Beginning a postcard

  • Dear Susan,
  • Hi Peter!

Saying where you are

  • I’m in Rome.
  • I’m spending my holiday at the seaside / in the mountains.
  • I’ve just arrived at the airport / railway station / bus station.
  • I’m going to stay here for two weeks.
  • Here I am in Turkey!

Saying what you are doing

  • Every day there are many things to do.
  • I’m very busy every day.
  • There are morning / evening activities.
  • We climb mountains / visit places of interest

Describing the weather

  • The weather is pretty good / fine / awful / horrible.
  • It’s raining / snowing all the time.
  • It’s sunny / cold most of the time.

Saying how you are feeling

  • I enjoy it.
  • I’m having a great time.
  • I’m glad / happy / disappointed / unhappy because …
  • It’s my best / worst holiday / stay abroad ever.
  • I’m enjoying / hating every minute here.

Asking about the person you are writing to

  • How about your holidays?
  • I hope you’re fine.
  • I hope you’re having a great time.
  • How’s your summer/ holiday?

Finishing a postcard

  • All the best
  • Best wishes
  • See you soon
  • Love
  • XOXOXO (Kisses and Hugs)

► Postcards are written in an informal style. Start and finish your postcard using informal phrases.

► Use abbreviations.

► You can use phrases without a verb.

► Remember that a postcard should be concise.

Sample Exam Task

You are attending a summer course at an English school in Dublin. Write a postcard to your Australian friend Peter. In your postcard, you should:

  • explain where you are
  • describe two typical activities you do every day
  • write what you like most about the course

Hi Peter,

I’m here in Dublin on a summer language course.

I’m very busy every day. We have four language classes every day. There are also evening activities; for example, Irish dancing. The weather’s rather horrible. Just rain most of the time. I’m enjoying the course because there are so many people from all over the world!

How about your holiday? I hope you’re having a great time, too.

Love,

Adam

Have Practice

Exercise 1. Read the following exam task and a student’s response to it. It is correct but a bit monotonous. Why?

You are on holidays in the mountains and you received a text message from your English friend:

Hi, I bet you’re still travelling? I wish I could go on holiday now, I really need one! Where are you now? I hope the weather is all right? Let me know what the hotel and the local people are like! And don’t forget to send me a postcard! :o) Cheers, Jackie

Write a postcard to your friend answering all her questions.

Hi Jackie,

I’m in the mountains. I’m having a really nice holiday. My room’s very nice, and the views from the windows are really nice. The local people are always nice to us, the food’s nice, and the weather has been nice ever since we came. Wish you were here!

Love,

Klara


Exercise 2. Match the adjectives to the nouns they can describe.

  1. friendly
  2. sunny
  3. delicious
  4. enjoyable
  5. spectacular
  6. comfortable
  • holiday
  • room
  • views
  • people
  • food
  • weather

Exercisese 3. Complete these strong positive and negative adjectives.     

It’s …

FA_ _ _ST _ C!

WO _ D_R_ _L!

L_V_ _Y!

BR _ _ _I_NT!

It’s ….

DR_ _ _ F_L!

AW_ _L!

HOP_ _ _ _ S!

HO_ _ _ B_E!

Exercise 4. Now write an improved version of Klara’s postcard.

Exercise 5. Read the exam task below and write a postcard.

You’re studying in the USA and decided to spend a weekend in New York. This is a part of an email you received from your English friends.

So you are in New York now? How great! How did you get there? Are you travelling alone? We are very worried about you! You must write us a postcard! So what is the best thing about New York for you? Have you got any plans for the evening? Oh, we wish we were there with you!

Write a postcard to your friends answering all their questions.