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Writing and Responding to an Informal Email Invitation
Examples
Hi Craig,
I’m just writing to let you know that Tony and I are going to South Wales for the weekend on the 21st and 22nd July. We’re going to camp at a campsite and go hiking, and we might go mountain biking too. Would you like to join us? I know you love the outdoors! If so, do you want a lift in the car? Hope you can come!Take care
Jen
Hey Jen,
Thanks for the offer! Yes, I’m free that weekend and I’d love to join you. Why don’t we take our surfboards? It’s a great place to surf. Actually, I’m on holiday the week after and I might stay in Wales for a few more days, so I will take my own car. I’ll bring my barbecue too!
I look forward to it!Best wishes
Craig
➪ Useful phrases to open and close informal emails.➪ Phrases to talk about future plans.
➪ Useful phrases for making an invitation, offer or suggestion.
➪ Useful phrases for accepting invitations, offers or suggestions.
How to start and end an informal email
We open and close emails to friends in an informal way.
You can use these phrases to open your email:
- Hi (name)!
- Hey (name),
Close your email in an informal way too. Here are some phrases:
- Take care
- Best wishes
- All the best
- Best
- Love / Lots of love
- See you soon
These phrases are also useful in an informal email:
- I’m just writing to let you know that…
- I just wanted to tell you that…
Talking about your future plans
To tell someone about plans you already made with someone else, use the present continuous or ‘going to’ future.
Use present continuous for plans that you have booked or arranged:
- Tony and I are going to South Wales for the weekend on the 21st and 22nd
- I’m going to the Believe music festival in August.
- I’m staying at the youth hostel.
Use be going to for plans that don’t require a booking:
- We’re going to go.
- I’m going to take my surfboards.
- We’re going to cycle into town.
Use might for possible plans.
- We might go mountain biking.
- I might invite Jake.
Use the present simple to describe your schedule, for example, the events on your calendar.
- I’m free / on holiday / off work that week.
- I fly to Germany on 21st
Use will for offers and ideas for the future that you just had a moment ago.
- I’ll bring my barbecue.
- I might stay in Wales, so I’ll drive my own car.
- I need to check my diary. I’ll let you know this evening.
Making invitations and offers
You can use these phrases to make invitations and offers:
Would you like (+ noun or + to + verb infinitive)
- Would you like a lift?
- Would you like to come?
Do you want (+ noun or + to + verb infinitive)
- Do you want a lift?
- Do you want to join us?
Why don’t I /you/we (+ verb)
- Why don’t I bring my barbecue?
- Why don’t we take our surfboards?
Accepting or declining invitations and offers
Use these phrases to accept offers.
- Thanks for the offer/invitation!
- I’d love to come / I’d love to join you.
- I look forward to it!
- That’d be great!
Use these phrases to reject offers.
- (I’m sorry but) I’m afraid I’m not free that day / I’m working that weekend / I can’t make it.
- Sorry to miss it.
- Hope you have a great time.
Exercises
Explanation
Downloads