NARRATIVE

TENSES
 When we narrate a story, we use:

⚫PAST SIMPLE
⚫PAST CONTINUOUS
⚫PAST PERFECT
⚫PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
⚫We use narrative tenses when telling a story, or
talking about situations and activities which
happened at a past time.
⚫When telling past events, DO NOT mix past and
present tenses
 PAST SIMPLE TENSE

We use simple past tense

⚪ to express a completed action at a definite time in the past
I woke up at half past seven yesterday, I had a
shower and ate some breakfast. I I left home at
quarter past eight.
⚪ to express past habits.
I woke up very early when I was a kid.
I used to wake up very early when I was a kid.
I would wake up early when I was a kid.
 PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE

We use past continuous tense

⚫for an action which was in progress at a stated time
in the past.
At 1 o’clock in the morning, I was sleeping.
⚫For a past action which was in progress when an
other action interrupted it. We use the past
continuous for the action in progress (longer action)
and the past simple for the action which interrupted
the longer action.
I was washing the dishes when I cut my finger.
⚫For two or more actions which were happening at
the same time in the past.
I was cooking the dinner while my daughter was
laying the table.
⚫To give background information in a story
The sun was shining brightly and the birds were
chirping happily as I was walking to work.
 PAST PERFECT SIMPLE

⚫We use past perfect simple to go back to a second

past. We use it to talk about things that had already
happened before that specific time in the past.
I got to the party late. When I arrived there,
everybody had already left.
We use it to make the narrative more interesting and
easy to read.
 PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

⚫We use past continuous tense to talk about longer

actions or situations which had continued up to the
past moment.
When the teacher entered the classroom, the
students had been fighting
TIME EXPRESSIONS
Yesterday 2 days ago Last week today
This week at 2 o’clock on Monday in
March