WRITING: NARRATIVE TEXT1 ô Instructions for writing a narrative text: Ø Introductory paragraph: it must give an answer to these questions: who/where/when and what: who takes part in the story (the characters), where: the place, when: the time setting, what: the facts. Ø Second paragraph: it must include the development of the story. Ø Final paragraph: how the story ended (conclusion). ô You should also pay attention to: Ø Connectors: time and sequence: e.g. Suddenly, Then, After a while, Eventually… Ø Revision of past forms: past simple tense, past continuous and past perfect. Ø The use of direct speech to introduce some variety in the narration: e.g. “I’m tired.” she said.
Useful language We had been (talking about John) just before (he phoned) It wasn’t until (I read the letter) that (I realized how dangerous the situation was). While (I was waiting for my friends, I saw someone go into the house opposite). As soon as (my friends arrived, we went to have a look). I was just downstairs).
about
to
(open
the
door),
when
(I
heard
a
noise
By the time (I got back to the house, there was no ono to be seen). After waiting (for a few minutes, I decided to climb in through the window). A few seconds later, (the lights went out). Eventually/After a while, (my friends arrived). At last (I knew what I had to do). 1
See: First Gold Coursebook, Longman 2004. 1
SAMPLE: Story TASK: Your teacher has asked you to write a story for the school’s English language magazine. It must begin with the following words: I wanted to do my best, but more than that I wanted the team to win. Write your story. (You should write between 120 – 180 words).
DO use phrases to show when things happened in your story (e.g. It was the last football game of the season. When the second half started…).
DON’T make mistakes with narrative tenses.
DO use direct speech because it makes the story more interesting to read.
DO try to create some suspense.
I wanted to do my best, but more than that I wanted the team to win. It was the last football game of the season, and if we won, we would be the champions. As we run onto the pitch, I couldn’t help feeling nervous. The crowd was cheering, but the opposition looked strong. It wasn’t going to be easy. The game started. I got the ball and raced towards the goal. ‘Go on!’ roared the crowd, but I kicked it straight into the hands of the goalkeeper. ‘Never mind,’ yelled my team-mate Joe. ‘Good try!’ We played hard, but at halftime the score was 0-0. When the second half started, it was raining heavily. Our chance of winning the championship was slipping away. We struggled to get the ball through the defence, but time after time they stopped us. Now there were only two minutes left. Suddenly I had the ball. I passed it to Joe, who headed it straight into the goal, just as the referee blew his whistle. The crowd went crazy. We were the champions!
DON’T write about a topic if you don’t know some specific vocabulary related to it (e.g. score, goalkeeper, goal, pitch). DO use interesting vocabulary (e.g. raced, roared).
DO add extra detail to add to the atmosphere of the story.
DO try to have a dramatic end.
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TIME LINKERS2 1. Join the two sentences in one using: as soon as (just) before
by the time until
(ever) since when
while
(just) as whenever
1. Finish your homework. Then you can go out. You cannot go out ....................................................................................... . 2. Finish your homework. Then you can go out. You can go out ............................................................................................ . 3. He said goodbye to his children. Then he left. He said goodbye ......................................................................................... . 4. We arrived late. Most of our friends had left. Most of our friends had left ......................................................................... . 5. I left school. I came to work in this bank. I’ve worked in this bank ............................................................................... . 6. Maria was cooking dinner. We watched television. We watched television ................................................................................ . 7. We started to eat. The telephone rang. The telephone rang ..................................................................................... . 8. Cigarettes used to cost six pence a packet. I can remember that. I can remember ........................................................................................... . 9. If I want to sit here. I will sit here. I’ll sit here ..................................................................................................... .
2. Complete the sentences using by or until: 1. I didn’t have my keys, so I couldn’t get in ………. Peter arrived. 2. You can’t legally drive a car ………… you’re 18. 2 See: http://www.eltbase.com/, http://www.ih.hu/exercises/ and http://www.scribd.com/. 3
3. Tom needs his CD-player next weekend, so I’ll give it back to him ………. Friday. 4. We went on walking ……………. the night had fallen. 5. If we don’t pay all the bills we owe to the electricity board ………. the end of this month, our power supply will be cut off.
3. Complete the sentences using the linkers given: As soon as
While
During
Until
By the time
1. …………………… I saw the smoke, I called the fire brigade. 2. …………………… we smelled smoke, we had no idea that the building was on fire. 3. …………………… the afternoon, some workmen had done some repairs in the basement. 4. …………………… I was waiting for the fire engine to arrive, I tried to put out the fire. 5. …………………… the fire engine arrived, most of the house had been destroyed.
4. Read the text and choose the correct linking word or phrase for each gap: and (x3)
as soon as then
when
but
so (x4)
while
It was very windy ………………………… I set off for the airport last Monday morning. The sky was full of dark clouds ………………………… soon it started to rain heavily. What a great way to start a holiday! ………………………… I was driving to the airport, the storm got worse. Suddenly, a huge flash of lightning struck a tree. It came crashing down just meters in front of my car. The fallen tree completely blocked the road, ………………………… I was stuck. I tried to call the emergency services on my mobile, ………………………… the line was dead. I was positive that I'd miss my plane, ………………………… I turned on the radio and tried to get used to the idea. Soon there was a loud knock at the window. To my surprise it was a young man in leather clothes, "Need a ride?" he said. My plane was leaving in an hour ………………………… I didn't think twice. I grabbed my bags,
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climbed carefully onto the motorcycle ………………………… shouted urgently, "To the airport please!" It was my first time on a motorcycle ………………………… I was terrified. The young man drove so fast that I kept my eyes tightly shut all the way. Suddenly, the motorcycle came to a halt. "We're here!" he said. I looked at my watch ………………………… saw that I was just in time for my flight. The young man wished me
a
nice
trip,
…………………………
quickly
sped
away.
………………………… my plane took off, I breathed a huge sigh of relief. I could now relax and enjoy my holiday.
5. Fill in the gaps using an appropriate time expression: just as as
after
as soon as then
during
while before
when by the time
1. Charlie reached the bottom of the stairs …………………. the door closed. 2.
They arrived at the hotel …………………. the reception had closed.
3.
They ran away …………………. they heard the window crash.
4.
Charley listened to the radio …………………. he had his breakfast.
5.
Tessa was having a bath …………………. the telephone rang.
6.
There was a loud crash in the hall …………………. Tessa sat down.
7.
Tessa and Charlie had dinner and …………………. watched a film.
8.
It rained …………………. the night for two or three hours.
9.
Tessa switched on the light …………………. walking inside.
10. …………………. Charlie reappeared, Tessa was nowhere to be seen.
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