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Joy English · Level A2 · General exam skillsjoy-english.com

Writing a short email to a friend

Name:Date:

Independent practice in the style of entry-level exam writing tasks, not an official test: plan and write a short reply that answers every question in a friend's email.

Email from Tomás

Hi!

I'm planning a day at Silver Lake next Sunday with some friends from our class. We'll swim and have lunch there. Can you come? What food can you bring for lunch? And how will you get to the lake from your house?

Write back soon!

Tomás

Plan your reply

Think about Tomás's email and the model reply. Choose the best answer.

  1. Tomás asks: “Can you come?” Which sentence answers this question?
    • a) I'd love to come on Sunday!
    • b) I can bring some fruit.
    • c) I'll take the bus.
  2. Tomás asks: “What food can you bring for lunch?” Which sentence answers this?
    • a) I'll walk there.
    • b) I'll bring some cheese sandwiches.
    • c) See you on Sunday!
  3. Tomás asks how you will get to the lake. Which sentence answers this?
    • a) I love swimming.
    • b) My brother can come too.
    • c) My mum can drive me there.
  4. Which is the best way to start your email to Tomás?
    • a) Dear Sir,
    • b) Hi Tomás,
    • c) To whom it may concern,
  5. Which is the best way to finish an email to a friend?
    • a) Yours faithfully,
    • b) See you on Sunday!
    • c) I look forward to receiving your reply.
  6. You can't go to the lake. Which sentence is the most polite?
    • a) I'm afraid I can't come. I'm visiting my grandparents that day.
    • b) I don't want to come.
    • c) No.
  7. A student wrote: “Hi Tomás, I can come. Bye.” What is the main problem?
    • a) It is too long.
    • b) It is too formal.
    • c) It doesn't answer all of Tomás's questions.
  8. Which sentence has a mistake?
    • a) I can to bring a cake.
    • b) I can bring some fruit.
    • c) I'll take the bus.

Complete the sentences

Type one word to complete each sentence from a reply to a friend.

  1. Thanks ___ your email.
  2. I'd love ___ come to your party!
  3. I'm sorry, ___ I can't come on Saturday.
  4. I can't come ___ I have a piano lesson.
  5. See you ___ Sunday!
  6. My house isn't far from the lake. It ___ (take) about twenty minutes by bus.
  7. Write ___ soon!
  8. ___ you want me to bring some drinks?

Writing task

Read this email from your friend Kofi: “Hi! It's my birthday next Saturday and I'm having a small party at my flat. Can you come? What would you like to eat or drink? And can you help me get the flat ready on Saturday morning? Kofi” Write a reply to Kofi. Answer all three questions.

35–50 words

Check your writing

  • I started with a friendly greeting, such as Hi Kofi.
  • I said if I can come to the party.
  • I said what I would like to eat or drink.
  • I answered the question about Saturday morning.
  • I finished with a friendly phrase and my name.
  • I wrote 35 to 50 words.

Answer key

Plan your reply

  1. a) I'd love to come on Sunday!I'd love to come says yes to the invitation.
  2. b) I'll bring some cheese sandwiches.Cheese sandwiches is food, so this sentence answers the question.
  3. c) My mum can drive me there.Drive me there explains how you will travel to the lake.
  4. b) Hi Tomás,Tomás is a friend, so we use Hi and his name. The other two are for formal letters.
  5. b) See you on Sunday!See you on Sunday is friendly and informal. The other endings are for formal letters.
  6. a) I'm afraid I can't come. I'm visiting my grandparents that day.A polite reply says I'm afraid or sorry and gives a reason.
  7. c) It doesn't answer all of Tomás's questions.The reply only answers one question. It says nothing about food or travel, and it is too short.
  8. a) I can to bring a cake.After can, we use the verb without to: I can bring a cake.

Complete the sentences

  1. forWe say thanks for something.
  2. toAfter would love, we use to and the verb: I'd love to come.
  3. butBut joins two ideas that are different: you are sorry, but you can't come.
  4. because / as / sinceBecause gives the reason. As and since are also possible here.
  5. onWe use on with days: on Sunday, on Monday.
  6. takes / will takeIt takes twenty minutes tells someone how long a journey is. It will take is also possible.
  7. backWrite back means reply to my email.
  8. Do / WouldDo makes a present simple question with want. Would is also possible.

Model answer

Hi Kofi,

Thanks for the invitation! Of course I can come to your party. I'd like some pizza and apple juice, please. I'm sorry, but I can't help on Saturday morning because I have a swimming lesson. I can come early in the afternoon.

See you soon,

Aiko

Joy English · free English practice · https://joy-english.com/exam-practice/short-email-to-a-friend