Narrative tenses intermediate level

1. Narrative tenses

2. PAST SIMPLE
• We use the past simple for finished
consecutive actions in the past.

3. PAST SIMPLE
• Romeo met Juliet at a party..

4. PAST SIMPLE
• They kissed.

5. PAST SIMPLE
• They got married.

6. PAST CONTINUOUS
• We use the past continuous to describe a
longer action in the past. This is often an
action which was in progress when another
action happened.

7. PAST CONTINUOUS
• When Romeo met Juliet…
… people were dancing and singing.

8. PAST PERFECT
• We use the past perfect to talk about a action
which happened before the specific time in
the past when the main events of the story
happened e.g. the party where Romeo met
Juliet.
BEFORE THIS

9. PAST PERFECT
• Before the party…
Romeo hadn’t been to bed.

10. PAST PERFECT CONTINOUS
• We use the past perfect continous to talk
about a longer continuous action that was
going on before the specific time in the past
when the main events of the story happened.
BEFORE THIS

11. PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
• He had been thinking about a girl called
Rosaline.

12. PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
• He had been writing love poems and singing.

13. A TRAGIC STORY
• He didn’t know that he would die for love.