Narrative
More pages to help with writing
Practice the Advanced Exam with these Mock Tests.
See how you do before the real exam.
Narratives - Notes and useful language
Beginnings and Endings
A narrative needs an interesting beginning to catch the reader's attention and encourage them to read on. A clear ending should help 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, .......
- 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
Write a story which end with the words.....
"And believe me", I'll never do it again
(last activity recently ago)