Narrative Tenses 1
Narrative Tenses 1
Use the PAST SIMPLE for completed actions in the past which tell the main events in a
story. Ex. She picked up the phone and asked for a taxi
Use the PAST PERFECT SIMPLE to talk about actions or situations completed before
another action in the story. The actions are often mentioned out of time sequence, and
the past perfect makes the order clear.
Use the PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS to talk about longer actions or situations
which started before and continued up to a point in the story. Ex. She had been
studying all the afternoon when she found out the exam was cancelled.
A. Complete the text below using the B. Choose the correct alternative.
appropriate narrative tenses. Then, say if these extracts come
Was standing
“One afternoon, Socrates _________ (stand) from a detective story (D), a folk
outside the gates of Athens when he __________
noticed
tale (F) or a biography (B).
(notice) a traveller whohad_________
been staring(stare) him for
1. The old man fished/was fishing as usual
a long time. Socrates _________
asked (ask) the man
when he saw/was seeing something
why he _________
had come (come) to Athens. “I’m
strange. .............D
thinking of moving to Athens,” he said. “What is
2. In 1995, Ella was teaching/taught in Sudan
like to live here?” Socrates ________
looked (look) at
and became/had become well-known.
him. “First, would you tell me what was it like in
........... B
your city?” The man replied, “Oh, it was awful.”
3. I ‘d known/’d been knowing Javier for
Everyone stabs you in the back and wants to
many years and when I read/was reading
make money from you. Frowning, Socrates _____ told
he was/had been in prison, I knew/was
(tell) him, “Well, you’ll find the same things here.
knowing there was a mistake. ...........D
I suggest you to go somewhere else”.
4. The prince had been searching/was
searching in the forest for ten hours and
Socrates _____________
was standing (stand) there a few
was beginning /had begun to lose hope.
hours more when another man __________ approached
........... F
(approach) him. This man toohad________ just arrived (just
5. He noticed/was noticing that somebody
arrive) in Athens and ____________
had considered (consider)
had left/had been living a briefcase. .........D
moving to the city. He too asked Socrates, “Can
6. Ella had been looking/had looked through
you tell me what is like to live here” Socrates
old photos when she heard/was hearing a
asked, “First would you tell me what was like to
knock on the door. ............ B
live in your previous home city?” “Where I come
7. We had driven/had been driving for 30 km
from the people work together and help each
when the engine suddenly stopped/had
other”, said the man. “Kindness is everywhere
stopped; somebody had taken/took the
and you are never treated with anything but
petrol out of the car. ...........D
respect”. “Well,” _________
replied (reply) Socrates,
8. By that evening, children were/had been
“you’ll find the same thing here. Welcome to
exhausted because they were walking/had
Athens”.
been walking all day. ............ F