📨 Informal Email Responding to News – B1+ English Writing

When a friend shares news—good or bad—you’ll want to respond with care, empathy, and natural-sounding English. In this lesson, you’ll learn:

• How to open an informal email after a delay
• Phrases to react to good and bad news
• How to make logical deductions using must and can’t
• Useful expressions like seeing as, what with, and had better

We’ll analyse a real example: Sonya’s email to Jude.

Reacting to Good or Bad News

• • I’m/I was + adjective + (to hear) that…
  I was sorry to hear that Tony has been in hospital.
  I’m delighted that you have a new kitten.
• • I’m/I was + adjective + to hear about + noun
  I was glad to hear about your promotion.
  I’m sorry to hear about Tony’s illness.
• • In informal writing, you can omit I’m/I was:
  Sorry to hear about your cat.
  Glad to hear you’re feeling better!

Apologising for Not Replying Sooner

• • Sorry that it’s taken ages for me to get back to you.
• • Sorry for taking so long to reply.
• • Apologies for the delay in getting back to you.

Saying You’ve Been Busy

• • I’ve been completely rushed off my feet lately.
• • I haven’t had time to think.
• • I’ve had a lot on my plate.
• • I’ve had my hands full.
• • Things have quietened down a bit now.
• • I have some head space / time to think.

Saying Why You’re Writing

• • I thought I’d drop you a line.
• • Just dropping you a quick line to check in.
• • I just wanted to check in with you.
• • Thought I’d reach out to see how things are going.

Making Deductions: Must and Can’t

• • Present/Future:
  He must be home by now.
  That can’t be easy for you.
• • Past: must/can’t + have + past participle
  It must have been really worrying.
  It can’t have been easy.

Using Must and Can in Non-Modal Forms

• • Can → be able to / been able to
  I won’t be able to drive.
  I haven’t been able to visit.
• • Must → have to / had to
  You will have to send me photos.
  I have had to help a lot lately.

Seeing as and What with

• • Seeing as + clause:
  It can’t be easy, seeing as you don’t drive.
  He must be home, seeing as his operation was weeks ago.
• • What with + noun / -ing:
  It was impossible to come, what with all my commitments.
  What with this rain, I haven’t gone out.

Had better – Strong Advice

• • Always followed by a bare infinitive: You’d better take it easy.
• • Used for specific, urgent advice (often with a warning):
  You’d better make sure he rests; otherwise, he might get worse.
• • Often contracted: I’d better go. (NOT “I have better”)