WRITING AN INFORMAL LETTER
FOR B2 FIRST (FCE)
STEP 1 Read the task1 below first and then look at the notes on the left:
Don’t forget to use logical
Who are you writing
linkers and parentheses
to?
(such as, ‘You know…’ or ‘I
guess…’)
This is part of a letter from an English pen friend, Chris.
My grandmother lives on her own and she’s thinking of
getting a pet to keep her company. You know a lot about
You are writing to
animals – what would you recommend for someone like
your imaginary
her? If you could give me some information on how to look contracted
pen friend Chris.
after it, I’d appreciate that too. forms (such
as ‘I’d’,
Thanks, ‘He’s’ etc.);
How many WORDS Chris colloquial or
should you write? neutral
language;
phrasal
verbs (such
Write your letter. as ‘take up’,
‘go for’ etc.)
around
140-190
words
1) your What are some of
recommendation the features of
of a pet for Chris’s What must be the informal or
What must the body of your
grandmother; 2) before and after neutral style of
letter consist of?
some info on how the body? writing you
to look after it should stick to?
You must start your letter with a greeting, gratitude for the letter You must finish your letter with
and a reference link to the main idea of the letter (in our case, an appropriate logical ending,
Chris’s grandmother and her wish). Some other info would be including a closing phrase and
optional. your signature.
1
Taken from “Straight to First” Student’s Book Pack by Roy Norris.
For questions 1-6 in the sample response complete the second sen-
STEP 2
tence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word
given. Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five
words, including the word given.
Dear Chris,
Thank you for your letter (1). It was lovely to hear from you. Of course, your
grandmother must be feeling a bit lonely without a pet. Let me think what advice I can
give to people like her (2).
If I were an elderly person, I wouldn’t think too much and buy a cat. You know, the
cat is an animal that has a perfect combination of physical features and traits of character
for the one who is in their seventies. What I mean is cats don’t usually need walking
outdoors and prefer living in a home, show wonderful signs of intelligence and can console
their owners if they’re in a bad mood. What’s more, cats are usually very friendly and let
you touch them – they’re so fluffy and soft!
As for my recommendation on how to look after cats, I’d say that people don’t
usually have to spend a lot of time doing that. Cats are independent and self-sufficient pets
which know themselves how to live in comfort and harmony (3). However, what your
grandmother would need is regularly buy special food for her cat (4). Also, some good
equipment such as an artificial wooden construction for her cat to develop its physical
skills would be a nice idea. And tell your granny not to forget to purchase sort of toilet kit
for her cat (5). A shop-assistant in the zoo shop will instruct her on how to use a thing like
this.
Well, that’s all for now. Gotta go as my mum’s calling me (6). Write back soon
when your grandmother gets the pet she likes. I’m sure she won’t do wrong if she gets a
cat. (6) Gotta go as my mum is calling me.
Best wishes, UP Gotta go as my mum ……………………………………………………………………………
(1) Thank you forAlex
your letter.
(4) However, what your grandmother would
GRATEFUL need is regularly buy special food for her cat.
I …………………………………………………………………………………… your letter. BASIS
(2) Let me think what advice I can give to people like her. However, what your grandmother would need is
buy special food for her cat
RECOMMEND ………………………………………………………………………….
Let me think what ……………………………………………………………. like her.
(3) Cats are independent and self-sufficient pets which know (5) And tell your granny not to forget to purchase
themselves how to live in comfort and harmony. sort of toilet kit for her cat.
ON MIND
Cats are independent and self-sufficient pets which know And tell your granny …………………………………………..
themselves ……………………………………………………………………………well.
she should purchase sort of toilet for her cat.
Now check your answers and substitute the highlighted linking
STEP 3
phrases, parentheses and clichés for the synonyms presented all over
page. Which of the sentences in the key word transformation
task would be appropriate for the informal letter?
One more fact
Well, I must I hope to hear is that …
As you might All the best,
Dear Chris, finish. from you …
know …
Thank you for your letter (1). It was lovely to hear from you. Of course, your
grandmother must be feeling a bit lonely without a pet. Let me think what advice I can
Speaki give to people like her (2).
ng I’ve
If I were an elderly person, I wouldn’t think too much and buy a cat. You know, the got to
about
how cat is an animal that has a perfect combination of physical features and traits of character go…
your for the one who is in their seventies. What I mean is cats don’t usually need walking
grand outdoors and prefer living in a home, show wonderful signs of intelligence and can console
moth their owners if they’re in a bad mood. What’s more, cats are usually very friendly and let
er can you touch them – they’re so fluffy and soft!
look In other words …
after As for my recommendation on how to look after cats, I’d say that people don’t
cats, usually have to spend a lot of time doing that. Cats are independent and self-sufficient pets
which know themselves how to live in comfort and harmony (3). However, what your
grandmother would need is regularly buy special food for her cat (4). Also, some good
It was
equipment such as an artificial wooden construction for her cat to develop its physical
great
skills would be a nice idea. And tell your granny not to forget to purchase sort of toilet kit
to
hear for her cat (5). A shop-assistant in the zoo shop will instruct her on how to use a thing like
Besides …
from this.
you.
Well, that’s all for now. Gotta go as my mum’scalling me (6). Write back soon
when your grandmother gets the pet she likes. I’m sure she won’t do wrong if she gets a
Yet …cat. (6) Gotta go as my mum is calling me.
Best wishes, UP Gotta go as my mum IS RINGING ME UP. (appropriate or not?)
(1) Thank you forAlex
your letter.
(4) However, what your grandmother would
GRATEFUL need is regularly buy special food for her cat.
I AM GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR your letter. (appropriate or not?) BASIS
However, what your grandmother would need is
(2) Let me think what advice I can give to people like her.
buy special food for her cat ON A REGULAR
RECOMMEND BASIS. (appropriate or not?)
Let me think what I CAN RECOMMEND TO PEOPLE like her.
(appropriate or not?) (5) And tell your granny not to forget to purchase
sort of toilet kit for her cat.
(3) Cats are independent and self-sufficient pets which know
themselves how to live in comfort and harmony. MIND
ON And tell your granny TO BEAR IN MIND THAT
Cats are independent and self-sufficient pets which know she should purchase sort of toilet for her cat.
themselves HOW TO GET ON well. (appropriate or not?) (appropriate or not?)
Now check your answers and make sure that all the criteria from
STEP 4
the first page have been satisfied.
Dear Chris,
Thank you for your letter (1). It was great to hear from you. Of course, your
grandmother must be feeling a bit lonely without a pet. Let me think what advice I can
give to people like her (2).
If I were an elderly person, I wouldn’t think too much and buy a cat. As you might
know, the cat is an animal that has a perfect combination of physical features and traits of
character for the one who is in their seventies. In other words, cats don’t usually need
walking outdoors and prefer living in a home, show wonderful signs of intelligence and
can console their owners if they’re in a bad mood. One more fact is that cats are usually
very friendly and let you touch them – they’re so fluffy and soft!
Speaking about how your grandmother can look after cats, I’d say that people don’t
usually have to spend a lot of time doing that. Cats are independent and self-sufficient pets
which know themselves how to live in comfort and harmony (3). Yet, what your
grandmother would need is regularly buy special food for her cat (4). Besides, some good
equipment such as an artificial wooden construction for her cat to develop its physical
skills would be a nice idea. And tell your granny not to forget to purchase sort of toilet kit
for her cat (5). A shop-assistant in the zoo shop will instruct her on how to use a thing like
this.
Well, I must finish. I’ve got to go as my mum’s calling me (6). I hope to hear from
you when your grandmother gets the pet she likes. I’m sure she won’t do wrong if she gets
a cat. (6) Gotta go as my mum is calling me.
All the best, UP Gotta go as my mum IS RINGING ME UP. (appropriate)
(1) Thank you forAlex
your letter.
(4) However, what your grandmother would
GRATEFUL need is regularly buy special food for her cat.
I AM GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR your letter. (inappropriate) BASIS
However, what your grandmother would need is
(2) Let me think what advice I can give to people like her.
buy special food for her cat ON A REGULAR
RECOMMEND BASIS. (inappropriate)
Let me think what I CAN RECOMMEND TO PEOPLE like her.
(appropriate) (5) And tell your granny not to forget to purchase
sort of toilet kit for her cat.
(3) Cats are independent and self-sufficient pets which know
themselves how to live in comfort and harmony. MIND
ON And tell your granny TO BEAR IN MIND THAT
Cats are independent and self-sufficient pets which know she should purchase sort of toilet for her cat.
themselves HOW TO GET ON well. (appropriate) (appropriate)
Now it ’s your turn to write your response for the task on the first page.
STEP 5
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Now it ’s your turn to write your response for the task on the first page.
STEP 5
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