Narrative tenses

PAST SIMPLE

• We use the past simple for finished consecutive actions in the past.

PAST SIMPLE

• Romeo met Juliet at a party..

PAST SIMPLE

• They kissed.

PAST SIMPLE

• They got married.

PAST CONTINUOUS

• We use the past continuous to describe a longer action in the past. This is often an action which was in progress when another action happened.

PAST CONTINUOUS

• When Romeo met Juliet… … people were dancing and singing.

PAST PERFECT

• We use the past perfect to talk about a action which happened before the specific time in the past when the main events of the story happened e.g. the party where Romeo met Juliet.

BEFORE THIS

PAST PERFECT

• Before the party…Romeo hadn’t been to bed.

PAST PERFECT CONTINOUS

• We use the past perfect continous to talk about a longer continuous action that was going on before the specific time in the past when the main events of the story happened.

BEFORE THIS

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

• He had been thinking about a girl called Rosaline.

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

• He had been writing love poems and singing.

A TRAGIC STORY

• He didn’t know that he would die for love.