Narrative Tenses

NARRATIVE
TENSES
When we narrate a story, we use:
PAST SIMPLE
PAST CONTINUOUS
PAST PERFECT
PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
WOULD/USED TO
We use narrative tenses when telling a story, or
talking about situations and activities which
happened at a past time.
When telling past events, DO NOT mix past and
present tenses
PAST SIMPLE TENSE
We use simple past tense

 to express a completed action at a definite time in the past
I woke up at half past seven yesterday, I had a
shower and ate some breakfast. I I left home at
quarter past eight.
 to express past habits.
I woke up very early when I was a kid.
I used to wake up very early when I was a kid.
I would wake up early when I was a kid.
PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE
We use past continuous tense

for an action which was in progress at a stated time
in the past.
At 1 o’clock in the morning, I was sleeping.
For a past action which was in progress when an
other action interrupted it. We use the past
continuous for the action in progress (longer action)
and the past simple for the action which interrupted
the longer action.
I was washing the dishes when I cut my finger.
For two or more actions which were happening at
the same time in the past.
I was cooking the dinner while my daughter was
laying the table.
To give background information in a story
The sun was shining brightly and the birds were
chirping happily as I was walking to work.
PAST PERFECT SIMPLE
We use past perfect simple to go back to a second

past. We use it to talk about things that had already
happened before that specific time in the past.
I got to the party late. When I arrived there,
everybody had already left.
We use it to make the narrative more interesting and
easy to read.
PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
We use past continuous tense to talk about longer

actions or situations which had continued up to the
past moment.
When the teacher entered the classroom, the
students had been fighting
TIME EXPRESSIONS
Yesterday 2 days ago Last week
today
This week at 2 o’clock on
Monday in March
TIME CLAUSES
WHEN+SIMPLE PAST, SIMPLE PAST
When I helped her complete her work, she thanked

me.
 When I read the letter, I cried.
WHEN+SIMPLE PAST, PAST CONTINUOUS

When she called me, I was cooking the meal.
When I met him, he was working in a hospital.
WHEN+SIMPLE PAST, PAST PERFECT/PAST
PERFECT CONT.
They had been touring the country for a month
when we last saw them.
When he arrived there, they had already gone.
WHILE/AS/JUST AS+PAST CONT, SIMPLE PAST

He fell asleep while I was cleaning the room.
As we were walking by the sea, we noticed a huge
bin near the small hut.
WHILE/AS/JUST AS+PAST CONT,PAST CONT
As I was cleaning the kitchen, my sister was tidying
the dining room.
While you were reading the newspaper, I was
working on my project.
AS+SIMPLE PAST,SIMPLE PAST

As I opened my eyes I heard a strange voice.
The doorbell rang just as I picked up the phone.
JUST AS+BE ABOUT TO, SIMPLE PAST
Just as I was about to resign from my position, I
got promoted.
Just as we were about to go out, it started to rain.
IT/THIS WAS THE
FIRST/SECOND/THIRD....TIME+PAST PERFECT
It was the last time we had seen each other.
That was the last word she had said.
AFTER+PAST PERFECT/SIMPLE PAST, SIMPLE
PAST
She went to America after she graduated from
school.
After I had written the letter, I went out.
BEFORE+SIMPLE PAST, PAST

PERFECT/SIMPLE PAST
I bought a lot of new clothes before I went to Italy.
Before he got married, he had spent most of his
time in Europe.
BY THE TIME+SIMPLE PAST, PAST PERFECT /PAST
PERFECT CONT.
By the time he published his first novel, He had written
10 short stories.
By the time we arrived there, the movie had already
begun.
UNTIL/TILL+SIMPLE PAST+SIMPLE PAST/PAST

PERFECT
Until the war was won, a lot of innocent people had
died.
We waited until he finished his homework.
AS SOON AS/THE
MOMENT/ONCE/IMMEDIATELY+PAST
PERFECT/SIMPLE PAST,SIMPLE PAST
 As soon as I had seen her, I understood that something was
wrong.
 Once she (had) decided to leave him, nobody was able to
change her mind.
 Immediately we (had) stepped out, it started to rain.
BY+PAST EXPRESSION+PAST PERFECT/PAST PERFECT

CONT.
 By the mid 20th century, many women had gained the right
to teach.
 By the end of the Great Depression, a lot of people died of
hunger.
HARDLY/SCARCELY+PAST PERFECT(INVERSION)
WHEN+PAST SIMPLE
Hardly had I entered the classroom when I noticed a
student on the floor.
She had hardly left the doctor’s office when a car
crashed her.
NO SOONER+PAST PERFECT(INVERSION)
THAN+SIMPLE PAST
No sooner had I left the office than it started to rain.
No sooner I had left the office than I caught a taxi.
Prepared Eva Büyüksimkeşyan
Resources:Basic English Usage
Enterprise Grammar

Narrative Tenses

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NARRATIVE

We use simple past tense

We use past continuous tense

We use past perfect simple to go back to a second

We use past continuous tense to talk about longer

WHEN+SIMPLE PAST, SIMPLE PAST

When I helped her complete her work, she thanked

WHEN+SIMPLE PAST, PAST CONTINUOUS

WHILE/AS/JUST AS+PAST CONT, SIMPLE PAST

AS+SIMPLE PAST,SIMPLE PAST

BEFORE+SIMPLE PAST, PAST

UNTIL/TILL+SIMPLE PAST+SIMPLE PAST/PAST

BY+PAST EXPRESSION+PAST PERFECT/PAST PERFECT

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