Escribir un email en inglés es una tarea muy habitual en los exámenes de 4.º de ESO y en la vida real: escribir a un amigo de intercambio, pedir información a una academia o presentar una solicitud. Lo primero es decidir el registro: ¿escribo a alguien que conozco (informal) o a una persona o institución que no conozco (formal)?
Objetivos
- Elegir el registro adecuado según el destinatario
- Usar los saludos y despedidas correctos en cada registro
- Organizar un email en párrafos con un propósito claro
- Usar frases útiles para pedir información, contar novedades y responder
1. Saludos y despedidas
| Informal | Formal | |
|---|---|---|
| Saludo | Hi Tom, · Hello Ana, · Dear Sam, | Dear Mr Brown, · Dear Ms Smith, · Dear Sir or Madam, |
| Primera frase | Thanks for your email! · How are you? | I am writing to ask about… · I am writing in response to… |
| Antes de despedirse | Write back soon! · Can’t wait to see you! | I look forward to hearing from you. |
| Despedida | Love, · Best wishes, · See you soon, | Yours sincerely, (si sabes el nombre) · Yours faithfully, (si no lo sabes) · Kind regards, |
2. Estructura de un email
- Saludo.
- Párrafo 1: motivo del email (respondes a un mensaje, pides información, das una noticia).
- Párrafos 2 y 3: desarrollo (detalles, preguntas, novedades). Una idea principal por párrafo.
- Párrafo final: cierre amable y lo que esperas (una respuesta, vernos pronto).
- Despedida y nombre.
3. Registro informal y formal
| Informal | Formal |
|---|---|
| Contracciones: I’m, can’t | Formas completas: I am, cannot |
| Can you tell me…? | Could you please tell me…? / I would be grateful if you could… |
| I want to know… | I would like to know… |
| Sorry I didn’t write sooner. | I apologise for the delay in replying. |
| Here’s the info you asked for. | Please find the information you requested below. |
| Exclamaciones, emojis, preguntas directas | Tono cortés y neutro |
Modelo de email formal
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am writing to ask for information about your summer English courses for teenagers.
Could you please tell me how long the courses last and how much they cost? I would also like to know whether accommodation with a host family is included.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully,
Marta Ruiz
4. Frases útiles para el email informal
- Empezar: Thanks for your email. · It was great to hear from you. · Sorry I haven’t written for ages.
- Contar novedades: Guess what? · I’ve got some news! · You won’t believe what happened…
- Invitar / proponer: Would you like to…? · Why don’t we…? · How about + -ing?
- Terminar: Anyway, I’d better go now. · Say hello to your family. · Write back soon!
Modelo de email informal
Hi Jack,
Thanks for your email! It was great to hear about your new school.
Guess what? I’ve joined a climbing club and I’m loving it. We train twice a week and next month we’re going to the mountains near Huesca.
Would you like to come to Spain in the summer? My parents say you can stay with us. How about coming in July?
Write back soon!
Best wishes,
Daniel
Recuerda
- Decide el registro según el destinatario: informal (amigos, familia) o formal (instituciones, desconocidos).
- Dear Sir or Madam → Yours faithfully; Dear Mr / Ms + apellido → Yours sincerely.
- Formal: sin contracciones, con fórmulas corteses (Could you…?, I would be grateful if…).
- Un párrafo por cada punto del enunciado.
¡Ahora te toca a ti!
Comprueba que lo has entendido con los ejercicios y repasa con el resumen.