NARRATIVE TENSES

1. NARRATIVE
TENSES
T E A C H E R M I C H E L L E

2. NARRATIVE TENSES
Are the grammatical structures that you use when telling a story, or
talking about situations and activities which happened at a defined
past time.
When narrating past events, DO NOT mix past and present tenses
(avoid using the present perfect and present simple), as these will
confuse the reader/listener about when things really happened.

3. SIMPLE PAST
We use the simple past to talk about actions that started and finished
in the past and to indicate exactly when an action or event took place
in the past.
• I lived in Latacunga for 7 years
• I didn’t eat the whole dinner
yesterday
• Did you know about
• How did you meet your husband?
S + VERB (past) + COMPLEMENT
Past Present Future

4. PAST CONTINOUS
We use the past continuous to talk about:
• Actions that was happening in an specific time in the past
• Actions that are interrupted by other while are in process
• Two simultaneous actions happening in the past
S + TO BE (past) + VERB (ing) + COMPLEMENT
• I was looking for Rachele at 12:00 yesterday
morning
• They were walking home when I fell down
while, when
Past Present Future

5. PAST PERFECT SIMPLE
We use the past continuous to talk about:
• Actions that were completed in the past adn inmediately
another action ocurr
• 3rd conditional
S + HAD + VERB (past participle) + COMPLEMENT
• I had gone out when my mom arrived home
• If I had studied more, I woul have approved the test
OR I would have approved the test if I had studied
Past Present Future

6. PAST PERFECT CONTINOUS
We use the past continuous to emphasize the duration of an
action that was completed before another action or event in
the past.
S + HAD + BEEN + VERB (ing) + COMPLEMENT
• I had been watching TV for an hour when the electricity went
out
• I had been waiting for one hour before she called me to
when, for,
since,
before
Past Present Future

7. EXERCISES

9. THANKS FOR
JOIN THE CLASS