Exam Writing: An Informal Letter
Exam Writing: An Informal Letter
A1 writing exams often ask for a short informal letter or email to a friend — this lesson covers the fixed opening and closing formulas that structure every such letter, freeing you to focus on the content in between.
Grammar Comparison
Grammar Comparison
Fixed opening and closing formulas, just like English letters
Liebe Anna, ... / Liebe Grüße, Peter
Dear Anna, ... / Best wishes, Peter
English informal letters follow a predictable shape ("Dear ___," ... "Best," / "Love,"), and German A1 exam letters reward using an equally predictable shape: Liebe/Lieber + name as the opening (Liebe for a female recipient, Lieber for male, since it's an adjective agreeing with the implied noun "Freund/Freundin"), and a closing like Liebe Grüße or Viele Grüße before your name. Examiners are checking that you can produce this correct, natural frame — don't try to invent a more creative structure under time pressure.
The three-part exam task: react, ask, suggest
Danke für deine Nachricht. Wie geht es dir? Ich möchte vorschlagen, dass wir uns am Samstag treffen.
Thanks for your message. How are you? I'd like to suggest we meet on Saturday.
Goethe-Institut-style A1 letter tasks typically give you three bullet points to address (e.g., thank the person, ask a question, make a suggestion), and grading rewards covering all three clearly using simple sentences over attempting complex grammar you haven't mastered yet. Keep sentences short and use vocabulary you're confident with — accuracy on simple structures scores better than ambitious sentences with mistakes.
Vocabulary
Vocabulary
| German | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Liebe Anna, / Lieber Peter, | LEE-beh AH-nah / LEE-ber PAY-ter | Dear Anna, / Dear Peter, |
| Wie geht es dir? | vee gate es deer | How are you? |
| Danke für deine Nachricht. | DAHN-keh fewr DY-neh NAHKH-rikht | Thanks for your message. |
| Ich möchte dir erzählen, dass... | ikh MERKH-teh deer air-TSAY-len dahs | I'd like to tell you that... |
| Hast du Lust, ... zu ...? | hahst doo loost ... tsoo | Do you feel like ...ing? |
| Schreib mir bald zurück. | shryp meer bahlt tsoo-REWK | Write back to me soon. |
| Liebe Grüße, | LEE-beh GREW-seh | Best wishes, (closing) |
| Viele Grüße, | FEE-leh GREW-seh | Many greetings, (closing) |
| Bis bald! | bis bahlt | See you soon! |