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A2At the Post Office

Send Off Packages Using Present Perfect

Phrasal Verb: send off |Grammar: Present Perfect

Objective

Students will learn to use the phrasal verb 'send off' in the present perfect tense to talk about posting packages at the post office.

Article

Many people have sent off packages at the post office this week. When you send off a package, you give it to the post office so it can go to another place. Customers have sent off letters, gifts, and important documents. The post office staff have helped many people send off their packages quickly. Some customers have never sent off a parcel before, so they ask questions about the process. We have sent off packages to friends and family in different countries. Since the post office has opened early this week, more customers have sent off items than usual. Sending off packages is easy, and many people have found it useful to use tracking services. Overall, the post office has helped the community send off many packages safely and on time.

Grammar Explanation

Meaning

To 'send off' means to give a letter, parcel, or package to be delivered to another person or place.

Grammar Note

The present perfect tense shows actions that happened at an unspecified time before now or that have an effect on the present. It is formed with 'have/has' + past participle.

Usage Tips

  • Use 'have/has sent off' to talk about packages already posted.
  • Use present perfect to connect past actions to now.
  • Remember 'send off' is separable: you can say 'send off a package' or 'send a package off'.

Examples

I have sent off my parcel this morning.

Talking about a package posted today

She has sent off the letter to her friend.

A letter has been posted recently

We have sent off several packages this week.

Talking about multiple packages sent recently

They have already sent off the birthday gift.

The gift has been posted already

Have you sent off the documents yet?

Asking if documents have been posted

Dialogue

Context: A customer talks to a post office clerk about sending off a package.

A:
Hello, I have sent off a parcel, but I want to check the tracking.
B:
Sure, may I have your receipt number, please?
A:
Yes, here it is. Have many packages been sent off today?
B:
Yes, we have sent off over fifty parcels this morning.
A:
That’s great. I have never sent off a package internationally before.
B:
No problem, I can help you with the tracking and customs form.

Vocabulary

parcel
A package sent by post
Example: I have sent a parcel to my cousin.
Synonym: package
letter
A written message sent by post
Example: She has sent a letter to her friend.
Synonym: note
post office
A place where mail is sent and received
Example: He has visited the post office this morning.
Synonym: mail office
receipt
A paper proving you sent a package
Example: Keep the receipt after you send off a parcel.
Synonym: proof
customs
Officials who check goods entering a country
Example: Customs have checked the package.
Synonym: border control
tracking
Following the location of a sent item
Example: You can track your parcel online.
Synonym: monitoring
postage
The cost to send mail
Example: The postage for this package is £5.
Synonym: shipping cost
package
An object wrapped to send by post
Example: I have packed the package carefully.
Synonym: parcel
delivery
The act of bringing mail to a place
Example: The delivery has been delayed.
Synonym: shipment
postage stamp
A small paper showing payment for mail
Example: You need a postage stamp to send a letter.
Synonym: stamp

Tips

  • Always keep your receipt after you send off a package.
  • Use tracking to check if your package has arrived.
  • Don’t say 'send offed' — the correct past participle is 'sent off'.

Summary

In this lesson, you learned the meaning of 'send off' and how to use it in the present perfect tense. You practised talking about posting packages and checking their status at the post office.

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