Narratives - Notes and useful language

Beginnings and Endings

A narrative needs an interesting beginning to catch the reader's attention and encourage him or her to read on, and a clear ending to round the story off satisfactorily. A weak beginning or ending can spoil the effect of the story, so it's worth spending time working out how to start and finish.

Verb Tenses

We use:

• the simple past to describe the main events
  I woke up went to the bathroom and had a shower.
  
  
• the past continuous to set the scene
  The sun was shining when I got out of the house.
  
  
• the past perfect to describe events which happened before the main events
  When I got to the shop all cornflakes had been sold.
  
  
• present participle to show two actions which are linked
  Learning that I couldn't get cornflakes, I bought yogurt.
  
  
• past participles to show that one action was complete before another started
  Having done that, I went home and had breakfast.

Time Links

before ....... / at first, / while....... / during ........ / meanwhile, / when ....... / as soon as ....... / immediately ....... / once ........ / then ...... / next ....... / later ........ / after that ........ / afterwards ........ / finally, ........... eventually ............ / in the end, .......

Make a point of knowing the difference between: first (ly) / at first, lastly / at last / after / afterwards / while / during / meanwhile

Adding Variety and Interest

You have to make your story more lively and interesting.
These include:

• using direct speech occasionally, for dramatic effect
  'Oh no,' I muttered, 'I can't have cornflakes for breakfast'.
  
  
• using a range or reporting verbs for reporting speech.
  e.g. accuse, admit, advise, argue, ask, complain, deny, encourage, explain, invite, promise recommend, remind, suggest, warn
  
  
• using a range of adjectives and adverbs to describe actions and feelings and vividly as possible:
  e.g. absolutely exhausted instead of very tired
  I was bitterly disappointed when I failed the exam.
  I would strongly recommend that you learn a foreign language.
  The whole area was utterly devastated after the earthquake.

Practice

1) Tell us how you felt when you took an exam.
Were you nervous, horrified, or relaxed?

2) Describe an event or day which changed your life.

3) 'And believe me', I'll never do it again
Write a story which end with these words.