narrative tenses (b2.1)

NArrative tenses

or how am I even supposed to tell a story?

Look at the sentences. Match them to the correct use. THen, write the name of the tense they use above the box.

30

1 to describe the main events in sequence

1 when we need to make it clear that one past event happened before another one.

2 to describe a general state in the past.

2 to describe something that happened before the main event(s)

Describe The background to an event within the story. Generally an interruption.

Describe a longer activity before the main event.

Describe the background to the main story.

Describe a longer activity up to the main event.

He got in the car, started the engine and drove away.

I was sleeping when the phone rang.

We’d been enjoying a morning on the beach when something strange happened.

When they arrived, the thieves had left.

It had been snowing all night and my flight was cancelled

I’d always wanted to visit Australia, so I bought the tickets right away!

It was one of the coldest winters in memory.

It was raining when we arrived.

PAST SIMPLE

PAST perfect

1 to describe the main events in sequence

1 when we need to make it clear that one past event happened before another one.

He got in the car, started the engine and drove away.

When they arrived, the thieves had left.

2 to describe a general state in the past.

2 to describe something that happened before the main event(s)

It was one of the coldest winters in memory.

I’d always wanted to visit Australia, so I bought the tickets right away!

PAST continuous

PAST perfect continuous

Describe The background to an event within the story. Generally an interruption.

Describe a longer activity before the main event.

It had been snowing all night and my flight was cancelled

I was sleeping when the phone rang.

Describe the background to the main story.

Describe a longer activity up to the main event.

It was raining when we arrived.

We’d been enjoying a morning on the beach when something strange happened.