English For Today chapter 10: A Letter to a Friend

A Letter to a Friend

1.1 Discuss in pairs about the following pictures. Which of them have you used for communicating with someone?

Figure

Labels: a, b, c, d Description: Four pictures in circled labels: (a) a pigeon standing; (b) an airmail envelope with red and blue striped border; (c) a hand holding a mobile phone showing messages; (d) a laptop with a Gmail screen open.

1.2 Mamun wrote a letter to his friend Hasib describing about his garden. Read the letter on the next page.

Printed page 42

Figure

Labels: First Paragraph, Address, Salutation, Date, Body, Closing, Last Paragraph, Name/Signature Description: Sample letter with callout labels pointing to its parts: Address at top right; Date at right below the address; Salutation at the left below the address; First Paragraph at left beside the opening paragraph; Body at left beside the middle paragraph; Last Paragraph below the body; Closing at right beside "Your friend,"; Name/Signature at bottom right under the closing.

44, Aftabnagar

Badda, Dhaka

01 April, 2026

Dear Hasib,

I am glad to hear from you after so many days. You wanted to know how I am spending my free time.

Now a days, I have been busy in my vegetable garden. After school, I spend my free time in the garden. I sowed small seeds in the soil. They have become big now. It is really exciting to watch their growth. You will find various vegetables like- tomatoes, beans, cucumbers etc. in my garden. I water the plants regularly. Soon, we will have ripe red tomatoes ready to pick from the garden.

Please visit us someday. We can have the fresh vegetables from the garden. Write back soon!

Your friend,

Mamun

Printed page 43

1.3 Now, ask and answer the following questions in pairs.

a) Who wrote the letter?

b) Who is the letter written to?

c) How did Mamun greet his friend in the letter?

d) What is the letter about?

e) What language did Mamun use in the closing section of the letter?

1.4 Read the letter again. Find out and list the various parts of the letter. One is done for you.

List of the various parts of the letter

• Address of sender

Printed page 44

2.1 Read the letter again. In pairs, discuss whether the following statements are correct or incorrect.

3.1 Language Focus: Writing a Personal Letter

Follow the instructions given below when you write a letter to someone:

1. Write the address and the date at the top right side of the page.
2. Begin the letter using a greeting or salutation, like 'Dear ...'
3. Your letter should have three paragraphs:
   • In the first paragraph, explain why you are writing.
   • In the second, give some details. This is the body of the letter.
   • In the third, tell what you expect from the receiver or ask for a reply.
4. End the letter with—
   • 'Love' or 'Lots of love' when you are writing to family or a close friend;
   • 'With best wishes' when you know the person quite well;
   • 'Yours sincerely' when you don't know the person very well.

Printed page 45

4.1 Now, write a reply to Mamun's letter. Use the following clues.

• Write your address and date.
• In the first paragraph, tell what the letter is about.
• In the body, describe in detail how you pass your free time.
• End the letter by telling Mamun that you want a reply soon.
• Sign your letter.

4.2 Look at the envelope of Hasib's letter. Write Mamun's address on the envelope.

Figure

Labels: Stamp; From,; Hasib Ahmed; C/O Abdul Malek; South Garjantali; Ramgarh, Khagrachari; To, Description: An airmail-style envelope with a red and blue striped border. The sender's details are on the left under "From," and the recipient's blank lines are on the right under "To," separated by a vertical line. A stamp box is at the top right.