Has it been a long time since you’ve seen certain people?
Today, Lindsay and Michelle share a grammar skill that helps you reflect on the past naturally.
They’ll show you how to use it as a powerful way to connect in English.
Feeling nostalgic
Lindsay kicks off the episode by sharing that she’s been rewatching old 90210 episodes.
This is a show she hasn’t seen in a long time.
It takes her right back to being 17 and watching it for the first time.
Michelle relates with her own nostalgic moment: rewatching the Back to the Future trilogy with her son.
Both moments have something in common.
They naturally lead to one of the most useful connection phrases in English:
“I haven’t seen/done this in so long.”
That phrase is the heart of today’s episode.
A powerful connection skill
When you tell someone you haven’t done something or seen someone in a long time, it opens up a conversation.
It invites a feeling of nostalgia, where you will reminisce together.
It gives the other person a window into your past, and it invites them to share their own memories, too.
Everyone has a past with memories, and this grammar helps you put those into words.
The grammar behind it
This skill uses the present perfect tense, and it’s more natural than you might think.
The basic structure is: I haven’t + [verb] + in so long.
Examples:
- I haven’t seen that movie in so long.
- I haven’t read a nonfiction book in so long.
- I haven’t been to that mall in so long.
If you can understand the All Ears English podcast, you are absolutely ready to use this grammar.
It’s that accessible.
Other Ways to Express the Same Idea
You don’t have to always say “in so long.”
Here are some natural variations native speakers use.
#1: In forever
This is casual and very common in everyday conversation.
Examples:
- I haven’t talked to you in forever.
- It’s been forever! So good to see you.
#2: In years / months / decades
Use a specific time period to give more detail.
Examples:
- I haven’t read that book in decades.
- She hasn’t seem him in years!
#3: Since
Pair it with a specific moment or time in your life.
Examples:
- I haven’t seen that movie since I was a kid.
- I haven’t seen you since 10th grade!
#4: It’s been ages
This is a warm, natural expression that means a very long time.
Exactly how long can vary depending on the situation.
Examples:
- It’s been ages! How have you been?
- It’s been ages since we got a coffee.
Roleplay
Here is a quick roleplay between Lindsay and Michelle using the grammar and expressions from today’s episode.
This will show you how naturally these phrases come up when reconnecting with someone from your past.
In this scenario, Lindsay and Michelle are old friends running into each other and catching up over coffee.
Lindsay: Hey, so good to see you. It’s been ages!
Michelle: I know. I haven’t seen you since 10th grade!
Lindsay: Wow. Remember when we watched that movie on the night of the dance?
Michelle: Yes. I haven’t seen that movie in so long.
Takeaway
Nostalgia is one of the most powerful ways to connect with people.
When you share what you haven’t done in a long time or who you haven’t seen in ages, you invite the other person into your world.
This grammar doesn’t just work for old friends from high school.
It works any time something has felt like a long time, whether it’s been a year or a decade.
Use “I haven’t in so long,” “it’s been ages,” “in forever,” or “since” to reflect on your past and create real, meaningful connections in English.
Check out episode AEE 2578: Don’t Fall Into These Conversation Traps for more ways to level up your conversational English.
What is something you haven’t done in so long that you’d love to do again?
We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
