Writing a Postcard

§Text Passage

§Sentence-by-sentence translation Sentence-by-sentence translation

1Summary 重點摘要

Keep it short!

2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary

3Step by step Steps

1. FormatOn a postcard, the message goes on the left and the address on the right. Example: Write the message on the left and the address on the right. A vertical line usually divides the two sides. The address runs from small to large: the name first, then the flat number, the street and the city. The stamp belongs in the top right corner. Write neatly, because the postman delivers the card by reading the address; a wrong address means a lost card.
2. ContentA postcard usually covers three parts: the local weather, the activities you did and your feelings. Example: The weather is hot and sunny. I visited the museum. I miss you. Since the space is small, one sentence for each part is enough. Use adjectives such as sunny and rainy for the weather, choose one or two special activities, and put the feeling at the end so the reader feels close, as in I miss you or I hope you can come with me next time.
3. LengthA postcard is short and precise, usually three to five sentences. Example: Keep the message short and clear. Being short does not mean being empty; every sentence must carry information. Do not turn the postcard into a long diary; cover the key points once. If the space really is not enough, drop the polite phrases and keep only the place, the activities and the wishes. Read it through after writing to make sure the reader understands at first sight.
4. TenseUse the past tense for things you have already done on the trip, as in I visited the temple and I ate sushi. Use the present tense for the current situation, as in I am in Tokyo and The weather is fine. The tense follows the time: finished actions take the past, while ongoing or regular states take the present. Beginners often write visit instead of visited, so check every verb after writing to make sure the tense matches the time.
5. Who does which tenseThe two tenses have different jobs on a postcard: finished things use the past, as in I visited the temple, and future plans use will, as in I will come back on Friday. After will, use the base verb; never say will came. Within one paragraph, the tense changes as the time changes. A common structure is to describe the past activities first and then the future arrangement, which keeps the timeline clear and easy for the reader to follow.
6. Format chantThe writing chant for a postcard is: open with Dear plus the name, then two or three lines of news covering the weather, activities and food, and finally sign off with Love plus your name. Example: Dear Mary, I am in Tokyo... Love, Sue. Note that the greeting ends with a comma, and Love also takes a comma before the name on the next line. Following this chant, four or five lines make a complete postcard, and you will not lose the format marks in tests.

5Worked example Example

6Common mistakes Mistakes

7Quick check Quick check

8Recap Recap

• Postcard format: Dear + name, → news → Love, your name.
• Three news items: the weather, an activity, a feeling.
• Keep it short — 3 to 5 sentences.
• Past tense for what you did (visited); will for what you will do (will come back).
• Space is tiny, so every sentence must carry something.