Step 39: A Letter Home
Writing to friends — Informal email structure and phrases
📖 Read — Ethan's Email from New York
Hi Tom, How are you? I'm having a great time here in New York! The city is huge, and the people are friendly. Guess what? Yesterday, we went to the top of a tall building, and the view was amazing!
Today we're going to visit Central Park, and tomorrow we're taking the train to Boston. I miss you and the team a lot! Write back soon and tell me your news. Best wishes, Ethan. P.S. I'll bring you a New York cap!
🧩 Grammar — Informal Emails — Start, Write, Finish
An informal email to a friend has five parts: 1) greeting — Hi Tom, (not 'Dear Mr.…'), 2) opening — How are you? / Thanks for your email., 3) news with friendly phrases — Guess what? I'm having a great time!, 4) closing — Write back soon. / I miss you., 5) sign-off — Best wishes, / Love, + your name. Use contractions (I'm, we're) — they sound friendly.
- Hi Tom, how are you?
- I'm having a great time in New York!
- Guess what? We saw the ocean yesterday!
- Write back soon. Best wishes, Ethan.
🏗️ Key structures
- Hi ___, how are you? — Hi Emma, how are you?
- I'm having a great time in ___ — I'm having a great time in Miami.
- Write back soon! Best wishes, ___ — Write back soon! Best wishes, Jack.
⭐ Idiom & natural phrases
When you get to Boston, drop me a line!
🔤 New words
a card with a picture that you send from a trip, no envelope
She sent me a postcard from Hawaii.
the small paper you put on a letter so it can travel
I need a stamp for this letter.
the paper cover you put a letter in
Write the address on the envelope.
the details of where a person lives or where an email goes
What's your email address?
new information about people and things (uncountable)
Tell me your news!
feel sad because someone is not with you
I miss my friends in Austin.
used to start a letter; for friends we usually use 'Hi + name'
Dear Grandma, thank you for the cake.
answer a letter, email, or message
Please reply soon!
🎧 Say it with me
Hi Tom, how are you? I’m having a great time here in New York! Write back soon. Best wishes, Ethan.
🎤 Your turn to speak
Say a mini-email out loud to a friend: greet him, ask how he is, give one piece of news, and close with Write back soon + Best wishes.
Say it out loud three times. Even better: record it on your phone and listen — your ear is your best teacher.
✍️ Your turn to write
Write a short email (5–6 sentences) to a friend from a trip. Follow Ethan's email structure.
See a model answer
Hi Jack, How are you? I'm having a wonderful time here in San Diego! Yesterday we swam in the ocean, and the water was warm. Today we're going to visit the zoo. I miss you! Write back soon. Best wishes, Sophia.
Self-check: capital letters? Full stops? Did you use the grammar of this step?
📝 Quick check
🎉 Saved in your progress!