Lesson 4. Reading: an invitation, a thank-you, an apology

I can read a short letter of invitation, thanks, or apology, understand who writes what and why, and write a reply to an invitation.

Trois lettres courtes

A short letter is written for one of four things: to invite, to thank, to apologize, to congratulate. They all have the same structure — greeting, opening, main point, closing, sign-off; only the set phrases in the middle change. An invitation: “Je t'invite à …”, “Réponds-moi vite !” The answer is “Avec plaisir !” or a refusal with a reason. Thanks: “Merci beaucoup pour …” An apology: “Je m'excuse pour …” Congratulations: “Nous te félicitons pour …” To a friend you write with tu: greeting Salut, or Cher and Chère, closing Bises. To a boss or someone you don't know, with vous: greeting Bonjour Monsieur …, closing Cordialement. The register doesn't change within one letter. English “Dear” and “sorry” have one form; French agrees with the person: Cher Nicolas, but Chère Sophie; a woman writes about herself “Je suis désolée”. Before a vowel, ta becomes ton: ton invitation. NOT “Cher Sophie” → “Chère Sophie.” NOT “Merci beaucoup pour ta invitation” → “Merci beaucoup pour ton invitation.” NOT “Je vais prévenir toi” → “Je vais te prévenir.” NOT “Bises, Monsieur Bernard” → “Cordialement, Chloé Moreau.”

Four short letters and their set phrases

They all have the same structure: greeting, opening, main point, closing, sign-off.

Why you write	Greeting	Key phrase	Closing
to invite	Salut Léa,	Tu viens à la maison samedi ?	Bises
to thank	Chère Sophie,	Merci beaucoup pour ton cadeau.	À bientôt
to apologize	Bonjour Monsieur Bernard,	Je ne pourrai pas venir lundi.	Cordialement
to congratulate	Cher Nicolas,	Toutes mes félicitations !	Bises

Lesson notes

Trois lettres courtes

A short letter is written for one of four things: to invite, to thank, to apologize, to congratulate. They all have the same structure — greeting, opening, main point, closing, sign-off; only the set phrases in the middle change. An invitation: “Je t'invite à …”, “Réponds-moi vite !” The answer is “Avec plaisir !” or a refusal with a reason. Thanks: “Merci beaucoup pour …” An apology: “Je m'excuse pour …” Congratulations: “Nous te félicitons pour …” To a friend you write with tu: greeting Salut, or Cher and Chère, closing Bises. To a boss or someone you don't know, with vous: greeting Bonjour Monsieur …, closing Cordialement. The register doesn't change within one letter. English “Dear” and “sorry” have one form; French agrees with the person: Cher Nicolas, but Chère Sophie; a woman writes about herself “Je suis désolée”. Before a vowel, ta becomes ton: ton invitation. NOT “Cher Sophie” → “Chère Sophie.” NOT “Merci beaucoup pour ta invitation” → “Merci beaucoup pour ton invitation.” NOT “Je vais prévenir toi” → “Je vais te prévenir.” NOT “Bises, Monsieur Bernard” → “Cordialement, Chloé Moreau.”