General Training Task 1 — Letter
Informal Letter — To a Friend or Family Member
Contractions, phrasal verbs and questions to the reader. Formality here is the mistake.
- 1ApologyInformal
A close friend has invited you to their wedding, but you will not be able to attend. Write a letter to your friend.
In your letter:
- thank them for the invitation
- explain why you cannot come
- suggest another way to celebrate together
- 2ThanksInformal
You recently stayed with a friend in another city. Write a letter to thank them.
In your letter:
- thank them for having you to stay
- say what you enjoyed most about the visit
- invite them to come and stay with you
- 3NewsInformal
You have just started a new job. Write a letter to a friend you have not seen for a while.
In your letter:
- tell them about the new job
- explain how it is different from your last one
- suggest meeting up soon
- 4RequestInformal
You need to ask a friend to look after your flat while you are away. Write a letter to your friend.
In your letter:
- explain where you are going and for how long
- say what you would like them to do while you are away
- offer to do something for them in return
- 5ApologyInformal
You forgot a friend's birthday. Write a letter to your friend.
In your letter:
- apologise and explain what happened
- tell them what you have been busy with
- suggest a way to make it up to them
- 6Inviting a friend to visitInformal
You have moved to a new city and would like a friend from your home town to come and stay. Write a letter to your friend.
In your letter:
- tell your friend about your new home and city
- invite them to visit and suggest when
- explain what you could do together while they are there
- 7Apologising for missing an eventInformal
You were unable to attend a celebration that a close friend had organised. Write a letter to your friend.
In your letter:
- apologise and explain why you could not go
- ask how the celebration went
- suggest a way to make it up to them
- 8Returning something you borrowedInformal
You borrowed something valuable from a friend and it was damaged while you had it. Write a letter to your friend.
In your letter:
- explain what happened to the item
- apologise and say how you feel about it
- offer a way to put things right
- 9Asking a friend about moving abroadInformal
A friend of yours moved abroad for work last year. You are thinking of doing the same. Write a letter to your friend.
In your letter:
- tell your friend about your plans
- ask about their experience of moving and finding work
- ask them to help you with one specific thing