Unit 8

Simple Present - Informal Letter Writing – Writing to a Penpal

A. Learning Objectives

After the meeting, the students should be able to:

1. Define the simple present tense and informal letter.

2. Identify the simple present tense from a news text.
3. Write down their own simple present sentences based on experience and current
situation.
4. Find an example of informal letter from any source.
5. Write down their own informal letter to a pen pal.

B. Definition of Simple Present Tense and Informal Letter

a. Simple present tense discusses two things, habits (habitual) and facts (factual). It is
used when an event is happening right now or an event that happens repeatedly (habit)
is done every day. Simple present tense is one of several tenses which has the function
to tell a fact or habitual activity.
b. Informal Letter is personal letters. They need not follow any set pattern or adhere to
any formalities. They contain personal information or are a written conversation.
Informal letters are generally written to friends, acquaintances, relatives, etc. Informal
letters are mainly used for personal communication. So they do not have to follow any
specific pattern, forma,t or conventions. They can be written as per the writer’s wishes
and the requirement of the situation. So the letter is written in a personal fashion in casual
unassuming language.
c. Pen Pal letter is a letter which is given to someone you write friendly letters to and
receive letters from, although the two of you may never have met.

C. Material
a. Simple Present Tense
 Standing habits when shows the repetition activity and often to do. It uses the adverb
time like every day, every time, every night, once a week, twice a month and etc.
 Simple present tense also uses adverbs of frequency such as always, usually, often,
sometimes, seldom/rarely/hardly ever, and never.
Example :
1. Daniel swims once a week
2. Mr. Jack often asks his students difficult questions.
3. We never go back to this city
 Shows an event or something true and contains a fact (Factual). The simple present
says that something was true in the past, is true in the present, and will be true in the
future. It expresses general statements of fact and timeless truth.
Example :
1. The earth always goes around the sun.
2. The moon reflects the sunlight.
3. Eminem usually sings a rap song.

Formula :

a. Verbal

(+) Subject (Plural) + Verb 1 + Object

(-) Subject (Plural) + Do Not + Verb 1 + Object

(?) Do + Subject (Plural) + Verb 1 + Object + ?

Example :

(+) They read the book in the library twice a week.

(-) They do not read the book in the library twice a week.
 (?) Do they read the book in the library twice a week?

(+) Subject (Singular) + Verb 1 + s/es + Object

(-) Subject (Singular) + Does Not + Verb 1 + Object

(?) Does + Subject (Singular) + Verb 1 + Object + ?

Example :

(+) She writes diary every night

(-) She does not write diary every night

(?) Does she write diary every night?

b. Nominal
(+) Subject + Auxiliary Verb/Tobe + Object
(-) Subject + Auxiliary Verb/Tobe + Not + Object
(?)Auxiliary Verb/Tobe + Subject + Object + ?
Example :

(+) Ariana Grande is the pop singer

(-) Ariana Grande is not the pop singer

(?) Is Ariana Grande the pop singer?

b. Informal Letter
 Form of Informal Letter

As we discussed earlier there is no set format when writing an informal letter. But there is a
general pattern, some conventions that people usually follow.

1. Address
The first thing to write is your address, i.e. the address of the writer. We usually write the
address on the left-hand side of the page at the very top. The address should be accurate
and complete. Even when writing to close friends or relatives the address must be written,
so they can reply back to the letter with ease. If the recipient of the letter is in another
country, do not forget to write your country as well in the address.
2. Greeting
Now since you know the person you are writing to, the greeting can be informal as well. If
it is a friend or someone close to your age you can greet them by their first name, like “Dear
Alex”. If you are writing to your relative like your mother/father/aunt/uncle etc, you may
greet them as such, for example, “Dear Mom”. And if you are writing to an elder person,
someone you respect greatly you can address them as Mr or Mrs. Like say for example you
were writing a congratulatory letter to your teacher, it can be addressed as “Dear Mrs.
Alex”.
3. Introduction Paragraph
And now we begin writing the actual letter. The introductory paragraph sets the tone for
the whole letter. You might begin by asking the recipient about their well being. Or you
may say that you hope the letter finds them in good health and great spirits. The opening
of informal letters should be casual and comforting. It must not be formal and direct as
in business letter.
4. Body of the Letter
The letter overall should maintain a friendly tone. But you have to adjust the language and
the wordings according to who you are writing to. With a friend, you can afford to be very
casual and flippant even. But if you are writing to an elder relative, you must be extremely
respectful and considerate.
5. Conclusion
In the conclusive paragraph sum up the reason for writing the letter, i.e. summarize the
letter. Say a meaningful and affectionate goodbye to the reader. And do not forget to invite
the reader to write back or reply to your letter. It shows an intention to keep the conversation
going.
6. Signature
There is no one way to sign off informal letters. Since they do not follow a strict format,
you may sign off as you please. Some commonly used phrases are Lots of Love, Best, Best
Wishes, Kind Regards, Kindly, etc.
 Example :

c. Pen Pal Letter

 Useful Words
1. Starting the First Letter
Hi! How are you? I’m fine.
I am happy to be your pen friend.
I will introduce myself to you.
I will tell you about my family.
2. Starting the Second Letter
Hi! How are you? I’m fine.
I enjoyed reading your letter very much.
 Thank you for your e-mail.
Thank you for your letter it was great.
Thank you for writing back.
Thanks a lot for writing back to me.
Thanks for the last letter
Hello! Thank you for your letter. It was great!
3. Starting the Second Letter with an Apology
I am sorry I did not reply earlier.
I am sorry that it has been a long time since I last wrote.
I have been busy at school.
I had exams at school.
I have been ill.

4. Saying Goodbye
Bye for now and write back soon!
I hope to hear from you soon.
Write back soon!
I hope you will write soon.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Please don’t forget to answer my letter.
Well I’d better be going.

From your penpal

From your new friend
Yours sincerely
Your pen friend
From your Friend

 Form of Pen Pal Letter

Introduce Yourself
Your age, weight and height
Date of birth, place of birth, nationality
What you look like
Your hobbies
 Your favourite things (i.e. colour, food, sport)
What you like to do at the weekend.
What you want to be when you grow up.
Your religion

Example:

My name is Manit and I am 12 years old. I am Thai and I am a Buddhist. I am tall and
thin. I have short, black hair and black eyes. My hobbies are collecting stamps and
playing badminton. At the weekend I like chatting on the telephone with my friends and
going to the shopping mall. Sometimes I watch a movie with my family. When I grow
up I want to be a doctor.
Name; Rolani Dini Syalvina
NPM: A1B022007

d. Activities
1. Provide the definition of simple present tense, informal letter and pen pal letter by
using your own words here!
Simple Present Tense: The simple present tense is used to describe actions that
are habitual, factual, or generally true. It's the base form of the verb, used for
routines, facts, habits, and regular occurrences. For example, "She sings
beautifully," "They play football every Saturday," or "The sun rises in the east."

Informal Letter: An informal letter is a personal, friendly, and casual form of

written communication between acquaintances, friends, or family. It doesn't follow
strict rules or formats, allowing for a more relaxed tone and language. It often
includes personal anecdotes, everyday language, and can vary in structure and
content based on the relationship between the sender and the recipient.

Pen Pal Letter: A pen pal letter is a specific type of correspondence between
individuals who may live in different locations and have never met in person. It
typically involves exchanging letters on various topics, sharing experiences,
interests, and sometimes cultural aspects. The focus is on building a relationship
and understanding someone else's life and culture through written communication.
Pen pal letters often foster cultural exchange and friendship.

2. Identify the simple present tense from a news at

https://www.thejakartapost.com/culture/2022/02/01/indonesian-icons-nasi-goreng-
tek-tek-that-one-food-every-indonesian-loves.html

No Sentence Position
Nasi goreng tek-tek is almost-exclusively sold by Paragraph : 3
1
a single seller… Line : 4
2 It is a food for everyone Paragraph : 4
Line : 6
3 Just ask 40-year-old Ivan Wanara, who has been Paragraph : 5
running a nasi goreng stall in Canggu, Bali since Line : 8
2007
4 It is a simple dish and so cheap
3. Write down the sentences with simple present tense based on your experience and
current situations!
a. I walk my dog in the park every morning
b. She works at a local café on weekends
c. He often sings in the shower
d. The sun sets in the west every evening
4. Find an example of informal letter from any source! After that, identify the
form/structure of the letter!

5. Try to make your own informal letter!

Date: November 12, 2023

Dear Maya,

I hope this letter finds you well. How have you been? It’s been a while since we
last caught up. I wanted to share some exciting news with you. I finally adopted a
puppy, and he’s been keeping me on my toes with his endless energy!

Work has been hectic, but I’ve also found time to start that painting class I
mentioned. It’s been a great way to unwind after long days. Remember how we
used to talk about taking up new hobbies?

I’m looking forward to hearing about your recent adventures. I miss our coffee
chats and hope we can catch up soon.

Take care,

Vina

6. Make your own pen pal letter and send it to your pen pal from IVE Project! (Assigment)

Date: November 12, 2023

Dear Pen Pal from IVE Project,

Greetings from my side of the world! I hope this letter finds you in good spirits.
I’m excited to begin this pen pal journey and get to know each other better.

I live in a city known for its bustling streets and diverse culture. I spend my
weekends exploring new cafes and bookshops. Do you have any favorite hangout
spots in your city?

I’m passionate about photography and love capturing moments that tell stories.
What interests or hobbies are close to your heart?

Looking forward to learning more about you and your world.

Warm regards,
[Vina]
e. References
 Azar, B.S. (2003) Fundamental English Grammar: Chapter 14, Noun clause. Third
Edition. Longman
 Azar, B.S (2002) Understanding and Using English Grammar. Chapter 12: Noun
clause. Third Edition. Longman
 Maurer, J. (2000). Focus in Grammar: Part IX. Second Edition. Longman.

 http://www.english-room.com/penfriends_main.html

 http://www.english-room.com/penfriend-letters/

 https://www.toppr.com/guides/english/writing/informal-letters/