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Question		Answer
Read the first paragraph of "Performance of a lifetime?" again start learning		and underline examples of
the past simple start learning		gathered, it was, was announced was announced - Past simple, passive
the past perfect simple (had + past participle) start learning		had sold
the past continuous (was/were + veb + -ing) start learning		was wearing
the past perfect continuous (had + been + verb + -ing) start learning		had been looking,
Rule 1 Use the past simple for completed actions which give the main events in a story. start learning		Many years ago a crowd gathered, it was a gorgeous spring evening
Rule 2 Use the past continuous for actions in progress at a particular time or when another (shorter) action happened. Also use it to set the scene of a story. start learning		and everyone was wearing their finest clothes
Rule 3 Use the past perfect simple for completed actions that happened before the main events. start learning		Tickets had sold out weeks before
Rule 4 Use the past perfect continuous for longer actions that started before other events and often continued up to them. start learning		and opera fans had been looking forward to this epic moment ever
Look at the numbered verbs in both stories. start learning		How each example fits one of the rules of narrative tenses.
began the performance began. start learning		main event in the story RULE 1
had appeared who had never appeared in a major opera before start learning		action that happened before the main events RULE 3
was driving One day a man was driving down a small country road start learning		to set the scene of the story RULE 2
had been standing the woman had been standing there for a long time start learning		action that happened before the main events RULE 4
was shevering the woman was shevering badly start learning		when another action happened RULE 2
he'd finished After he'd finished the job. start learning		action that happened before the main events RULE 3
drove the woman drove into the next town start learning		one of the main events in the story RULE 1
was paying when she was paying for her meal start learning		when another action happened RULE 2
remembered the old lady remembered what Steve Hunt had said start learning		one of the main events of the story RULE 1
had said what Steve Hunt had said start learning		action that happened before the main events RULE 3
Complete the story. start learning		with the correct verbs in brackets
He (never see) such beautiful birds before. start learning		He'd never seen such beautiful birds before.
He gave them to a man who (train) falcons for him for many years. start learning		He gave them to a man who had been trainning falcons for him for many years.
A month later, the king (sit) on his balcony start learning		A month later, the king was sitting on his balcony
when he (notice) one of the falcons in the sky, start learning		when he noticed one of the falcons in the sky,
but he (not see) the other one. start learning		but he didn't see the other one. couldn't see is also possible
Deeply disappointed, he discovered that the falcon (sit) on the same branch since its arrival. start learning		Deeply disappointed, he discovered that the falcon had been sitting on the same branch since its arrival
The king (call) healers and magicians start learning		The king called healers and magicians
After he (try) everything start learning		After he'd tried everything
eventually the king (realise) that he needed someone start learning		eventually the king realised that he needed someone
The very next morning, the king was thrilled to see that the second falcon (fly) high in the sky alongside the first. start learning		The very next morning, the king was thrilled to see that the second falcon was flying high in the sky alongside the first.
I simply (cut) the branch start learning		I simply cut the branch
the branch where the bird (sit) start learning		the branch where the bird was sitting.
What is the moral of this story? How could you apply the moral in your life? start learning		Occam's razor is more commonly described as 'the simplest answer is most often correct,' although this is an oversimplification. The 'correct' interpretation is that entities should not be multiplied needlessly.
Complete the sentences start learning		using the correct narrative tenses
She (forget) her key. start learning		She'd forgotten her key.
She (rob) the house. start learning		She was robbing the house.
She (paint) the downstairs floors all evening and they hadn't dried yet. start learning		She'd been painting the downstairs floors all evening and they hadn't dried yet.
She (use) the door all her life and she wanted a change. start learning		She'd been using the door all her life and she wanted a change.
Complete the news story by putting the verbs in brackets in the correct narrative tense. In one case, more than one tense is possible. start learning		Missing child found safe and sound
A search for a missing child in East Paterson (end) happly, last week after five-year-old Ricky Ross was found asleep in his own room. start learning		A search for a missing child in East Paterson ended happily, last week after five-year-old Ricky Ross was found asleep in his own room.
Last Monday, Julie Ross, the boy's mother, (work) in the front garden start learning		Last Monday, Julie Ross, the boy's mother, was working in the front garden
when she (hear) her son cry out. start learning		when she heard her son cry out.
He (play) in the living room start learning		He'd been playing in the living room
but when she (run) to the house, start learning		but when she ran to the house,
she (see) that the back door was open and there was no sign of her son. start learning		she saw that the back door was open and there was no sign of her son.
Neighbours (join) in the search start learning		Neighbours joined in the search
and when they (search) in the forest behind the house, start learning		and when they were searching in the forest behind the house,
they (find) a few pieces of children's clothing. start learning		they found a few pieces of children's clothing.
There was initial panic but it was soon clear that the clothing (be) there for years and didn't belong to the boy. start learning		There was initial panic but it was soon clear that the clothing had been there for years and didn't belong to the boy.
Ricky was eventually found by another child who (go) into the boy's room start learning		Ricky was eventually found by another child who had gone/went into the boy's room
while the search (go) on start learning		while the search was going on
because she (hear) a noise from the toy box. start learning		because she'd heard a noise from the toy box.
When she (open) it, there was Ricky safe and sound - start learning		When she opened it, there was Ricky safe and sound -
he (sleep) in the toy box the whole time, unaware of the panic he had caused. start learning		he'd been sleeping in the toy box the whole time, unaware of the panic he had caused.

3. 1 NARRATIVE TENSES

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