English Vocabulary in Use Pre-intermediate and Intermediate » Unit 99: Informal emails and messages
Dear Gilberto
I haven’t been in 1 for 2_____ – I’m sorry about that. In 3_____, I’ve been really busy 4_____ I last wrote because I’ve got a new job in TV – 5_____ it’s with the BBC. I’m doing research for various documentary programmes and I’m 6_____ to go to Brazil 7_____ three months’ time. If so, I’ll obviously get in touch.
It would be great if we could get 8_____, and maybe Filipe could 9_____ us if he’s free. 10_____, I’ll write again soon. I hope things are going well with you, and 11_____ me know when the baby arrives. And, of course, 12_____ my love to Teresa.
All the best,
Hi1 Beth
Just a quick message to thank you for dinner last night. Absolutely delicious, as always, and I really enjoyed meeting your friend Alice. She’s a laugh2, isn’t she?
I’m hoping to3 get tickets for the film festival next week, so I’ll be in touch4 to see if there’s anything you fancy5 seeing.
Give my regards to6 Conrad when he gets back from Poland, and once again7 , thanks for last night.
Love81 We can begin an informal email or letter with Hi Beth, Hello Beth, or Dear Beth.
2 a funny person
3 planning or intending to
4 make contact, e.g. by phone, email or text
5 want (to see) infml
6 say hello to Conrad from me; also send my regards to Conrad. With family members and very close friends we also say give / send my love to.
7 again, as before (here it is used to say thank you one more time)
8 We can end an informal email/letter to a close friend or family member with Love or Lots of love. We also often use Best wishes or All the best when we end a letter or email to a friend.
1 a long time
2 from a time in the past until now
3 tell you
4 two weeks from now
5 (see Language help)
6 meet for a social reason
7 come with us
8 used to change the subject or end a conversation/letter
We can use actually to give more exact information, as in the letter (syn in fact).
We also use it a great deal in spoken English to say something which is surprising or different from what you expect, e.g. He looks Italian, but actually he’s not. (Syn in fact)
Actually does not mean at the moment, e.g. The land is currently for sale (NOT The land is actually for sale).
The words you need to communicate with confidence. Vocabulary explanations and practice for elementary level (A2) learners of English. Perfect for both self-study and classroom activities. Quickly expand your vocabulary with 60 units of easy to understand explanations and practice exercises.
The words you need to communicate with confidence. Vocabulary explanations and practice for Upper-intermediate level (B2) learners of English. Perfect for both self-study and classroom activities. Quickly expand your vocabulary with over 100 units of easy to understand explanations and practice exercises.
The words you need to communicate with confidence. Vocabulary explanations and practice for advanced level (C1 to C2) learners of English. Perfect for both self-study and classroom activities. Quickly expand your vocabulary with over 100 units of easy to understand explanations and practice exercises.