Story

Reference

Common mistakes

1. I open the box and I see a kitten. → I opened the box and saw a kitten.
   tell the story in the past
2. While I walked home, it started to rain. → While I was walking home, it started to rain.
   background action → past continuous
3. I realised I left my keys. → I realised I had left my keys.
   earlier event → past perfect
4. No ending → In the end, … · From that day on, …
   a story needs a clear ending

Story — Exercises

Choose the narrative tense

Circle the correct answer.

1. The sun _____ when Maria left the house. (background) (was shining / shone / had shone)
2. She _____ the letter and gasped. (main event) (opened / was opening / had opened)
3. She realised she _____ her bag at the café. (earlier) (had left / left / was leaving)
4. While they _____ along the beach, it started to rain. (were walking / walked / had walked)
5. _____, a car stopped and a woman got out. (surprise) (Suddenly / However / Furthermore)
6. _____, they found the way home. (the ending) (In the end / One day / Suddenly)

Complete the story

Write the missing word or words.

1. It   (be) a cold winter evening.
2. She   (walk) home when she heard a noise.
3. Suddenly, the door   (open).
4. She knew she   (see) this house before.
5. "Who's there?" she   (whisper).
6. In the  , it was only her brother playing a joke!

Write a story

Write a story for an English-language website. It must begin with this sentence: "When I opened the box, I couldn't believe my eyes." Write about 100 words.

Story — Answer Key

Choose the narrative tense

1. was shining — Background → past continuous: was shining.
2. opened — Main event → past simple: opened.
3. had left — Before she realised → past perfect: had left.
4. were walking — while + background → were walking.
5. Suddenly — A surprise event → Suddenly.
6. In the end — The ending → In the end.

Complete the story

1. was
2. was walking
3. opened
4. had seen
5. whispered
6. end

Write a story

1. Model answer: When I opened the box, I couldn't believe my eyes. Inside was a tiny, frightened kitten. I had found the box outside my door that morning while I was going to school. "Where did you come from?" I whispered. The kitten looked at me and cried. Suddenly, I heard a knock. It was my neighbour, Mrs Lee. She was looking for her cat, who had had kittens the week before. In the end, she let me keep the kitten. I called him Lucky, and from that day on he was my best friend.