Narrative Tenses

Article excerpt · target grammar marked

Now imagine you are standing in a market in Marrakech. You were walking through the streets and everything felt electric. Then came disorientation: you had expected things to make sense, but they didn't.

Grammar Reference · Narrative Tenses

Past simple — events

She walked into the market and stopped. — completed actions in sequence

Past continuous —

People were moving in patterns she didn't recognise. — scene in progress

Past perfect —

Her brain had already built new shortcuts. — action before another past event

Common error

By the time she arrived, she already learned... ✗ → she had already learned... ✓ — use had

01Exercise 1 — Form · Write the Correct Form

Narrative Tenses

1.By the time Ana the market, she had already spent all her money.

2.The guide was explaining the temple rules when a tourist a photo.

3.He felt nervous because he never tried street food before.

4.They sitting in the café when the festival started outside.

5.She already adapted to the local schedule before the second week.

6.While Marco through the streets, he noticed a familiar smell.

02Exercise 2 — Find and Correct the Error

find the error · rewrite the sentence

1.I felt lost because I never visited that part of the city before.

2.She was reading the sign when she realises she is on the wrong street.

3.By the time they found the hostel, the others already left.

4.He didn't speak to anyone because he was arriving only that morning.

03Exercise 3 — About You

in your notebook

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

Narrative Tenses01EnglishPlans.com