Ch 3

A Story from Pictures

A2 Key Part 7 · three pictures · 35 words or more · first, then, in the end

The task

A2 Key, Reading and Writing, Part 7

You see three pictures that tell a story. You write the story in 35 words or more. You get marks for telling all three parts, for linking them, and for clear English.

Picture 1
the beginning: who, where, what
Picture 2
the problem or the main event
Picture 3
the end: what happened, how people felt

Past simple, all the way

A story about the past

Tom went to the park with his dog.
The dog ran into the lake.
Check every verb: went, saw, took, found — not go, see, take, find.

Linking the pictures

Words that move the story on

picture 1
One day, … · Last Saturday, …
picture 2
Then … · Suddenly, …
picture 3
In the end, … · Finally, …
inside a sentence
and · but · so · because

Add a little detail

Feelings and adjectives make it a story

Tom was very worried.
It was a cold, windy day.
Everyone was happy and they laughed.

Model story

43 words

One day, Ana and her brother went to the beach. They built a big sandcastle. Suddenly, a huge wave came and destroyed it! Ana was sad, but her brother laughed. In the end, they built a new one, far from the sea.
Three parts · past simple · one day / suddenly / in the end · feelings.

Common mistakes

Where learners go wrong most often

One day Tom go to the park.
→
One day Tom went to the park.
past simple
The dog ran. The dog jumped. The dog swam.
→
The dog ran, jumped and swam.
link with and
Tom was at the park. (only picture 1)
→
Write about all three pictures.
every picture needs a sentence
In the end they was happy.
→
In the end they were happy.
they were

Your turn

Answer out loud — full sentences

Practise with your own three pictures.

1
Picture 1: a girl and a cake. Write the first sentence with One day…
2
Picture 2: the cake falls on the floor. Use Suddenly…
3
Picture 3: the family eat pizza and laugh. Use In the end…
4
Count your words. Is it 35 or more?

Recap

length
35 words or more
about 40 is safe
content
all three pictures
beginning · problem · end
tense
past simple
went · saw · found
linking
one day · then · suddenly · in the end
Suddenly, a wave came.
detail
feelings and adjectives
Ana was sad.