French Topic
Letter Writing
- Read notes
- Flashcards
- Quiz
- Confident
Study focus - 3 things
- French letter writing uses a clear opening, body, and closing
- Informal letters usually use friendly greetings, familiar language, and sign-offs
- Exam letters should answer every bullet point and use suitable tenses, connectors, and vocabulary
Section 1Letter structure
A simple French letter has a greeting, short opening, main details, closing sentence, sign-off, and name. In an exam, organise the answer so each required point is easy to find.
Section 2Greetings and openings
For an informal letter, use Cher Paul or Chère Marie. A useful opening is Comment ça va ? or J'espère que tu vas bien. These phrases help the letter sound natural before you answer the task.
Section 3Answering the task
Read the prompt carefully and answer every bullet. If the letter asks what you did, what you are doing, and what you will do, use past, present, and future tenses where needed.
Section 4Useful connectors
Connectors make the letter flow. Use d'abord for firstly, ensuite for next, puis for then, aussi for also, mais for but, parce que for because, and finalement for finally.
Section 5Closings
End informal letters with a friendly closing such as À bientôt, Amitiés, or Ton ami/Ton amie. Check agreement if the writer is female: Ton amie has an extra e.
Examples
Write a suitable opening for an informal letter to your friend Marie.
Chère Marie, Comment ça va ? J'espère que tu vas bien. This uses the feminine greeting Chère and a friendly opening.
A prompt asks you to write about last weekend and next weekend. Which tenses could you use?
Use the passé composé for last weekend and the futur proche or futur simple for next weekend.
Now let's water it
Session runs notes to flashcards to quiz back-to-back.