Useful Starters for Informal Letters

Letters & Emails Poster

                                                                                    

                                     LETTERS TO FRIENDS

* TOPIC SENTENCE to introduce paragraphs

* Dashes and Exclamation Marks

     * Phrasal verbs:  call/put off – come across – get on with – give up – 

         go on – look forward to – call round – look after –set out – find out

     * Friendly expressions/Idioms:  go out for a bite / costs an arm and a leg / once in a blue moon / feeling a bit under the weather /

     * Transition words: To begin with / Anyway / Finally / On the other hand / However / although / Luckily / Unfortunately

    *  Sophisticated Adjectives:  breath-taking – hilarious  - picturesque – superb – thrilled –fantastic – furious – hideous – filthy – packed – exhausted – starving – awful – fascinating – boiling – freezing - terrific

     * Intensifiers to express enthusiasm:  

      certainly / definitely / absolutely / surely/ extremely / incredibly /

OPENING & CLOSING REMARKS FOR INFORMAL LETTERS

• I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed reading your letter.
• I think of you every day/so often.
• I was so glad to see your handwriting again.
• Your last letter was priceless/delightful/a pleasure to get.
• Your letter was such fun to read—thanks!
• Your letters always brighten my day.
• I’m wondering how your finals went.
• I was really pleased to hear from you
• It’s been a while since we last wrote so I thought I’d drop you a line to bring you up to date with what’s been happening here.

· Write when you have time, will you?

· Please write and tell me all the news.

·  Please say hello to everyone and tell Audrey thanks again for taking us out. We had a great time! Your family is so warm and fun to be around—so much energy and self-assurance! I miss you all!

·   See you soon, I hope.