Narrative Tenses Together

Article excerpt · target grammar marked

Many Japanese travellers had already held very fixed assumptions before they left. After returning, those assumptions had shifted.

Grammar Reference · Narrative Tenses Together

Past simple — events

She arrived in São Paulo and felt completely lost. — the main action in a story

Past continuous —

He was walking through the market when he heard the music. — scene or interrupted action

Past perfect —

They had never eaten sushi before they moved to Japan. — happened before the main story

Common error

When I arrived, she already left. ✗ → she had already left. ✓ — use had for earlier past

01Exercise 1 — Form · Write the Correct Form

Narrative Tenses Together

1.She her first trip abroad before she turned twenty.

2.They through the old city when it started to rain heavily.

3.By the time he arrived in Tokyo, he a little Japanese.

4.She the map when the guide called her name.

5.He his open-minded approach to travel after living in three countries.

6.The group about culture shock for weeks before the trip began.

02Exercise 2 — Transform

rewrite with the new structure

1.She left before I arrived.

2.He read the guidebook. Then he got on the train.

3.They ate dinner. The power went out.

4.Ana studied the local customs. She moved to Japan.

5.He walked through the market. He met a local guide.

6.She visited six countries. She came home.

03Exercise 3 — About You

in your notebook

Personalise: complete five sentences about yourself using the target grammar.

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