Write a Short Message to a Friend A1 Writing Practice Tests Rules & Examples

How to Write a Short Message to a Friend in English

A short message to a friend is a small piece of writing you send to say hello, share news, or ask a question. We write short messages every day — in text messages, on paper notes, or in simple emails. At this level, a short message is usually 4 to 6 sentences long.

In real life, you might write a short message to:

• Say hello to a friend
• Tell a friend about your weekend
• Ask a friend a question
• Invite a friend to do something

In this lesson, you will learn how to write a clear, friendly message using simple English sentences, correct punctuation, and useful phrases.

Essential Writing Rules and Sentence Structure

Rule 1: Word Order — Subject + Verb + Object

Every English sentence needs a subject (who?), a verb (what action?), and often an object (what? or who?).

Keep your sentences short and simple. Aim for 5 to 9 words per sentence at this level.

Rule 2: Capital Letters

You must use a capital letter in these situations:

• At the start of every sentence — My name is Sara.
• For the word "I" — always a capital letter — I am happy.
• For names of people — Tom, Maria, John
• For names of places — London, France, Spain
• For days of the week — Monday, Tuesday, Saturday
• For months of the year — January, August, December
• For the greeting in a message — Dear Anna,

Rule 3: Basic Punctuation

• Use a full stop (.) at the end of every sentence.
• Use a question mark (?) at the end of a question.
• Use a comma (,) after the greeting — Hi Tom,
• Use a comma (,) in a list — I like music, football, and pizza.
• Use a comma (,) after a time phrase at the start — On Saturday, I go shopping.

Useful Linking Words (Connectors)

Linking words connect your sentences and ideas. They make your message sound natural and fluent. Here are the four most important linking words for A1 writing:

Tip: Use only one or two connectors in your short message. Do not use too many in one sentence.

Model Writing Sample: A Short Message to a Friend

Read this example of a short message carefully. Look at each part of the message.

Full Model Message

Hi Mia,

How are you? I am fine. It is my birthday on Saturday. I am very excited because my family is here. We eat cake and we play games. What do you do on weekends? Write to me soon!

Your friend,
Lucas

Annotations — What Makes This a Good Message?

• Greeting: "Hi Mia," — uses a capital letter and a comma.
• Opening sentence: "How are you?" — friendly and natural. Uses a question mark.
• Sentences are short: Each sentence has 5 to 9 words. Easy to read.
• Capital letters: "I", "Saturday", "Mia", and "Lucas" all have capital letters.
• Connector used: "because" gives a reason. "and" adds extra information.
• Question for the friend: "What do you do on weekends?" makes the message feel like a conversation.
• Closing sentence and sign-off: "Write to me soon! / Your friend, Lucas" — polite and friendly.

Second Model Message

Here is a second example on a different topic:

Hello Ben,

How are you? I am great. I am in Barcelona with my mum and dad. It is very hot here but I love it. We go to the beach every day. The food is delicious! Do you like Spanish food? I miss you. See you soon.

Love,
Aisha

Annotations — Second Model Message

• Greeting: "Hello Ben," — "H" is a capital letter. There is a comma after "Ben".
• Opening sentence: "How are you? I am great." — two short, clear sentences.
• Names and places: "Barcelona", "Aisha", "Ben" — all have capital letters.
• Contrast connector: "but" shows a contrast — it is hot, but she loves it.
• Full stops: Every sentence ends with a full stop or exclamation mark.
• Closing: "Love, Aisha" — warm and friendly sign-off.

Key Phrases and Sentence Starters

Use these phrases to build your short message. You can copy and adapt them.

Greetings

• Hi [name],
• Hello [name],
• Dear [name],

Opening Sentences

• How are you?
• I hope you are well.
• I am fine, thank you.
• I miss you!

Sharing Your News

• I am in [place] with [person].
• It is [adjective] here.
• Today is [day]. I am very [adjective].
• I like it here because it is [adjective].
• We go to [place] every day.
• My [family member] is here with me.
• I eat [food] and I drink [drink].
• On [day], I go to [place].

Asking Your Friend a Question

• How are you?
• What do you do on weekends?
• Do you like [food / place / activity]?
• Are you happy?
• Where are you now?

Ending Your Message

• Write to me soon!
• I miss you!
• See you soon.
• Speak soon!

Sign-offs

• Your friend, [name]
• Love, [name]
• Bye for now, [name]
• Best wishes, [name]

Common Writing Mistakes to Avoid

Study these common mistakes. Make sure you do not make the same errors in your writing.

Mistake 1: Forgetting a Capital Letter for "I"

❌ i am happy today.
✅ I am happy today. — The word "I" is always a capital letter in English.

Mistake 2: Forgetting a Capital Letter for a Name

❌ My friend is tom.
✅ My friend is Tom. — Names of people always start with a capital letter.

Mistake 3: Forgetting a Capital Letter for Days and Months

❌ My birthday is on friday in march.
✅ My birthday is on Friday in March. — Days and months always start with a capital letter.

Mistake 4: Missing a Full Stop at the End of a Sentence

❌ I am very happy I love my family
✅ I am very happy. I love my family. — Every sentence must end with a full stop, question mark, or exclamation mark.

Mistake 5: Missing a Comma After the Greeting

❌ Hi Tom
✅ Hi Tom, — Always use a comma after the name in your greeting.

Mistake 6: Wrong Word Order

❌ Very I am happy.
✅ I am very happy. — The correct order is: Subject (I) + Verb (am) + Adjective (very happy).

Mistake 7: Using a Capital Letter in the Middle of a Sentence for No Reason

❌ I eat Pizza and Cake every day.
✅ I eat pizza and cake every day. — Food, colours, and common objects do not need a capital letter in the middle of a sentence.

Mistake 8: Forgetting the Sign-off

❌ See you soon. [No name]
✅ See you soon.
Your friend,
Marco — Always finish your message with a sign-off and your name.

Writing Checklist and Practice Task

Step-by-Step Writing Checklist

Before you finish your message, check every point on this list. Put a tick (✓) next to each one.

Your Practice Task

Now it is your turn! Write a short message to your friend. Follow the instructions below.

Situation: You are at home. It is the weekend. Write a short message to your friend. Tell your friend about your weekend. Ask your friend a question.

Use this plan to help you:

• Greeting: Start with "Hi [name],"
• Opening sentence: Ask "How are you?"
• Sentence 1: Say where you are. (I am at home. / I am in [place].)
• Sentence 2: Say what you do on weekends. (On Saturday, I...)
• Sentence 3: Use "and", "but", "because", or "so" to add more information.
• Sentence 4: Ask your friend a question. (Do you like...? / What do you do...?)
• Closing: Write "Write to me soon!" or "See you soon."
• Sign-off: Write "Your friend, [your name]"

Remember: Write 4 to 6 sentences in the main body. Keep each sentence short and clear. Use your checklist before you finish!

Now test your writing mechanics and sentence skills in the exercises below.