Reply to a Friend’s Email A2 Writing Practice Tests Rules & Examples

How to Write a Reply to a Friend's Email

When a friend sends you an email, it is polite and friendly to write back. A reply to a friend's email is an informal message — it is relaxed, warm, and personal. You might reply to answer a question, share news, accept or decline an invitation, or simply catch up with someone you know.

In real life, people write this kind of email to friends, classmates, and family members all the time. For example, your friend might write to invite you to a party, ask about your holiday, or share exciting news. Your job is to reply clearly and friendly.

In this lesson, you will learn how to structure your reply, use the right linking words, avoid common mistakes, and write a confident, natural email at A2 level.

Essential Writing Rules & Sentence Structure

1. Organise Your Email into Clear Paragraphs

A good reply to a friend's email has three clear parts:

• Paragraph 1 (Opening): Greet your friend, thank them for their email, and say how you are.
• Paragraph 2 (Main body): Answer their questions, share your news, or give key details.
• Paragraph 3 (Closing): Ask a question, make a friendly comment, and say goodbye.

2. Use the Correct Verb Tenses

• Use the past simple to talk about things that happened: I went to the cinema. We had a great time.
• Use the present simple for feelings, routines, and opinions: I love parties. I think it sounds great.
• Use going to or will for future plans: I'm going to visit you next week. I will call you on Saturday.
• Use the present continuous for current arrangements: I'm staying with my aunt this weekend.

3. Connect Your Sentences Using Linking Words

Do not write only short, separate sentences. Connect your ideas using linking words such as because, so, when, but, and although. This makes your writing flow naturally.

4. Use Commas Correctly with Time Clauses

When a time clause comes at the beginning of a sentence, use a comma after it:

• When I got your email, I was really happy. ✅
• After the party, we went to a café. ✅
• When I got your email I was really happy. ❌ (missing comma)

When the time clause comes at the end, no comma is needed:

• I was really happy when I got your email. ✅

Useful Linking Words (Connectors)

Model Writing Sample: A Reply to a Friend's Party Invitation

This is the email Emma received from her friend Lucy:

"Hi Emma! I'm having a birthday party on Saturday the 15th at my house. It starts at 7 pm. Can you come? Let me know! Love, Lucy."

Below is Emma's reply. Read it carefully and notice how it is organised.

———————————————

Hi Lucy, [Greeting]

Thank you for your email! I'm really well, and I hope you are too. [Opening — thanking the friend and asking how they are]

Your party sounds wonderful! I'd love to come on Saturday. I'm going to take the bus to your house because I don't have a car. After the party, I can stay at my sister's flat, so that's perfect. [Main body — answering the invitation, giving details with linking words]

Can I bring anything? Let me know if you need help. I can't wait to celebrate with you! [Closing — asking a question and showing enthusiasm]

Love,
Emma [Friendly sign-off with sender's name]

———————————————

Word count: 82 words

Why This Model Works Well

• It has a clear greeting and sign-off.
• The opening line thanks the friend and is warm and friendly.
• The main body directly answers the invitation with details.
• It uses linking words: because, after, so.
• It uses going to for a future plan and can for offers.
• It ends with a question and a friendly, enthusiastic comment.

Key Phrases & Sentence Starters

Greetings

• Hi [Name],
• Dear [Name],
• Hello [Name],

Opening Lines & Reason for Writing

• Thank you for your email!
• It was great to hear from you.
• I'm writing to reply to your invitation.
• How are you? I hope you're well.
• Sorry for my late reply!
• I got your email this morning and I was so happy!

Giving Details & Explanations

• I'd love to come because ...
• Unfortunately, I can't come because ...
• I'm going to ... next weekend.
• When I read your email, I ...
• After [event], we could ...
• I think it sounds like a great idea!
• That sounds wonderful / amazing / fun!
• I was really happy when I heard the news.

Ending Your Message & Sign-offs

• Let me know if you need anything.
• Can I bring anything?
• Could you let me know the address?
• I can't wait to see you!
• Hope to hear from you soon.
• Write back soon!
• See you soon,
• Best wishes,
• All the best,
• Love,
• Take care,

Common Writing Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Confusing 'because' and 'so'

❌ I can't come so I have to work on Saturday.
✅ I can't come because I have to work on Saturday.
Use because to give a reason. Use so to give a result: "I have to work on Saturday, so I can't come."

Mistake 2: Missing a comma after an opening time clause

❌ When I got your email I was really excited.
✅ When I got your email, I was really excited.
When a sentence starts with when, after, or before, always put a comma before the main clause.

Mistake 3: Writing a run-on sentence without a connector

❌ I want to come to your party I'm free on Saturday.
✅ I want to come to your party because I'm free on Saturday.
Do not join two complete sentences with no connector or punctuation. Use a linking word such as because, and, or so.

Mistake 4: Forgetting apostrophes in contractions

❌ Im really happy and I cant wait to see you.
✅ I'm really happy and I can't wait to see you.
In informal emails, contractions are natural and friendly. Always use an apostrophe: I'm, can't, didn't, I'd, we're.

Writing Checklist & Practice Task

Writing Checklist

Before you finish your email, check each point below:

• ✅ Did you include a friendly greeting (e.g. Hi Sara,) and an appropriate sign-off (e.g. Love, Tom)?
• ✅ Did you open with a warm sentence (e.g. Thank you for your email! or It was great to hear from you.)?
• ✅ Did you answer all parts of your friend's email (the invitation, question, or news)?
• ✅ Did you use at least two linking words (e.g. because, so, when, but, although)?
• ✅ Did you use a comma after any time clause that starts your sentence?
• ✅ Did you check your past simple verb forms (e.g. went, had, saw, not goed, haved)?
• ✅ Did you check your contractions for apostrophes (e.g. I'm, can't, didn't)?
• ✅ Is your email between 60 and 90 words?
• ✅ Did you end with a friendly closing question or comment (e.g. Let me know! or I can't wait to see you!)?

Your Practice Task

Read the email below from your friend Daniel. Then write a reply of 60–90 words.

———————————————

"Hi! How are you? I'm organising a small dinner at my flat on Sunday evening. There are going to be about six of us. It starts at 7 pm. Can you come? Also, could you bring some dessert? Let me know! Cheers, Daniel."

———————————————

In your reply, remember to:

• Thank Daniel for his email and say how you are.
• Accept or politely decline the invitation and give a reason.
• Say whether you can bring a dessert.
• Ask one friendly question at the end.
• Use at least two linking words from the table above.

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