How to Write an Email to a Friend Giving News - B1 English Writing — Explanation

How to Write an Email to a Friend Giving News

An informal email giving news should sound warm, natural and personal. At B1 level, you need to organise your ideas clearly, use appropriate informal expressions and choose tenses that show whether an event is recent, still continuing or finished at a specific time.

Example writing task

You have not contacted your friend Jamie for several months. Write an email to Jamie. Explain why you have been busy, share two pieces of news and ask about Jamie’s life.

Model B1 email

Subject: Some news from my new neighbourhood

Hi Jamie,

How have you been? It feels like ages since we last spoke. Sorry I haven’t written sooner, but I’ve been really busy with my new course. I thought I’d send you a quick message and tell you what has been happening here.

The biggest news is that my family has moved to a town near the coast. We’ve been living here for six weeks now, and I’m beginning to feel at home. Our flat is smaller than the old one, but it has a balcony with an amazing sea view. I’ve also joined a local photography club. We meet every Thursday, and last weekend we took pictures at an outdoor market. You’ll never guess who I met there—our old classmate Leo! He’s studying at a college nearby, so we’ve arranged to meet for coffee next week.

What about you? How are you getting on with your driving lessons? Have you taken the test yet? I’d love to hear all your news. I must go now because my class starts in ten minutes, but please write back when you can.

Take care,
Alex

Structure of an informal news email

1. Subject line and greeting

Use a short subject line that gives your friend a reason to open the message, such as A quick update, News from me or Guess what happened! Begin with an informal greeting:

• Hi Maya,
• Hello Ben!
• Dear Olivia,

A comma after the name is standard. An exclamation mark is also possible when the relationship is friendly.

2. Opening paragraph

Start by asking how your friend is. If you have not written for a while, mention this naturally and, if necessary, apologise. Then state why you are writing.

• How are things with you?
• It’s been a long time since we caught up.
• Sorry I haven’t been in touch lately.
• I thought I’d write and share some news.
• I wanted to let you know what I’ve been up to.

3. Main paragraphs

Give your most important news first. Add useful details: when it happened, how you feel and what might happen next. Separate different pieces of news into paragraphs so the email is easy to follow.

Questions and exclamations can make the message lively:

• You won’t believe who I met!
• Can you guess what happened next?
• Isn’t that exciting?

Keep the tone friendly, but do not fill the email with too many exclamation marks.

4. Closing paragraph and sign-off

A friendly email should not be one-sided. Ask about your friend and encourage a reply. You can also briefly explain why you must finish writing.

• What have you been up to?
• How are you getting on at university?
• Let me know how your new job is going.
• Write back when you have time.
• I’m looking forward to hearing your news.

Finish with an informal sign-off followed by your name: Best, All the best, Take care, Talk soon, Cheers or Love for a close friend or relative.

Choosing the right tense when giving news

Present perfect simple: recent results and experiences

Use have/has + past participle for recent news when the exact time is not stated, or when the result matters now.

• We’ve moved to a town near the coast.
• I’ve joined a photography club.
• Have you taken your driving test yet?

Words such as just, already, yet, recently and lately often appear with the present perfect.

Present perfect continuous: activity over a period

Use have/has been + verb-ing for an activity that began in the past and continues now, or has happened repeatedly up to the present.

• I’ve been studying hard for my final exam.
• We’ve been living here for six weeks.
• What have you been doing lately?

Use for with a period of time and since with a starting point: for two months, since April.

Past simple: a finished event at a finished time

When you say exactly when a completed event happened, use the past simple, not the present perfect.

• Last weekend, we took pictures at a market.
• I met Leo there on Saturday.

Compare: I’ve joined a club gives recent news without a finished time; I joined the club last month includes a finished past time.

Present simple and present continuous: the situation now

Use the present simple for facts, routines and states, and the present continuous for temporary actions happening around now.

• Our flat has a balcony.
• The club meets every Thursday.
• Leo is studying at a college nearby.

Useful informal language

Natural informal emails often use contractions: I’m, I’ve, haven’t, it’s, you’ll. Everyday expressions also help the email sound friendly:

• get in touch — contact someone
• drop someone a line — send a short message
• catch up — exchange news after time apart
• get on with something — make progress or manage a situation
• be up to something — be doing something
• hear from someone — receive a message from them

Linking your ideas

Use simple linking expressions to guide the reader: first of all, also, by the way, anyway, as for, because, so, but and although. By the way is useful when you introduce an extra piece of news; anyway can return to the main point or move towards the closing.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Using a formal opening such as “Dear Sir or Madam” for a close friend.
• Writing one long paragraph with several unrelated pieces of news.
• Using the present perfect with a finished time: “I have met her yesterday.”
• Forgetting to ask about the friend or invite a reply.
• Using text-message abbreviations in an exam answer.
• Changing tense without considering whether an event is finished or continuing.

Final checklist

• Is the subject line clear and friendly?
• Have I included a greeting and an appropriate sign-off?
• Does the opening explain why I am writing?
• Have I organised different news into clear paragraphs?
• Are the present perfect and past simple used correctly?
• Have I asked my friend at least one genuine question?
• Have I checked spelling, punctuation and verb forms?

A strong B1 informal email is personal but well organised. Share clear news, explain how it affects you, show interest in your friend and finish by encouraging a reply.