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Introduction to Narrative : verb forms

A narrative is a story: it describes an event in the past. Normally we usethree verb forms to describe what happened: 1) the past continuous2) the simple past 3) the past perfect. The narratives in HD1 will bepersonalised (use "I") and 200+ words written in 45 minutes.

Instructions: b) Underline verb forms in the sections below. Examples have been donefor you. b) Fill in the blank in front of used with "often", "sometimes" or "seldom".

1. Past Continuous (progressive): was/were + verb + ing (________________used)

The past continuous is good for setting the scene; it is used for an action that continuesfor some time and is usually paired with an action in the simple past.1 It is often usedwith "as", "while", and "when".

Examples

Mohammed was driving along the road when suddenly (+ simple past)

As the two men were crossing the desert, they (+ simple past)

When happened (simple past), the car was speeding down the deserted highway.

When the lights went out (simple past), I was talking to my brother.

2. Simple Past: 2nd part of verb (-ed) (__________________used)

This is used for quicker actions; they may interrupt #1 (past continuous).

Examples

Mohammed was driving along the road when suddenly he saw a camel run out in front

of him. He braked as hard as he could but couldn't stop in time. The car hit the camel.

The man got out of the car and checked to see if the animal was alive.

The two men were crossing the desert when they heard a loud bang. It sounded like a

rifle but they were not sure. They heard another shot but this time something hit the side

of the car. Now they were sure.

When the accident happened, the car was speeding down the deserted highway. The

driver fell asleep at the wheel and drove straight into a tree. Ten minutes later, another

car passed by. The driver saw the accident and stopped his car to call the police.

See other side1

You must put a comma in the beginning of the sentence if it starts with "when". Certain stative verbs are NOT used

with past continuous e.g. seemed, appeared, was/were, became.

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3. Past Perfect: had + past participle, p.p. (3rd part of verb (__________________used)

You can use the past perfect to describe something that happenedbefore another thingin the past (for which you usually use the simple past). It is sometimes used for reportedspeech after verbs such as "say, tell, report, recount".

--------------- Past perfect (had fallen) ----------------- Simple past (passed/stopped) -------------- Present (now) -----------------& Past cont. (was speeding)

Example

The car was speeding down the deserted highway when the accident happened. The

driver had fallen asleep at the wheel and driven straight into a tree. Another car passed

by. The driver saw what had happened and stopped his car. He called the police and

said that he had witnessed an accident.

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Introduction to Narrative: verb forms (key)

A narrative is a story: it describes an event in the past. Normally we usethree verb forms to describe what happened: 1) the past continuous2) the simple past 3) the past perfect. The narratives in HD1 will bepersonalized (use "I") and be 200+ words written in 45 minutes.

Instructions: b) Underline verb forms in the sections below. Examples have been donefor you. b) Fill in the blank in front of used with "often", "sometimes" or "seldom".

1. Past Continuous (progressive): was/were + verb + ing (sometimes used)

The past continuous is good for setting the scene; it is used for an action that continuesfor some time and is usually paired with an action in the simple past.2 It is often usedwith "as", "while", and "when".

Examples

Mohammed was driving along the road when suddenly (+ simple past)

As the two men were crossing the desert, they (+ simple past)

When happened (simple past), the carwas speeding down the deserted highway.

When the lights went out (simple past), I was talking to my brother.

2. Simple Past: 2nd part of verb (-ed) (often used)

This is used for quicker actions; they may interrupt #1 (past continuous).

Examples

Mohammed was driving along the road when suddenly he saw a camel run out in front

of him. He braked as hard as he could but couldn't stop in time. The car hit the camel.

The man got out of the car and checked to see if the animal was alive.

The two men were crossing the desert when they heard a loud bang. It sounded like a

rifle but they were not sure. They heard another shot but this time something hit the side

of the car. Now they were sure.

When the accident happened, the car was speeding down the deserted highway. The

driverfell asleep at the wheel and drove straight into a tree. Ten minutes later, another

car passed by. The driversaw the accident and stopped his car to call the police.

See other side

2You must put a comma in the beginning of the sentence if it starts with "when". Certain verbs are NOT used with past

continuous e.g. seemed, appeared, was/were, became.

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3. Past Perfect: had + past participle, p.p. (3rd part of verb) (seldom used)

You can use the past perfect to describe something that happenedbefore another thingin the past (for which you usually use the simple past).). It is sometimes used forreported speech after verbs such as "say, tell, report, recount".

------------ Past perfect (had fallen) ------------------- Simple past (passed/stopped) ----------------- Present (now) -------------& Past cont. (was speeding)

Example

The car was speeding down the deserted highway when the accident happened. The

driver had fallen asleep at the wheel and (had) driven straight into a tree. Another car

passed by. The driver saw what had happened and stopped his car. He called the

police and said that he had witnessed an accident.

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