.
Example 2. Letter to a friend about sports in English with translation into Russian
The second letter to a friend in English will talk about sports.
Thank you for your letter! Sorry for haven’t written to you for so long but I was busy all this time.
Well, I am very glad that you have passed all the exams! Congratulations! (I am very happy for you!) I guess, you should relax your body and mind after exams. And the best way to do it is to go for a walk!
You know, my favorite sports are baseball and swimming, but your mum gave you a good piece of advice! Basketball is a good choice for you!
As well, all teens in Russia prefer hockey and football. But everyone can choose something else…
Wow! Your brother has just come from Australia! That must be great! So, how was his trip? Was it successful? Did he enjoy the weather there?
Sorry, I must finish now, because I have to revise for my tomorrow exam. Hope to hear from you soon.
Best wishes,
Sergey
Translation of a letter into Russian:
Dear Sasha,
Thank you for your letter! Sorry I didn't write to you, but I was very busy.
So, I'm very glad that you passed all the exams! Congratulations! (I'm very happy for you!). I think you should relax both your body and mind after your exams. The best way to do this is to go for a walk!
You know my favorite sports are baseball and swimming, but your mom gave you good advice! Basketball is a good choice for you!
Thus, all teenagers in Russia prefer hockey and football. But everyone can choose something of their own...
Wow! Your brother just arrived from Australia! This must be cool! So how was his journey? What successes? Did he like the weather there?
Sorry, I have to finish because I'm studying for an exam tomorrow. Catch you later.
Best wishes,
Sergey
Example 3. Letter to a friend in English with translation about a pet
In your last letter you asked me to tell you about my pets. OK, I can talk for hours on this topic. I have a dog; his name is La boule. That's a French word which means a ball. He is a pug and he is very funny. I also have a hamster. His name is Albert. Not a usual name for a hamster, you say, but he is very curious and smart enough. I would also like to have a cat, but perhaps not now.
I’m fine, no changes since the last time. I’m passing my exams next week. After that, I’m looking forward to going abroad. I like traveling a lot. I’ve visited just a few European countries but I fell in love with the Old world. My dream is to go to Paris. This is the city of love, croissants and haut-couture. I think every person should see it and not necessarily die after it!
You told me that you had been to many countries. Tell me about your greatest trip! Have you been to Paris, did you like it? What are you going to do this summer? Where would you like to go?
I’m so happy that your sister is married! Wish her and her husband a very good luck! Hope the wedding was as gorgeous as the bride was!
Could you send me some photos?
Sorry, I have to go, my parents are leaving on holidays, I need to see them off.
Waiting for your letter,
Yours truly,
Alex
Translation of a letter into Russian:
Dear Vlad,
In your last letter you asked me to tell you about your pets. Well, I can talk about this topic for hours. I have a dog, his name is La Boule. This is a French word that translates to ball. He's a pug and he's very funny. I also have a hamster. His name is Albert. An unusual name for a hamster, you might say, but he is very inquisitive and quite smart. I would also like a cat, but maybe not right now.
I'm fine, no changes since last time. Next week I take my exams. After this, I'm really looking forward to traveling abroad. I like traveling very much. I've only been a few European countries, but I fell in love with the Old World. My dream is to go to Paris. This is the city of love, croissants and haute couture. I think everyone should see it, and you don't have to die after it!
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