English Grammar and Conversation: Narrative Tenses and Practical Examples

English Grammar and Conversation

English grammar and conversation. Dimael Fernández dimael.fernandez@pdi.atlanticomedio.esE

Let's Play a Game: Guess the Sentence

Procedure for Guess the Sentence Game

• Divide the students into groups of three or four.
• Give each group a set of sentence cards.
• Ask the students to shuffle the cards and place them face-down in a pile on the desk.
• Students then take turns picking up a card and describing the sentence on the card using present simple or present continuous sentences.
• Students can use the verb on the card, but they are not allowed to say the sentence or clusters of words within the sentence.
• For example, if the card read 'I get up late on Sunday', the student might say 'Monday to Saturday, I get up at 6 o'clock in the morning. The other day, I get up at 11 o'clock in the morning. I like to sleep in on that day.'What do you think?

Living Abroad Discussion

• Work in groups:
• Make a list of advantages and disadvantages of living abroad.

Challenges of Living Abroad

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES OF LIVING ABROAD?

Grammar Snacks

Avoid!

Grammar snaks: Avoid!

Adverbs of Opinion and Observation

Use: adverbs of opinion and observation Nailed it !: useful phrasal verbs.

• Fortunately
• Simply
• Surely
• Technically
• Obviously
• Surprisingly
• Practically
• Definitely
• Seriously and many others

con E.g: Seriously, is that all you can say? Technically she was Dutch, but everyone assumed she was German because of her accent. He apparently has super-human strength.

Stative Verbs

Stative verbs describe a state rather than an action. They aren't usually used in the present continuous form. I don't know the answer. I'm not knowing the answer. He seems happy at the moment. He's seeming happy at the moment. Stative verbs often relate to: Thoughts and opinions: agree, believe, doubt, gues s, imagine, understand. Feelings and emotions: dislike, hate, like, love, pre fer, want, wish Possession and measurement: belong, have, measur e, own, possess, weigh.

Useful Phrasal Verbs

That team always stick up for (=support) each other. You can always count on (=depend on) me. You need to run this by (=tell) the client. I will need to get back to you (=reply) on that. Can we work something out (=agree) here?

General Topics for Discussion

Sustainab le Living Practices: Small talk The Impact of Social Media on Society: Mental Health Awarenes S: The Future of Work: Global Climate Chang e:BBC

Titanic Discussion Questions

What comes to your mind when you hear the word "Titanic"? Discuss the following questions:

• How many people were on the Titanic?
• Where was the Titanic going?
• What do you know about the Titanic's captain?
• Discuss the safety measures that were lacking on the Titanic.
• What role did communication failures play in the tragedy?
• Discuss the ethical implications of the decisions made during the disaster.
• Explore the psychological impact of the Titanic disaster on survivors and their families.

Narrative Tenses for Past Events

Narrative tenses We use narrative tenses to talk about the past. We can use them to tell a story or to describe past events, including personal anecdotes.

Past Continuous Tense

Past continuous 12 Past perfect II 10 1 9 3 8 4 7 5 6 Past perfect continuous

Past Simple Tense

Past simple We can use the past simple for actions that started and finished in the past, for example a series of events in someone's life. Nelson Mandela was born in 1918. He became the first black President of South Africa. He spent 27 years in prison in his battle against the system of apartheid. The past simple is often used in stories and dialogue, too. - When Bobby went down for breakfast, Matt looked up. - "Did you hear the storm last night?" - Bobby didn't answer. - "Your brother went out last night. He didn't come back. Do you know where he went?" - Bobby's heart sank. She knew exactly where Dan had gone ...

Regular and Irregular Verbs

Regular and Irregular Verbs The difference between regular and irregular verbs: regular irregular The past forms end -ed. The past forms have lots of different endings. · play (Both past forms are played.) run (The past forms are ran and run.) · dance (Both past forms are danced.) * read (Both past forms are read.) . look (Both past forms are looked.) * see (The past forms are saw and seen.)

Past Continuous Usage

Past continuous We use the past continuous for background information and to describe a scene or situation that continued for some time. .At 6 o'clock that evening Dan was still missing. Bobby was feeling worried. · Bonnie was barking loudly. - Think about the last dream that you remember. What were you dreaming about? - What were you doing at 8pm last night? - What were you lying on when you went to sleep last night? - What were you chatting about with your friends when you last talked to them?

Specific Uses of Past Continuous

OVERLAPPING ACTION I was walking to the station when I met John Use with: when + past simple, two o'clock, 7pm. STORY BACKGROUND The birds were singing and the sun was shining. Amy sat down, Use with: the past simple. SOME PAST HABITS She was constantly singing. Use with: always, forever, constantly, at that time, in those days. PAST CONTINUOUS EMPHASIS OF LENGTH OF ACTION I was working in the garden all day. Use with: all day, all evening, for hours, P Perfect English Grammar

Past Perfect Simple

We use the past perfect simple (had + past participle) to talk about time up to a certain point in the past. - We'd finished all the water before we were halfway up the mountain. We can use the past perfect to show the order of two past events. The past perfect shows the earlier action and the past simple shows the later action. - When the police arrived, the thief had escaped. Adverbs We often use the adverbs already (= 'before the specified time'), still (= as previously), just (= 'a very short time before the specified time'), ever (= 'at any time before the specified time') or never (= 'at no time before the specified time') with the past perfect

Specific Uses of Past Perfect

ACTION FINISHED BEFORE ANOTHER PAST ACTION When we arrived, the film had started. Use with: when + past simple, June, last Tuesday. HOW LONG TO A POINT IN THE PAST When he graduated, he had been in London for six years Use with: when + past simple, for + time. PAST PERFECT UNREAL THINGS IN THE PAST I wish I hadn't gone to bed so late! Use with: third conditionals, wish. P Perfect English Grammar

Combining Past Simple and Past Continuous

Past simple and past continuous We often use the past simple and past continuous together when one action interrupts another. ·| was strolling along the beach one day when suddenly, Bonnie ran off. . It was still raining when Bobby woke up the next morning. Dan was sitting at the table when she went into the kitchen

Combining Past Simple and Past Perfect

Past simple and past perfect We can use the past perfect with the past simple together in a sentence to describe an action that happened before another past action. ·| quickly realized that the storm the previous night had washed up the body. · Bobby knew that Dan hadn't wanted to come home, but she also knew that he hadn't had any other option.

Past Perfect Continuous Tense

Past perfect continuous We use this tense to describe something that has been happening over a long period of time. .I could tell that the body had been lying on the beach for several hours because the man's clothes were dry. · Britain had been trying to negotiate a peaceful settlement between Poland and Germany.

Linking Devices in Storytelling

Take note: linking devices When we tell a story in the past, we often use linking words or phrases to join two or more sentences or clauses. This helps the narrative to flow in a more interesting and natural way. Some linking phrases and words show a sequence of events or actions. · Nelson Mandela never gave up on his struggle against apartheid. As the years went by, his fame spread to every corner of the world. In the end, under enormous global pressure, the government had no option but to release him. Other linking words and phrases that signal order of events are: First of all, ... , Then .. , Next ... , Finally ... , After that ... , After several months/days/hours/weeks ... , By the time ... , All of a sudden ...

Questions

Any question?

Elements of a Compelling Story

Character Development

Essential elements of a compelling story Character Develop relatable characters. Give them depth and motivations.

Plot Structure

Plot Structure your plot clearly. Use a beginning, middle, and end.

Setting and Atmosphere

Setting Create a vivid setting. Set the right atmosphere. Craft conflict and resolution effectively. Write engaging dialogue. These are the building blocks of a great story.

Practice: The Mysterious Letter

Read this short story and change all the verbs in present to past tenses The Mysterious Letter Emma wakes up early and stretches as the sunlight fills her small apartment. She makes a cup of coffee and sits by the window, enjoying the quiet morning. Suddenly, the mailman knocks on the door and hands her a small envelope. She opens it and reads the letter inside. Her hands shake as she realizes that it is from an old friend she hasn't seen in years. She quickly grabs her phone and dials the number at the bottom of the letter. A deep voice answers. "Emma, I was hoping you would call," the man says. She recognizes the voice immediately, it is Daniel. Memories rush back to her. They used to be best friends, but one day, he disappeared without an explanation. "Where have you been?" she asks, her heart pounding. "I can't explain over the phone. Meet me at the old café on Green Street," he replies. Emma hesitates for a moment, then nods. She puts on her coat and leaves her apartment, wondering what secrets Daniel is about to reveal. woke up, stretched, filled, made, sat, enjoying, knocked handed, opened, read, shook, realized, was, hadn't seen, quickly grabbed, dialled, answered, was hoping, would call, said, recognized was, rushed, had been, had disappeared, have you been, asked, hesitated, nodded, put on her coat and left, wondering, was about to reveal