Lesson 7 Title: Narrating Past Events in Detail
Subtitle: Lesson 7
Presented by: Fatima
Contact Information: blackboarder1@gmail.com

Objectives:

• Learn to use the past perfect simple and continuous tenses for narrating past events

• Expand storytelling vocabulary and expressions

• Practice telling detailed stories about past experiences

Why is it important?

Being able to narrate past events in detail is essential for effective communication, especially in storytelling, interviews, and sharing experiences.

Key Grammar Focus:

Past Perfect Simple:
Used to describe actions completed before a specific point in the past.

Past Perfect Continuous:
Used to describe ongoing actions that were happening before another point in the past.

Examples:

◦ She had finished the project before the deadline.
◦ They had been working on the report for hours when the power went out.

Past Perfect Simple and Continuous

Past Perfect Simple

Use:
To show that one action happened before another past action or time.

Example:
By the time we arrived, the movie had already started.

Past Perfect Continuous

Use:
To emphasize the duration of an activity that was happening before a specific time in the past.

Example:
They had been traveling for hours before they finally reached their destination.

Key Differences

Use the past perfect simple for completed actions and the past perfect continuous for actions that were ongoing in the past.

Fill in the blanks:

1. By the time she got home, her friends __________ (leave).
2. They __________ (wait) for over an hour when the bus finally arrived.

Storytelling and Narrative Phrases

Storytelling Phrases:
At first… ◦ Suddenly… ◦ In the end…

Descriptive Vocabulary:
Exhausted ◦ determined ◦ unexpectedly ◦ thrilled

Example Sentences:

◦ At first, everything was going smoothly, but then suddenly, the power went out.
◦ After a long and exhausting journey, they finally reached their destination.

Match the vocabulary with the appropriate sentence:

1. __________, the storm hit, and we had to take shelter.
2. __________, they realized it was the best decision they could have made.

Telling Detailed Stories

1. Think of a past event and tell your partner the story using past perfect simple and continuous tenses. Use storytelling phrases to make your narrative engaging.

2. Write a short story about a past event. Include at least three sentences using the past perfect simple and continuous tenses.

Homework:
Write a detailed account of a significant past event in your life. Use both past perfect simple and continuous tenses, and incorporate storytelling vocabulary.

Homework Example:

I had been preparing for my presentation all week. By the time the day came, I felt ready. However, I soon realized that I had forgotten to bring my notes. Despite the setback, the presentation went well in the end.

Preview of Next Class:

Making comparisons and contrasts using advanced comparatives and superlatives.