EduCareer

A2 (Elementary)Writing

Writing a Postcard or Diary Entry

A postcard or a diary entry is a short, personal piece of writing about your experiences - where you are, what you are doing, and how you feel. It is a perfect A2 task because it mixes tenses naturally and lets you write about real life. This lesson shows you how to structure both.

A postcard or a diary entry is a short, personal piece of writing about your experiences – where you are, what you are doing, and how you feel. It is a perfect A2 task because it mixes tenses naturally and lets you write about real life. This lesson shows you how to structure both.

1. What goes in a postcard

Part Example
Greeting Hi James,
Where you are I am in Istanbul!
What you are doing (now) We are staying near the sea.
What you did (past) Yesterday we visited the old city.
Feeling / closing It is wonderful! See you soon,
Sign-off + name Emma

2. Mixing tenses naturally

Postcards and diaries mix tenses, and that is normal:

  • Now (present continuous): We are staying in a small hotel.
  • Past (simple past): Yesterday we went to the market.
  • Feelings (simple present): The food is delicious.
  • Plans (future): Tomorrow we are going to visit a museum.

3. A diary entry

A diary entry usually starts with the day/date and is written to yourself, so it is informal and personal.

Model diary entryMonday, 5 March
Today was a busy day. I woke up early and studied English for two hours. In the afternoon I met James at the café and we talked about our exam. I am a little nervous, but I am also excited. Tomorrow I am going to revise again. I feel good about my progress.

4. A postcard model

Model postcardHi James,
Greetings from Istanbul! We are having a great time. We are staying in a small hotel near the sea. Yesterday we visited the old city and ate wonderful food. Tomorrow we are going to take a boat trip. The weather is beautiful. See you soon,
Emma
Tutor tipDo not be afraid to mix tenses – it is correct here. Use the simple past for things you did (“we visited”), the present continuous for now (“we are staying”), and going to for plans (“we are going to visit”). Keep sentences short and join them with and, but, and because. This is a friendly text, so write the way you would speak to a friend.

Examples from EduCareer

  • Present now: We are staying near the beach.
  • Past: Yesterday Emma visited the museum.
  • Plan: Tomorrow Thomas is going to rest.
Common mistakes

Yesterday we visit the city.  →  Yesterday we visited the city.

Now we stay in a hotel.  →  Now we are staying in a hotel.

Tomorrow we visited a museum.  →  Tomorrow we are going to visit a museum.

(no greeting or name)  →  Hi James, … See you soon, Emma

Check your understanding

Answer the questions below. You will see instantly if you are right.

1.A postcard is:
It is short and personal.
2.Which tense describes what you are doing NOW?
Present continuous = happening now.
3.Which tense describes what you DID?
Simple past for finished actions.
4."Yesterday we ___ the old city."
yesterday → simple past: visited.
5."Now we ___ in a small hotel."
now → present continuous: are staying.
6."Tomorrow we ___ visit a museum."
A plan → are going to visit.
7.Is it OK to mix tenses in a postcard?
Mixing tenses naturally is correct here.
8.How does a diary entry usually start?
A diary entry usually starts with the day/date.
9.A postcard should end with:
End with a friendly sign-off + name.
10."The food ___ delicious." (feeling/opinion now)
A current opinion → simple present: is.
11.Fix: "Yesterday we visit the city."
yesterday → visited.
12.Fix: "Now we stay in a hotel."
now → are staying.
13.Fix: "Tomorrow we visited a museum."
tomorrow → future: are going to visit.
14.A good postcard opener:
Friendly and personal.
15.Which sentence uses the past correctly?
yesterday → visited.
16.Which sentence is a plan?
"Tomorrow... is going to" = a plan.
17.How should a postcard sound?
Friendly and personal.
18.Best way to join short sentences here?
Join with and/but/because.
19.Which is a complete postcard line set?
It has a greeting, a message, and a sign-off with a name.
20.Which sentence mixes tenses correctly?
past for yesterday, going to for tomorrow — correct.

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