INFORMAL LETTER: What is informal letter? Informal letter is a letter used to send to friends or family members. This letter is usually sent to someone we know personally. The first thing that we must know about this letter is how it looks what we should do to write this kind of letter in examinations. The table below shows the important aspect of informal letter.
34, Jalan Amat Aman, Taman Setia Suci, 21030 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu. 10 January 2013
Include the writer’s address and date in the upper right hand corner.
Dear Samad, Dear friend, Dearest Mother,
Use the most common salutation
Paragraph 1 – Include formalities; give reason for writing the letter.
Dear Samad, How are you? I hope you are fine. I have just recovered from dengue fever. Luckily my recovery was speedy due to my mother’s tender loving care.
Paragraph 2 onwards – depends on I am writing this letter to inform you the reason for writing the letter. If your that I recently met up with our exreason is to tell the recipient about classmates from SMK Awang. your holiday, then you will include details of the holiday.
The last paragraph – you can give a reason why you have to stop writing.
I have to stop here. I need to study for a History quiz tomorrow. I am looking forward to seeing you during the coming school holidays.
Include a suitable complimentary close
Your friend, Semek
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The Format 68C, Lorong Satu, Taman Bahagia 2, 77000 Jasin, Melaka. 1st March 2010. Salutation
Writer’s / Sender’s Address
Date
Dear Farah, It was indeed a wonderful surprise to hear from you again. ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ __________________. ______________________________________ ____________________________________________ _______________________________.
Opening remarks
The contents
_______________________________________ ____________________________________________ ___________________________. Do write to me again after your examinations. Until then, good luck in the exam! Your friend, Saliza
Closing remarks Ending Signature
Exercise 1.1: Objective: Students know how to write salutation based on the question given. Circle the correct answers for each question. 1) Your friend has asked you for advice on how to be a successful student. Answer: Dear friend – Dear Cousin – Dear Amin – Dear brother 2) Write a letter to your brother about an event that you have attended recently. Answer: Dear cousin – Dear Aminah – Dear Amin – Dear brother – Dear Lucy 3) You have been asked by your mother to tell your condition studying overseas. Answer: Dearest Aminah – Dear Sarina – My lovely mother – Dear sunshine 4) Your sister needs your help in giving her advice on how to save money. Answer: Dear Suzy – Dear lovely sister – Dear Hank – Dear niece – Dear monkey 5) Write a reply letter to your cousin about your experience in camping. Answer: Dear Samihah – Dear friend – Dear darling – Dear cousin
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The Ending a. The ending is written below the closing remarks on the right hand side of the page. b. The ending depends on whom you are writing to. (i) When writing to a family member or a relative you can end with: Yours affectionately , Yours lovingly , Your son , (ii) When writing to friends or pen-pals you should end with: Yours sincerely , Exercise 1.3 Objective: Students know how to write the correct closing ending. 1) to your sister Answer: Yours sincerely – Your brother – Yours lovingly – Your cousin 2) to your friend Answer: Yours faithfully – Your lover – Yours sincerely – Your sister 3) to your father Answer: Your son – Your nephew – Yours sincerely – Yours faithfully 4) to your cousin Answer: Your friend – Your lovely cousin – Yours sincerely – Your teacher
Opening remarks: Below are few examples on how you can start your letter. Thank you for your letter which I received yesterday. I was pleasantly surprised to hear from you. It was wonderful to hear from you after so long. Thank you for your letter. I was pleased to hear that you are in good health. It was really nice hearing from you. I am glad that you like your new school. How is everyone in the family? Well, I hope they are doing fine as always.
I received your letter yesterday/ a few days ago. How are you? I am sorry I couldn’t write earlier. Thank you for the lovely birthday card. I hope this letter finds you in the pink. This letter will probably come as a surprise to you. It was indeed a wonderful surprise to hear from you again.
After the opening remarks, it is time for you to start writing the body content. The content must be written based on the question given. Question: “Your friend is undecided either he wants to accept the offer to further his studies abroad or not .”
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Answer: Opening remarks: I hope this letter finds you in the pink. First of all, I’m proud as you are chosen to further your studies in United Kingdom. Body content : In your letter you told me that you are undecided either to accept the offer to further your studies there or not. Exercise 1.2: Write the opening remarks and the body content for each question. 1) Your sister is studying overseas. She has a problem in spending her money there. Write a letter to advise her on how to spend her money wisely. Salutation: _______________________________________________ Opening remarks:________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Body content : ____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Ending: ____________________________ 2) Your friend has written to you to ask for advice on how to be a successful student. Write a letter to your friend advising him/her what he/she should do to be a successful student. Salutation: _______________________________________________ Opening remarks:________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Body content : ____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Ending: ____________________________ 3) Your cousin is going to sit for PMR examination this year. However he has problems in dividing his time between study and playing. Advise him on how to make an effective timetable for his daily use. Opening remarks:________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Body content : ____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Ending: ____________________________
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4) Your friend has failed in his/her recent examination. This is because he/she studied at the last minute. As his/her best friend, you must write a letter to him/her by giving tips on how to study efficiently. Salutation: _______________________________________________ Opening remarks:________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Body content : ____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Ending: ____________________________ 5) You were selected as a participant to compete in a local TV game show. You have won the first prize. Write to your mother what did you do to win the game show. Salutation: _______________________________________________ Opening remarks:________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Body content : ____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Ending: ____________________________
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