AEE 2609: English Grammar to Show Your Nostalgia

Summary

All Ears English Podcast – Episode 2609: English Grammar to Show Your Nostalgia

Hosts: Lindsay McMahon, Michelle Kaplan
Date: April 30, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Lindsay and Michelle dive into the grammar and vocabulary that English speakers use to express nostalgia and reflect on the past—especially focusing on present perfect constructions like "I haven’t seen that in so long" and familiar variations. Through personal stories, movie references, and practical role-plays, the hosts show ESL listeners how to naturally communicate sentimental memories and time gaps in genuine conversation. The aim is to help listeners “connect, not perfect,” making small talk and expressing feelings more fluently in American English.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Using Grammar to Show Nostalgia (02:09–04:53)

• Present Perfect for the Past and Present:
  • Expressing how long it’s been since doing or experiencing something is a core 'connection skill' in English.
  • Structure: “I haven’t [done something] in so long,” “It’s been ages,” “I haven’t [done] since [time].”
    • [04:09] Michelle Kaplan: “A great way to do this is, ‘I haven’t [blank] in so long.’"
    • [04:45] Michelle Kaplan: “What does this present perfect construction do here? What is it showing?”
    • [04:53] Lindsay McMahon: "It shows nostalgia. I think it's usually connected to something."

Personal Anecdotes – Movies and Memories (02:14–07:34)

• Revisiting Old TV Shows:
  • Lindsay describes catching reruns of “90210” and how it transports her back to her teen years, illuminating how media nostalgia works in daily life.
    • [02:20] Lindsay McMahon: "I'm... staying at my in-laws’ condo... I discovered a channel where they show like on repeat old 90210 episodes that I haven't seen in so long... I remember what I thought about this episode when I was 17..."
• Family Movie Nights and Changing Perspectives:
  • Michelle shares watching nostalgic movies like “Back to the Future” with her son and describes how “Father of the Bride” resonates with her differently as she ages.
    • [06:08] Lindsay McMahon: "You're probably gonna watch it when your daughter gets married too, right?"
    • [06:33] Lindsay McMahon: “Oh, that movie just really tugs on the heartstrings.”

Broadening Usage – More Than Just Movies (07:34–09:35)

• Social and Everyday Examples:
  • The hosts emphasize these nostalgic expressions work for reconnecting with people, places, and activities.
    • [07:51] Michelle Kaplan: "You could also... talk about seeing someone: 'Oh, I haven't seen her in so long.'"
    • [07:54] Lindsay McMahon: “‘I haven’t read a non fiction book in so long.’"
  • Mall experiences and differing childhoods in the U.S. come up, showing cultural variety even within the same country.

Expanding the Grammar Toolbox (11:18–12:22)

• Alternative Expressions:
  • “In forever” or “it’s been forever”
    • [11:28] Lindsay McMahon: "'Good to see you. It's been forever.'"
  • “In years/months/decades”
    • [11:37] Michelle Kaplan: “Or just in a period of time... I haven’t read that book in decades.”
  • Using “since” and “ages” for added nuance
    • [12:00] Lindsay McMahon: “Since I was a kid. Or you could say ‘it’s been ages.’”

The Deeper Purpose: Connection and Self-Reflection (13:08–14:26)

• Why Use These Structures:
  • Beyond nostalgia, these expressions give insight into your current lifestyle and help you connect with others by sharing your past and changes.
    • [13:13] Lindsay McMahon: “It just brings up so much that we could share in a connection moment.”
    • [14:14] Lindsay McMahon: “Imagine if you were to walk down the halls of your middle school right now... it just reminds you how time has passed and how you've changed.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On TV impacting perspectives:
  [05:25] Lindsay McMahon: “[With 90210] Maybe TV’s just gotten a lot lighter since then. But... you compare who you were then and what you noticed then versus what you notice now.”
• On using nostalgia phrases:
  [06:33] Lindsay McMahon: "'That movie just really tugs on the heartstrings.'"
  [11:28] Lindsay McMahon: "'It's been forever.'"
• On the openness of these expressions:
  [14:26] Michelle Kaplan: “We need words to articulate all of this. For sure.”
• On the flexibility of time references:
  [16:47] Lindsay McMahon: “So it’s not about the amount of time, it’s about how long does it feel for you if you’re using this grammar.”

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Sample Role-Play: Reuniting with an Old Friend (14:29–15:46)

• [15:00] Lindsay McMahon: “So good to see you. It’s been ages.”
• [15:02] Michelle Kaplan: “I know. I haven’t seen you since 10th grade.”
• [15:10] Lindsay McMahon: “Wow. Remember when we watched that movie on the night of the dance?”
• [15:12] Michelle Kaplan: “I haven’t seen that movie in so long.”

This practical role-play demonstrates the natural use of the discussed grammar in real social situations—perfect for applying the episode’s lessons.

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Takeaways & Application

• Connection, Not Perfection: Using these phrases about time and nostalgia builds authentic, emotionally resonant conversations.
• Personalize: Tailor these structures to your real memories—people, places, tastes, smells—for rich connection.
• Flexible for Any Situation: Whether it’s been decades or just a year, these constructions fit any gap if it feels significant.
• Practice Makes Fluent: Try these phrases in emails, texts, or in-person greetings with friends, colleagues, or classmates.

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Important Vocabulary & Phrases with Examples

• I haven’t [done] in so long / in forever
  ("I haven’t done an exercise class at a gym in so long." – Michelle, [09:00])
• It’s been ages / It’s been forever
  ("So good to see you. It’s been ages." – Lindsay, [15:00])
• I haven’t [done] since [time / event]
  ("I haven’t seen you since 10th grade." – Michelle, [15:02])
• I haven’t [thought about/seen/talked to] [person/thing] in forever

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Episode Summary Conclusion

This episode highlights the power of using present perfect and related expressions to bridge the gap between past and present, allowing speakers to express nostalgia and build strong connections in English conversation. With plenty of real-life examples and practical tips, Lindsay and Michelle make it clear: mastering these simple structures can help convey emotion, memory, and connection — all essential for authentic and lasting communication.

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Transcript

[Lindsay McMahon]

This is an All Ears English podcast episode 2609 English grammar to show your nostalgia. Welcome to the All Ears English Podcast downloaded more than 200 million times. Are you feeling stuck with your English? We'll show you how to become fearless and fluent by focusing on connection, not perfection, with your American hosts, Lindsay McMahon, the English adventurer and Michelle Kaplan, the New York radio girl, coming to you from Colorado and New York City, usa. To get real time transcripts right on your phone and create your personalized vocabulary list, try the All Ears English app for iOS and Android. Start your 7 day free trial at allearsenglish.com forward/app.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Has it been a long time since you've seen certain people from your past or done certain things today? Build the ultimate connection skill to reflect on the past with the present. Perfect tense naturally in English,

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[Michelle Kaplan]

hey Lindsay, how are you?

[Lindsay McMahon]

I'm doing really great, Michelle. How are you today?

[Michelle Kaplan]

I'm doing well. Lindsay. Have you been, have you seen any old movies in the past few months?

[Lindsay McMahon]

You know what? I this is kind of embarrassing but I'm staying at my in laws condo and the TV's kind of weird like what we have access to and I discovered a channel where they have they show like on repeat old 90210 episodes that I haven't seen in so long. So I actually didn't watch them for like an hour. Sometimes they'll be like, well I remember this episode or I remember what I thought about this episode when I was 17 and I watched it. So yeah, kind of reliving the past a little bit.

[Michelle Kaplan]

This is kind of fun. Yeah, I'm, I'm, you know, always Thinking of like now new movies to watch with my son.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah, sure.

[Michelle Kaplan]

You know, like family friendly, like old, like a nostalgic kind of movies. Like we watched Back to the Future. We showed them all of the Back to the Future movies.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Speaking of Back to the Future, we should have an episode that brings in vocabulary from Back to the Future because it is still quoted. Michelle.

[Michelle Kaplan]

That's true. That is true. Yeah. Back to. Yeah, we should do Back to the. Back to the. Back to the Future. Yeah.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Guys hit the follow button by the way, because that is another reason just to follow Allers English so you don't miss these awesome idea episode ideas that are coming up here so that you will be, you will see soon.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Right? Love it. Definitely. So, but yeah, today we're going to talk about a great connection skill and it's saying that there's been a long time since you just. Since, since you last did something. Right. So you mentioned, you know, oh, I haven't seen these 90210 episodes in forever. Right. Yeah. And this is just a, it's a kind of a fun connection skill.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yep. I haven't seen. So we're going to talk a little bit about the grammar here today. This does involve some present perfect grammar or expressions. Right. There are different ways to get at this point, but it does show. Wow, this is clearly a connection skill, Michelle.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah, so yeah, yes, exactly. So yeah, for a great way to do this is I haven't blank in so long. Right. So I, I mean with Back to the Future, I, it, it was like, I mean I know that I had seen the movies of course, but it was so long I couldn't like they're not ones that I watched over and over again or anything like that. So it was kind of like watching them for the first time. But I might say to him, oh, I haven't seen this in so long.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yes. Or I haven't thought about this movie in so long. Right.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yep. Yeah. So what does this present perfect construction do here? Like how does this, what is it showing?

[Lindsay McMahon]

It shows nostalgia. I think it's usually connected to something. Cuz like Even with the 920 example, you know, I, I go back in my head to being 17 or 16 and watching that show and thinking of what I thought about all. I realized that that show is actually very like they, they tackle some very serious topics like abortion and suicide. All these really intense.

[Michelle Kaplan]

I never watched it.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Okay, you never watched it. And when I, when I watched it the first time, it didn't strike me that they were that I don't know. They tackled such heavy Topics.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Right.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Maybe TVs just gotten a lot lighter since then. I'm not really sure. But. So you can compare who you. Who you were then and what you noticed then versus what you notice now, Right? There's a lot this can open up, right?

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah. Watching something, like watching something through a kid's eyes and then seeing it through an adult size. I mean, for that, you know, we've talked. I mean, everyone who listens to this show would probably know that my favorite movie is Father of the Bride. And I watched that movie, you know, like, I watched that movie a hundred times growing up from the view of just I'm a little girl. And then I watched it right before I got married and like, and when I was engaged and like. And it made me cry because I thought more of that.

[Lindsay McMahon]

You're probably gonna watch it when your daughter gets married too, right?

[Michelle Kaplan]

Oh, God. But, yes, but I cried and like, because, you know, then seeing their. The parents emotions. And then I watched it again as a parent thinking about, like, what you said, like my kids getting. You know, and so you. You see something through the different eyes and. And, yeah, but yes, as you can see, I've seen it many, many times.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Oh, that movie just really tugs on the heartstrings. I remember when I watched that for the first time. I don't know, maybe I was like 12 or 13, and my dad was in the room and it was like a sentimental scene and he. My dad, like, went in the bathroom and didn't come out for a long time and he came out with all watery, like, I'm only 13. Like, I'm not getting married anytime soon, you know?

[Michelle Kaplan]

Oh, my God, that is. That's so touching. Like. Yeah, no, but I get it. I mean, what about the. The second one, too?

[Lindsay McMahon]

Do you watch the second one? Yeah, I liked it. But I. I think just like many movies, the first one is the Chef's Kiss. Right. The first one is always just the one that hits the hardest for me.

[Michelle Kaplan]

But I will. But I will argue that the, the. That movie, is that the second one? I think it's almost as good as.

[Lindsay McMahon]

That's just Diane Keaton. Diane Keaton, Yeah. Amazing.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah.

[Lindsay McMahon]

She passed away just recently, didn't she? Yes.

[Michelle Kaplan]

That broke my heart.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Me too. Yeah. Diane Keaton, great match. So good. Anyway, anyway,

[Michelle Kaplan]

I. If ever we start talking about Father of the Bride, I can just go on and on. So anyway. But yeah, with the movie, I might say I haven't seen that in so long. So let's give other examples. Not necessarily with movies, but you could also just about talking about seeing someone, oh, I haven't seen her in so long.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Or I haven't read a non fiction book in so long.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah. Or I haven't been to that mall in so long. Like, Lindsay, do you, do you remember, you know, when you were a kid walking around, did you, was it a big deal to be dropped off at the mall?

[Lindsay McMahon]

And it was. We didn't have a mall in my town, which I always was like, oh, why don't we have a mall in my town? So it wasn't that kind of thing. Like I could just get dropped off. But I used to take trips with my mom to the mall. We'd go shopping. So it was a different kind of mall experience I would have.

[Michelle Kaplan]

How far was.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Oh, like two hours. Like we didn't have a, a proper mall.

[Michelle Kaplan]

We had. Are you serious?

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah, we, we didn't have. Keen. New Hampshire is kind of a small town, not a tiny town, but it's like small city, kind of isolated. So we didn't have a traditional, we had like the colony mill. We had little mills but like proper malls that are like sprawling and huge. Your typical teenage American experience. We didn't have those malls.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah. That's so interesting.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah.

[Michelle Kaplan]

You, you, you, you live to tell the tale. Yeah, but. So, Lindsay, what haven't you done in so long?

[Lindsay McMahon]

Oh, that's so, that's hard to say. Oh my gosh.

[Michelle Kaplan]

I don't know.

[Lindsay McMahon]

What about you, Michelle? I'm trying to, I'm trying to come up with something.

[Michelle Kaplan]

I, I haven't done an exercise class at a gym in so long. I've done, I've done, you know, exercise at home. I did do a gym. Like I did a trial and then I keep on texting me and I just, I, I, it's too much money. But like. Yes, but I haven't done. It's been so long.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah, I mean, it's been so long since I've taken a Zumba class, which I really enjoy. That's something I really, I used to do in Boston. It's been so long since I've done that. But any kind of dance exercise is really cool because you sort of forget you're working out.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Right. I, that's my favorite, actually.

[Lindsay McMahon]

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[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah. Well, saying in forever or just it's been forever. So, yeah, here's a present perfect. I haven't talked to you in forever, right?

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yes. Or good to see you. It's been forever. It's been forever. So it has been forever. Really interesting.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Exactly. Yeah.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Native and natural, right?

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yep, Exactly. Or just in a period of time. In years and months and decades. I haven't read that book in decades.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yes. Right. And what else could we say, Michelle?

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah, I mean, like, you could say since, Right. Add on since. So I haven't seen that movie since I was a kid.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Since I was a kid. Yep. Or you could say it's been ages. Right? It's been ages. And you could tack on it's been ages since we got ice cream together. Right?

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah. Right. Right. So it's been ages. Right. So what does that mean? Ages?

[Lindsay McMahon]

Ages is just again, forever. A long time. Maybe decades, maybe weeks. Who knows? It depends on it. Could that it could stand for many different periods of time, right?

[Michelle Kaplan]

Exactly. Exactly. So ages. But yeah, so it's been ages. How have you been so very. A very good one there. But yeah, again, all of these are just, you know, we're talking a lot about the present perfect, which is really Useful. And just this commentary again about nostalgia or, you know, just like how your life is now. I haven't seen you in so long. I haven't done this in so long. Right. So it can really connect you because it can, number one, either show nostalgia, but then also kind of show where your life is right now. Like, oh, I haven't been to a real gym class in so long, you know, but it says, okay, my lifestyle is currently that I. It's better for me to exercise at home.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Right.

[Michelle Kaplan]

You know what I mean? So it's, it's, it opens up a lot.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Oh my God, it's so much. I, and I think we take in the senses in every way. Like even, you know, if I were to walk into an old coffee shop in Keene, New Hampshire, where I used to go as like an 18 year old, like, it would just bring back so much. I haven't been there in ages. But if I went back there, the smell of that coffee shop would remind me of my upbringing, of my life of wanting to leave that small town and move to Tokyo, getting ready to move. It just brings up so much that we could share in a connection moment. Right.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Is there a specific coffee shop that you're talking about that. What's the name?

[Lindsay McMahon]

It's called Hyperion Coffee. I don't know if you know Key New Hampshire, but I don't.

[Michelle Kaplan]

No, I'm just, I was just curious. That's a cool name. Yeah. But, yeah, I know there are so many things like, yeah, when my parents moved from their, you know, from my childhood home, and then you don't go back and then. Have you like, have you ever gone back? I mean, I, you know, when I even have gone back, like, you know, to like an, an old school, like where you have smaller desks or smaller seats and you're like, whoa, this was middle school.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Imagine if you were to walk down the halls of your middle school right now. The lockers, I mean, it's just like, like, yeah, it just reminds you how time has passed and how you've changed. Right. So we need words to articulate all of this. For sure.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah. Huge connection, skill. So should we do a role play?

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah, let's do it. So we are old friends meeting for coffee and this is where this would really come up. Like, you know, when I meet with my friend Emma, who we're really close friends in middle school and we're still

[Michelle Kaplan]

close and is that the one you zoom with?

[Lindsay McMahon]

Oh, no, someone else is someone else. But yeah, sometimes a name will come up It'll be like, I haven't thought about that person in forever. I haven't even thought about that person. I forgot that person existed. You know, just like an acquaintance or something.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Scary how that happens, right?

[Lindsay McMahon]

Like, it's weird. It's weird. Yeah. Okay.

[Michelle Kaplan]

All right.

[Lindsay McMahon]

All right.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Hey.

[Lindsay McMahon]

So good to see you. It's been ages.

[Michelle Kaplan]

I know. I haven't seen you since 10th grade.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Wow. Remember when we watched that movie on the night of the dance? Yes.

[Michelle Kaplan]

I haven't seen that movie in so long.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Same here. Nice. Yes.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah.

[Lindsay McMahon]

So there you go. And this. Yeah. This will come up when you meet people that have been in your life a long time ago. Right. So you said, I know. I haven't seen you since 10th grade.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Wow. Well, first you said, it's been ages. And then. Yeah. And then I, I. You started bringing up, like, just going right into the memories. Right. Remember when we watched that movie on the night of the dance? Some special memory there. And I said, yes, I haven't seen that movie in so long.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah, yeah. It's. It's an important skill to be able to reflect on the past and how long it's been since you've done certain things, especially with certain people.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Right? Yeah.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yep.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Well, I'm feeling very nostalgic, and I

[Lindsay McMahon]

know you're a nostalgic person. You're a very nostalgic person.

[Michelle Kaplan]

I can't. Yeah. So, guys, check out episode 2578. That was. Don't fall into these conversation traps. Steps. Yes.

[Lindsay McMahon]

And that's it. I mean, this. I think our listeners can see how this is a connection skill, clearly. So it starts filling in the blanks. Everyone has a past, Everyone has memories. Everyone has, like, you know, you can always. Hopefully there's someone you can potentially reconnect with or even just if it's been a year or something, this would apply too. Right. So if I have a friend here in Denver that I just wasn't able to get together with for the past year or so, these phrases would still apply. It could be ages, could be a year.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Right.

[Lindsay McMahon]

It doesn't have to be your 10th grade best friend. Right.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah.

[Lindsay McMahon]

So it's not about the amount of time, it's about how long does it feel for you if you're using this grammar? Yeah.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Well said, Lindsay. All right, very good. Glad we talked about this today. And I will see you. Not in ages. I will see you very soon in

[Lindsay McMahon]

the next episode in a couple of minutes. Michelle. Talk to you soon. Soon. Bye. Thanks for listening to all ears English. Would you like to know your English level? Take our two minute quiz. Go to allearsenglish.com fluency score and if you believe in connection, not perfection, then hit subscribe now to make sure you don't miss anything. See you next time. Some Follow the Noise Bloomberg follows the money because behind every headline is a bottom line. Whether it's the funds fueling AI or crypto's trillion dollar swings, there's a money side to every story. And when you see the money side, you understand what others miss. Get the money side of the story. Subscribe now@blue bloomberg.com Start the spring season off right with a new pair of Tecovas Western boots. Handcrafted in over 200 steps from genuine leather, they're built to last and feel broken in the moment you put them on. From cowhide to exotic leathers to Kovas blends timeless style with all day comfort. Pair them with premium denim Western shirts and accessories for an effortless, polished look. Shop quality Western goods in store or online at decovas. Com.