NARRATIVE

TENSES
ENGLISH 7
M. EN ED. MARÍA DEL ROSARIO ALONSO ESPINOZA
Let’s identify past tenses in
this paragraph
I was walking down the street to the shops.
I hadn't been walking for very long when
it started to pour down. I had forgotten to
bring my umbrella, so I got drenched. 

• was walking = past continuous

• hadn't been walking = past perfect continuous
• started = past simple
• had forgotten = past perfect simple
• got = past simple
VERB FORMS FOR TELLING
STORIES

• Past Simple = describes a completed past action. An

event or sequence of events.
Last year, we went to Paris. I visited the Eiffel Tower.
I enjoyed the trip a lot.
PAST SIMPLE STRUCTURE
• Verb (regular or irregular) in the past

+ I, he, she , it
went to Paris.
You, we, they

- I, he, she , it
didn’t go to Paris.
You, we, they
I, he, she , it
? Did go to Paris?
you, we, they
VERB FORMS FOR TELLING
STORIES
Past Continuous = it describes an action that lasted for a period of time in the past. It is
often used in contrast with the past simple (It describes background activities).

She was having lunch when her mobile rang.

PAST CONTINUOUS STRUCTURE
• Verb to be + verb with –ing

+ I, he, she , it was

reading a book.
You, we, they were

- I, he, she , it wasn’t

reading a book.
You, we, they weren’t
Was I, he, she , it
? reading a book?
Were you, we, they
VERB FORMS FOR TELLING
STORIES
• Past Perfect = it describes a past action which happened
before another past action. It is often used with the past
simple.
earlier
action main event

I had eaten breakfast before I went out

 PAST PERFECT STRUCTURE
• had+ verb in past participle

+ I, he, she , it
had written a message.
You, we, they

- I, he, she , it
hadn’t written a message.
You, we, they
I, he, she , it
? Had written a message?
you, we, they
VERB FORMS FOR TELLING
STORIES
Past Perfect Continuous = it describes an action that was continuing for some time in
the past before another past action. (Activity in progress before the main event).
earlier action in main
progress event

 I hadn't been walking for very long when it started to pour

down.
(The walk started before and was in progress when the rain
started)
PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
STRUCTURE
• had been+ verb with -ing

+ I, he, she , it having fun.

had been
You, we, they

- I, he, she , it
hadn’t been having fun.
You, we, they

I, he, she , it
? Had been having fun?
you, we, they
 SUMMARIZING

• When we tell a story:

• We use the past continuous to describe the scene or background to the main event.
• We use the past simple to describe the main events one after another.
• We use the past perfect to refer to an earlier time before the main event.
• We use the past perfect continuous to refer to an earlier action in progress that happened before
the main event.
LINKING DEVICES

Nelson Mandela never gave up on his struggle against

apartheid. As the years went by, his fame spread to every
corner of the world. In the end, under enormous global
pressure, the government had no option but to release him.
 To start a story:
What happened was …

Adverbs:
Sequencing
Fortunately
Firstly / To begin with /
Unfortunately
All of a sudden
Luckily
LINKIN To start with
Next / Then / After that

G
In the end / Finally
Quickly

WORDS
Showing interest:
To end a story:
Wow!
In the end …
Really?
What happened next?
LET´S PRACTICE

• https://test-english.com/grammar-points/b2/narrative-tenses-used-to-would/
• https://test-english.com/grammar-points/b2/narrative-tenses-used-to-would/2/
• https://test-english.com/grammar-points/b2/narrative-tenses-used-to-would/3/
• https://www.eltbase.com/get_quiz.php?id=22
• https://www.eltbase.com/quiz/201_01.htm
• https://www.eltbase.com/quiz/201_01.htm