At a glance
- Address and dateat the top
- GreetingDear Rina, / Dear Sir or Madam,
- Opening linewhy you are writing
- Bodyone to three paragraphs
- Closing lineWrite soon! / I look forward to hearing from you.
- Ending and nameLove, / Yours faithfully,
- Start
- Do you know the person well (a friend, family)?YesInformalLove, / Best wishes,
- Did you start with "Dear Sir or Madam"?YesFormalYours faithfully,
- You started with a name (Dear Mr Khan)Yours sincerely,
An informal letter
12 Lake Road, Dhaka
5 May 2025
Dear Rina,
Thanks for your lovely letter. I'm so happy that you passed your exams!
Last Friday my class went on a picnic to a big park near the river. We played football, sang songs and ate under the trees.
The best part was a boat ride in the evening. The sunset over the water was beautiful.
I wish you were there with us. Next time, you must come!
Please write soon and give my love to your family.
With love,
Sara
A formal letter
25 Park Street, Chattogram
10 June 2025
The Editor
The Daily News
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing to draw your attention to the very bad condition of the road in front of our school.
The road is full of holes. When it rains, they fill with water, and many students fall and get hurt.
I request the city authorities to repair the road as soon as possible.
Thank you for publishing this letter.
Yours faithfully,
Karim Ahmed
Informal or formal language?
| Informal | Formal |
|---|---|
| Hi Tom, / Dear Tom, | Dear Sir or Madam, / Dear Mr Khan, |
| Thanks for… | Thank you for… |
| I'm writing to tell you… | I am writing to inform you… |
| Can you…? | I would be grateful if you could… |
| Write soon! | I look forward to hearing from you. |
| short forms: I'm, don't | full forms: I am, do not |
Practice
Answer the questions. Get 7 out of 10 to finish this lesson.