Informal email responding to news – B1+ English writing

Informal email responding to news

In this lesson, you will learn how to write an informal email responding to someone’s news, using helpful phrases, grammar points, and expressions that are perfect for B1+ English learners. Check he example email below.

Responding to news

When you respond to someone’s news, you can use the following phrases:

I’m / I was + adjective + (to hear) that + clause

• I was sorry to hear that Tony has been in hospital.
• I’m delighted that you have a new kitten.

I’m / I was + adjective + to hear about + noun

• I was glad to hear about your promotion.
• I’m sorry to hear about Tony’s illness.

In informal letters, you can delete I am / I was.

• Glad to hear you’re feeling better.
• Sorry to hear about your cat.

Useful language

Saying sorry for not writing back sooner

These phrases are helpful when expressing your apologies for not replying sooner.

• Sorry that it’s taken ages for me to get back to you.
• Sorry for taking so long to reply.
• Apologies for the delay in getting back to you.

Saying that you have been busy

These phrases are useful when expressing that you are/have been busy:

• I’ve been completely rushed off my feet lately.
• I haven’t had time to think.
• I’ve had a lot on my plate.
• I’ve had my hands full.

These phrases are useful when you begin to have more free time after a busy period.

• Things have quietened down a bit now.
• I have some head space.
• I have some time to think.

Saying why you’re writing

When writing an informal email, you can use the phrase “I thought I’d drop you a line” to explain that you are writing casually to say hello or check in. It’s a friendly and conversational way to open an email.

Here are some examples:

• I thought I’d drop you a line to see how you’re doing.
• Just dropping you a quick line to check in.

You can also use alternative phrases like:

• I just wanted to check in with you.
• I figured I’d say hi.
• Thought I’d reach out to see how things are going.

Must and Can’t to make deductions

In the letter, Sonya doesn’t know for sure that it was worrying for Jude that Tony was in hospital, and she doesn’t know that it wasn’t easy for Jude. She is making a deduction using the information given. Must and can’t can be used to make these deductions.

Must and can’t are used to express deductions about situations in the present or future.

• He must be home by now, seeing as his operation was three weeks ago.
• I’m sorry that you are without a car. That can’t be easy for you.

You can also use must and can’t + have + past participle to make deductions about something that happened in the past.

• It must have been really worrying for you.
• It can’t have been easy.

Must and Can in the infinitive form

The verbs must and can are modal verbs, and they do not have infinitive or past participle forms. However, after modal verbs, like will, might or may, an infinitive form is necessary, and in present perfect sentences, a past participle form is necessary. So instead of using can, we use be able to / been able to.

• I can’t drive to the grocery store.
• Infinitive form: I won’t be able to drive to the grocery store.
• Past participle: I haven’t been able to drive to the grocery store.

With must, we use have to / had to instead.

• Infinitive form: You will have to send me some photos.
• Past participle: I have had to help my neighbour a lot lately.

What with / Seeing as

What with and Seeing as are used to introduce a reason for another statement. The reason can go before or after the statement that it explains. A noun or -ing verb is used after what with. All is also often used after what with.

• It really was impossible for me to come down then, what with all my commitments.
• What with this bad weather, I haven’t been running lately.

A clause is used after seeing as.

• It can’t be easy for you, seeing as you don’t drive.
• I’m guessing he is home by now, seeing as his operation was over three weeks ago.

Had better

Had better is used to express strong advice, to talk about an action that we think is a good idea to do now or in the future. We can use it to talk about our own actions or other people’s actions.

The word had is a past verb form (NOT have better or has better), and an infinitive always follows it. It’s often shortened to ‘d.

• I had better go now.
• You‘d better make sure Tony takes it easy.

Had better is used for specific situations occurring now, not general situations, and often implies that something negative will happen if something is not done. We can use or else or otherwise to introduce this negative consequence.

• I had better go now, or else my boss will get angry.
• You‘d better make sure Tony takes it easy; otherwise, he might get ill again.