Be a better storyteller

Complete phrases below with the words in the boxes.

by by in of
on out

A. mistake = accidentally

B. all a sudden = very suddenly

C. of nowhere = appearing, arriving, happening, etc. quickly or
unexpectedly

D. purpose = intentionally

E. accident = without being planned or intended

F. a hurry = more quickly than usual

ESL Brains 2
Let’s check the answers.

by by in of on out

A. by mistake = accidentally

B.all
out of a sudden = very suddenly
of nowhere = appearing, arriving, happening, etc. quickly or
C. unexpectedly

D. on purpose = intentionally

E. by accident = without being planned or intended

F. in a hurry = more quickly than usual

ESL Brains 3
It’s reading time!

ESL Brains
You are going to read two stories. Complete the table with the adverbs and time
markers you find in the stories.

PHRASES ADVERBS TIME MARKERS

by mistake suddenly later

all of a sudden at first

out of nowhere
on purpose

by accident

in a hurry

ESL Brains 5
Read the first story.
FLOWERS OF LOVE
‘Just, Happy Birthday’, she said. Finally, when
That day Ann overslept and was in a hurry the
she got to the party, she found her sister and gave
whole morning. She got dressed quickly, put on
her the bouquet. Her sister opened the card,
her favourite dress and high heels, and went to
smiled and read the message aloud to Ann. The
work. While she was driving, her dad called and
message said “I think I’ve just fallen in love.
reminded her of her sister’s birthday. She
Please, call me. Tom, the florist”.
decided that after work she would buy some
flowers and get to the birthday party. As soon as
she finished work, she went to the florist’s. She
entered the shop and asked for a bunch of roses.
The florist started preparing a bouquet. Then, he
asked her what she wanted to write in the card.

ESL Brains 6
Let’s mark the adverbs and time markers in the text.
FLOWERS OF LOVE
‘Just, Happy Birthday’, she said. Finally, when
That day Ann overslept and was in a hurry the
she got to the party, she found her sister and gave
whole morning. She got dressed quickly, put on
her the bouquet. Her sister opened the card,
her favourite dress and high heels, and went to
smiled and read the message aloud to Ann. The
work. While she was driving, her dad called and
message said “I think I’ve just fallen in love.
reminded her of her sister’s birthday. She
Please, call me. Tom, the florist”.
decided that after work she would buy some
flowers and get to the birthday party. As soon as
she finished work, she went to the florist’s. She
entered the shop and asked for a bunch of roses.
The florist started preparing a bouquet. Then, he
asked her what she wanted to write in the card.

ESL Brains 7
Read the second story.
HIS TIME HAS COME
He woke up in a bed and didn’t know where he
Keiko was sitting at the hairdresser’s. He had a
was. He was wearing his clothes, but he quickly
busy day and had to cycle around the city to get
realized that he no longer had his wallet, keys or
everything done. Now, he could finally relax and
phone. Keiko looked around to find any clues to
have his hair cut. The hair salon was a new place
help him figure out where he was. It looked like
recommended to him by his brother-in-law. It
a standard cheap hotel room without anything
seemed to be a classy place and when he got
out of the ordinary, apart from a large hourglass
there, they offered him a drink. That’s why Keiko
on a small bedside table. As the last grain of
was now enjoying his favourite drink – a
sand silently trickled through the hourglass, the
margarita. He carefully took another sip of it,
door opened and Keiko screamed…
and that’s the last thing he remembered.

ESL Brains 8
Let’s mark the adverbs and time markers in the text.
HIS TIME HAS COME
He woke up in a bed and didn’t know where he
Keiko was sitting at the hairdresser’s. He had a
was. He was wearing his clothes, but he quickly
busy day and had to cycle around the city to get
realized that he no longer had his wallet, keys or
everything done. Now, he could finally relax and
phone. Keiko looked around to find any clues to
have his hair cut. The hair salon was a new place
help him figure out where he was. It looked like
recommended to him by his brother-in-law. It
a standard cheap hotel room without anything
seemed to be a classy place and when he got
out of the ordinary, apart from a large hourglass
there, they offered him a drink. That’s why Keiko
on a small bedside table. As the last grain of
was now enjoying his favourite drink – a
sand silently trickled through the hourglass, the
margarita. He carefully took another sip of it,
door opened and Keiko screamed…
and that’s the last thing he remembered.

ESL Brains 9
Study the completed table.

PHRASES ADVERBS TIME MARKERS

by mistake suddenly later

all of a sudden quickly at first

carefully as soon as
out of nowhere
silently while
on purpose
finally then
by accident
when
in a hurry
now

ESL Brains 10
Read the story below and find five mistakes.
GAME OVER
and then a few more, but Sarah wasn’t coming
Jacob and Sarah were spending their summer
back. At firstly, he just started calling her name,
holiday at the beach. Every day they had to
but there was no answer, so he entered the
cross a forest to get to the beach. They spent
forest. He was walking further and further into
their days sunbathing, swimming in the ocean
the forest, and all a sudden he saw Sarah’s
and playing Frisbee. One day while playing
flip-flops on the ground next to a huge stone.
Frisbee, Jacob threw the disc so far that it
Jacob was getting worried that something
landed in the nearby forest. He didn’t do it for
might have happened and continued looking for
purpose, the wind was just blowing so
her. Suddenly, a wolf with the Frisbee disc in its
strongly. Sarah quick ran to the forest to get it
mouth appeared out from nowhere.
back. Jacob saw Sarah disappearing into the
forest and waited for her. A minute passed v

ESL Brains 11
part 1/2

Let’s check the answers.

GAME OVER
Jacob and Sarah were spending their summer
holiday at the beach. Every day they had to
cross a forest to get to the beach. They spent
their days sunbathing, swimming in the ocean
and playing Frisbee. One day while playing
Frisbee, Jacob threw the disc so far that it
landed in the nearby forest. He didn’t do it for on
purpose, the wind was just blowing so
strongly. Sarah quick ran to the forest to get it quickly
back. Jacob saw Sarah disappearing into the
forest and waited for her. A minute passed v

ESL Brains 12
part 2/2

Let’s check the answers.

and then a few more, but Sarah wasn’t coming

back. At firstly, he just started calling her At first
name, but there was no answer, so he entered
the forest. He was walking further and further
into the forest, and all a sudden he saw all of a sudden
Sarah’s flip-flops on the ground next to a huge
stone. Jacob was getting worried that
something might have happened and
continued looking for her. Suddenly, a wolf
with the Frisbee disc in its mouth appeared
out from nowhere. out of nowhere

ESL Brains 13
In a moment, you’ll watch an animated video titled:

Snack attack

ESL Brains
Watch the video and retell the story from it. The images below will help you.

ESL Brains 16
Now, we’ll put it into practice!

ESL Brains
part 1/2

Build two stories that are connected with the images given below. Use the
phrases from this lesson.

SET 1

ESL Brains 17
part 2/2

Build two stories that are connected with the images given below. Use the
phrases from this lesson.

SET 2

ESL Brains 18