Checking Your Grammar in Everyday Emails and Chats.

In this first lesson, you work with a familiar situation: writing quick emails and chat messages to teachers, colleagues and friends. You read several short, realistic texts and notice how subjects, verbs and objects appear in natural sentences. Together we highlight typical mistakes that strong A2–B1 learners make, such as missing subjects, confusing word order or dropping articles. You then correct and improve sample messages so they are clearer and more professional but still friendly. Next, you write a short self-introduction email and a casual chat message, focusing on complete sentences and simple, accurate tenses. You also experiment with slightly more formal or informal options, depending on who you are writing to. Finally, you create a personal mini grammar profile and checklist, so you know which errors to watch for and what you already do well. This gives you a clear starting point for the rest of the course.

1. First look at real emails and chats.

Let us begin this course with something you probably do every week: sending quick emails and messages. On the screen, you will see two short emails from a new student to their course tutor. Both emails have the same message, but they feel very different. One looks a bit messy and informal, the other looks clearer and more professional, but still friendly. Your job is to notice why. As you read, pay special attention to complete sentences: who is the subject, what is the verb and what is the object or extra information. Ask yourself questions like, does every sentence tell me who is doing the action? Is the word order logical? Are any important little words, like articles, missing? In a moment, I will ask you to choose which email works better and to explain why, so read carefully. Then you will pick one sentence and identify the subject and the verb. This will help you build a strong foundation for the whole course.

The situation.

Imagine you have just joined an online English course. You need to email your new tutor to introduce yourself and check one small detail about the first lesson.

Here are two versions of the same email.

Message A.

> hi

>

> new student in your class, want info first lesson tomorrow? what time start, room where? thanks

Message B.

> Dear Dr Green,

>

> Hope you are well.

>

> I am a new student in your English class and I am writing because I wanted to ask about the first lesson tomorrow.

>

> What time does the lesson start, and which room is it in?

>

> Thank you for your help.

>

> Best regards,

>

> Alex

What do you notice?.

Both messages try to do the same job, but Message B is much easier to read. One big reason is clear sentence structure.

In English, a basic sentence usually has this pattern:

• Subject – who or what does the action.
• Verb – the action or state.
• Object / extra information – what or who receives the action, or more details.

Look at one sentence from Message B:

> I (subject) am writing (verb) because I wanted to ask about the first lesson tomorrow (extra information).

In Message A, this part becomes:

> new student in your class, want info first lesson tomorrow?

We do not know clearly who 'want', and there is no full sentence. It feels more like notes.

In professional or study emails, even short ones, it is usually better to write complete sentences so your message sounds clear and respectful.

In this block, you will compare the two emails and start to practise finding subjects and verbs inside real sentences.

Practice & Feedback

Read Message A and Message B in the box below carefully. Then answer these questions in full sentences:

1. Which message is clearer and more professional for a new tutor, and why?
2. Give at least two specific reasons connected to grammar or structure. For example, you might mention complete sentences, subjects, verbs, word order, or polite phrases.
3. Choose one full sentence from the better message. Copy it, then write: Subject = ..., Verb = ....

Try to write 80–120 words in total. Use your own words, not just single-word answers. This is your first chance to show how you think about sentence structure, so take your time and explain your ideas.

2. Noticing and fixing common sentence errors.

You have just seen how a clear email usually has complete sentences with subjects and verbs. Now, let us look at some typical problems that appear in quick emails and messages, especially when we write fast. Many learners, even at B1 or B2, drop the subject, forget little words like articles, or put words in a strange order. In a chat with friends this might be fine, but in emails to teachers, colleagues or clients, these small things can make your message feel unprofessional or even confusing. On the screen, you will see some short examples of messy sentences from emails, next to improved versions. I will draw your attention to the missing pieces so you can start to recognise the patterns. After that, you will listen to a short, rather untidy email from a student to a tutor. Your task will be to rewrite that email in a clearer way, using full sentences and a more polite tone. This listening and rewriting step helps you move from noticing the problem to actually fixing it in a realistic situation.

Three frequent problems in quick messages.

In semi-professional emails and study messages, we often see the same mistakes again and again. Here are three to watch for.

1. Missing subjects.

Writers sometimes forget to say who is doing the action.

• Messy: Need info about exam.
• Better: I need some information about the exam.

In the improved version, I is the subject and need is the verb.

2. Dropping articles and little words.

Articles (a, an, the) and prepositions (about, for, in, at) make ideas precise.

• Messy: Thanks sending timetable. Have question timetable week two.
• Better: Thank you for sending the timetable. I have a question about the timetable for week two.

The little words for, a and about help the message sound complete and natural.

3. Confusing word order.

English normally follows subject + verb + object order.

• Messy: Tomorrow free you are for meeting?
• Better: Are you free for a meeting tomorrow?

The improved sentence starts with the verb Are, then the subject you, which is correct for a yes/no question.

Why this matters in emails.

When you email a tutor or manager, it shows respect if you:

• include a subject in every sentence,
• use clear word order,
• add basic articles and prepositions.

You do not need to write long, complex sentences. Short, complete sentences are often best.

In the activity for this block, you will listen to a short, messy email from a student. Then you will rewrite it to make it clearer and more polite, using the patterns and examples you have just seen.

Practice & Feedback

Listen carefully to the short email in the audio below. It is a very quick, messy message from a student to their tutor about an exam. Your job is to rewrite this email so it looks like a clear, polite study email.

Please:

• Add missing subjects (for example, I or we).
• Fix the word order so the sentences are easy to follow.
• Add useful little words like a, the, about, for, in.
• Use at least one polite phrase from this lesson, such as Hope you are well., I am writing because, Thank you for your help.

Write one complete email of 3–6 sentences (about 60–100 words). Include a greeting and a short closing line. Do not copy the original text exactly; improve it.

3. Building a clear self introduction email.

You have practised improving short, messy messages. Now let us build a full, clear self introduction email, the kind you might send to a new teacher, manager or colleague. When you introduce yourself, grammar mistakes are very visible, so it is worth taking a little extra care. On the screen, you will see a model email from a student called Alex to their new tutor. This email uses several useful chunks, such as 'Hope you are well.', 'I am writing because', and 'Here are a few details about me.' It also has a simple structure: greeting, reason for writing, key information, and a polite closing. As you read, look for complete sentences and notice how Alex organises the information into short, logical paragraphs. After that, I will ask you some quick questions to check your understanding, and then you will write a couple of similar sentences about yourself, copying the style but not the exact words. This will prepare you for a longer email later in the lesson.

A model self introduction email.

Read this email from Alex to their new English tutor, Dr Green.

> Dear Dr Green,

>

> Hope you are well.

>

> I am writing because I have just joined your Comprehensive English Grammar course and I would like to introduce myself.

>

> My name is Alex Garcia and I am a second year psychology student. I have studied English for many years, but I feel that my grammar is sometimes messy and unclear. Here are a few details about me.

>

> I am currently doing a part time job in a bookshop, so I often need to send emails in English to customers. I especially want to practise writing clear, polite messages and checking my own mistakes before I press send.

>

> I also wanted to ask about the first assignment. Could you let me know the deadline and the approximate word count?

>

> Thank you for your help. I am looking forward to your lessons.

>

> Best regards,

>

> Alex Garcia

Why this email works well.

This email is not long or complicated, but it feels professional and friendly. Notice that:

• Every sentence has a subject (I, my name, I, I, I) and a verb (am, have studied, feel, want to practise, wanted to ask).
• Alex uses helpful chunks:
• Hope you are well.
• I am writing because...
• Here are a few details about me.
• Thank you for your help.
• I am looking forward to your lessons.
• The information is organised in a clear order:

1. Greeting.
2. Reason for writing.
3. Who Alex is.
4. Why English is important for Alex now.
5. A polite question.
6. Closing and sign-off.

Later, you will write a similar email about yourself. For now, we will focus on understanding this model and trying out a couple of lines in the same style.

Practice & Feedback

Read Alex's email in the box again. Then answer these three tasks in your own words:

1. What is Alex studying, and what part time job do they have? Answer in one or two full sentences.
2. Why does Alex want to improve their grammar? Explain in one or two sentences.
3. Write two new sentences about yourself in a similar style to Alex. Start your sentences with patterns like I am..., I have..., I would like to... or I especially want to.... Imagine you are writing to a new tutor.

Try to write 90–130 words in total. Focus on complete sentences with clear subjects and verbs. You do not need to write a whole email yet; just answer the questions and practise the style.

4. Writing clear informal chat messages.

Emails to tutors are often quite formal, but in real life you also send quick chat messages to classmates, friends or colleagues. In chats, it is normal to be more relaxed. You can use contractions, and sometimes you can leave out words. However, if you remove too much grammar, the other person may not understand you, especially in an international group. On the screen, you will see a short chat between Alex and a coursemate, Mia. They are organising a group meeting for a project. Some messages are clear and friendly, others are so short that they look like notes. I will guide you through a few examples of good, natural chat English that still has a clear subject and verb when needed. After that, you will join the conversation. You will write a short reply to Mia as if you are Alex. Try to sound friendly and informal, but keep your grammar clear enough that everyone can follow your plan.

A realistic study chat.

Here is a chat between two students, Alex and Mia, about a group meeting.

> Mia: Hi Alex, how are you?

>

> Alex: Hey, I am good, thanks. You?

>

> Mia: Pretty good. Just a quick message to let you know I created a group chat for the grammar project.

>

> Alex: Great, thanks for setting it up.

>

> Mia: We need to meet this week. When are you free?

>

> Alex: busy Thursday afternoon, maybe Friday morning ok?

>

> Mia: I think Friday morning works. Could you possibly send me your part by Thursday evening so I can read it first?

>

> Alex: ok send tonight

>

> Mia: Thanks a lot!

Which messages are too short?.

Two of Alex's replies are a bit too short and messy:

• busy Thursday afternoon, maybe Friday morning ok?
• ok send tonight

These look like notes, not full messages.

We can keep a relaxed tone and make the grammar clearer:

• I am busy on Thursday afternoon, but Friday morning is ok.
• Ok, I will send it tonight.

Notice that the improved versions still feel informal, but they use a clear subject and verb:

• I am busy on Thursday afternoon.
• Friday morning is ok.
• I will send it tonight.

Tips for informal but clear chat English.

• Use contractions: I am → I'm, I will → I'll.
• It is fine to use short messages, but avoid removing the subject and verb if this makes the message confusing.
• You can still use polite chunks from emails, for example:
• Just a quick message to let you know...
• Let me know if you have any questions.
• Speak to you soon.

In the next task, you will reply to Mia in the same chat, using friendly but clear English.

Practice & Feedback

Imagine the chat continues. After "Thanks a lot!", Mia writes one more message:

> Mia: One more thing – could you let me know if you have any problems with the reading before Thursday?

Now you need to reply as Alex with a short sequence of 2–3 chat messages.

Please:

• Answer Mia's question about problems with the reading (for example, say if it is ok or if you might need help).
• Mention when you plan to do the reading or your part of the project.
• End in a friendly way, for example with Speak to you soon. or Thanks again!.

Write in a chat style, not as one long paragraph. You can be informal, but try to keep clear subjects and verbs in most messages. Aim for a total of 40–80 words across your messages.

5. Writing your own self introduction email.

So far, you have analysed emails, corrected a messy message, and practised a couple of lines in the style of Alex's introduction. You are ready for the main writing task of this lesson: composing your own self introduction email. Imagine you have just joined a new course, job or study programme. You want to write to your tutor, manager or supervisor to introduce yourself and ask one or two simple questions. The goal is not to be impressive or very formal; the goal is to be **clear**, **polite** and **grammatically accurate**. On the screen, you will see a short checklist to guide you, plus some useful chunks from our lesson, such as 'I am writing because', 'Here are a few details about me.', and 'Let me know if you have any questions.' Read the checklist first, then use it to plan and write your own email. Aim for a medium length: not just two lines, but not a long essay either.

Your main task: a self introduction email.

You are going to write a real-style email to a new tutor, manager or supervisor. Choose one situation that feels real for you right now, for example:

• a new university course,
• a training programme at work,
• a new part time job.

Checklist for your email.

Before you start writing, read this checklist. Try to include all of these points.

Greeting

• Example: Dear Ms Patel, or Dear Dr Green,

Polite opening line

• Example: Hope you are well.

Reason for writing

• Example: I am writing because I have just joined your ... or Just a quick message to let you know that I will be joining your team next week.

A few details about you

• Example: Here are a few details about me. I am a third year engineering student...

Connection to English or the course/job

• Why is good communication important for you?

One or two simple questions

• Example: I wanted to ask about the first assignment.

Polite closing and sign off

• Example: Thank you for your help. / Let me know if you have any questions. / Looking forward to hearing from you.
• Sign off: Best regards, + your name.

Language tips.

• Use complete sentences with clear subjects and verbs.
• Keep the tone polite but natural. You do not need very long or complex words.
• Aim for around 80–140 words.
• Use at least two chunks from the chunk bank in this lesson, for example: Hope you are well., I am writing because, Here are a few details about me., Thank you for your help., Looking forward to hearing from you., Let me know if you have any questions.

Practice & Feedback

Write your own self introduction email now. Choose a realistic person to write to, for example a university tutor, a training manager or a new team leader.

Your email should:

• start with a greeting and a polite opening line,
• explain why you are writing,
• give 2–4 short sentences with key information about you (study, work, experience, goals),
• include 1–2 simple questions about the course, job or schedule,
• end with a polite closing and sign off.

Aim for 80–140 words. Use complete sentences with clear subjects and verbs, and try to include at least two of these chunks: Hope you are well., Just a quick message to let you know, I am writing because, Here are a few details about me., Thank you for your help., Looking forward to hearing from you.

Write the full email as you would actually send it.

6. Creating your personal grammar checklist.

To finish this lesson, let us step back and think about **you** and your grammar. You have seen typical mistakes in emails and chats, and you have written your own messages. Now it is time to create a small, personal checklist that you can use every time you write. Good writers do not try to remember every rule all at once. Instead, they focus on a few personal problem areas. For example, you might often forget articles, or you might start sentences without a subject. Another learner might struggle more with verb endings or capital letters. On the screen, you will see an example of a student's checklist. It is simple, but very practical. Read it and notice how each point is clear and short. Then you will write your own list of 5–7 points, plus a short reflection about which two are most important for you right now. This will become your guide for editing emails and chats during the rest of the course.

Why make a personal grammar checklist?.

You cannot fix every possible mistake at once. A short checklist helps you focus on the most frequent problems in your own writing.

If you use the same checklist when you write emails and chats, you will start to correct yourself automatically. Over time, your messages will become clearer and more accurate without extra effort.

Maria's example checklist.

Read this example from Maria, another student on the course.

> Maria's checklist before I press send

>

> 1. Do all my sentences have a subject and a verb? (Example: I am writing because...)

> 2. Have I used capital letters for names, days and months? (Example: Monday, Dr Taylor.)

> 3. Did I add articles a, an, the where necessary? (Example: the first lesson, a question about the exam.)

> 4. Are my questions complete and clear? (Example: Could you let me know the deadline?)

> 5. Is my tone polite enough for this person? (Example: Hope you are well., Thank you for your help.)

> 6. Did I write a closing line and my name? (Example: Best regards, Maria.)

Your turn.

Your checklist can be similar to Maria's, but it should match your common mistakes. Think back to:

• the messy sentences you corrected,
• your chat messages,
• your self introduction email.

Where did you hesitate? What did you need to correct?

In the final activity, you will write your own 5–7 point checklist and a short reflection about which two points are the most important for you at the moment.

Practice & Feedback

Now create your own personal grammar checklist for emails and chats.

1. Write 5–7 short checklist items that you want to check before you press send. Use clear, simple language and, if you like, add a short example in brackets, like Maria did.
2. Then write a short reflection of 3–4 sentences explaining:

• which two checklist points are the most important for you right now,
• why these areas are difficult for you,
• how you will try to improve them during this course.

Altogether, aim for 100–150 words. Organise your answer with numbered or bullet points for the checklist, and then a short paragraph for your reflection. This is a personal tool, so be honest about your typical mistakes.