Narrative Tenses Review Past Simple Past Continuous Past Perfect Used to Would

Narrative tenses in English.
How to use them when writing a story.

1. Narrative Tenses

2. Narrative Tenses Past Simple ‘ When?’ – Implicit or explicit. For short finished actions: Dan went climbing every weekend last summer. Have you been skiing this year? Yes, I went in January.

3. Narrative Tenses Past Simple ‘ When?’ and the action is finished. For short finished actions: Dan went climbing every weekend last summer. Have you been skiing this year? Yes, I went in January. Past Continuous Continuous actions in the past. For actions in progress at a particular moment in the past: At 8pm yesterday evening , we were having dinner. Repeated or continuous actions: She was singing out of tune and I was trying not to laugh. I was practising the guiter every day but I wasn’t getting any better.

4. Narrative Tenses Past Simple ‘ When?’ and the action is finished. For short finished actions: Dan went climbing every weekend last summer. Have you been skiing this year? Yes, I went in January. Past Continuous Continuous actions in the past. For actions in progress at a particular moment in the past: At 8pm yesterday evening , we were having dinner. Repeated or continuous actions: She was singing out of tune and I was trying not to laugh. I was practising the guiter every day but I wasn’t getting any better. Simple Past and Past Continuous When an action was in progres and an interruption happened: I was having a shower when the phone rang .

5. Narrative Tenses Present Perfect Simple 1. Recent actions now complete . I’ve just finished my homework. 2. In the future : when, as soon as, until, before... We’ll go as soon as I’ve finished the washing up. 3. Recent repetition for finished actions (times): I’ve been to the gym three times already this week. 4. With ‘ for ’ or ‘ since ’ with verbs which are not used in continuous : I’ve liked Chinese food since I wnet to Beijng.

6. Narrative Tenses Past Simple For short finished actions in the past: Dan went climbing every weekend last summer. Have you been skiing this year? Yes, I went in January. ‘ How long ’, ‘ For ’ or ‘ since ’ for finished actions . She was married for 20 years. Present Perfect Simple Recent actions now complete . I’ve just finished my homework. In the future : when, as soon as, until, before... We’ll go as soon as I’ve finished the washing up. Recent repetition for finished actions (times): I’ve been to the gym three times already this week. With ‘ for ’ or ‘ since ’ with verbs which are which haven’t finished. She has been married for 20 years.

7. Narrative Tenses Present Perfect Continuous 1. Recent actions still in progress . Jamie has been seeing Kate for over two years now. 3. Recent repetition. I’ve been going to the gym a lot recently. 4. With ‘ for ’ or ‘ since ’ for actions still in progress : I’ve been learning English since I was five. Present Perfect Simple 1. Recent actions now complete . I’ve just finished my homework. 2. In the future : when, as soon as, until, before... We’ll go as soon as I’ve finished the washing up. 3. Recent repetition for finished actions (times): I’ve been to the gym three times already this week. 4. With ‘How long?’ ‘ for ’ or ‘ since ’ with verbs which are not used in continuous : I’ve liked Chinese food since I went to Beijng.

8. Present perfect simple and continuous With ‘for ’ and ‘ since ’. There’s no difference: live, work, teach, learn, hope, expect, look, sleep, snow, rain, stay, study... I have lived in London since I was little. I have been living in London since I was little.