Explanation
Exercises
Narrative Tenses — storytelling with past tenses
B1 Upper-Intermediate Background vs. Events

The narrative map

TenseBuildRole in storiesExample
Past simple V2 / was, were Main events move the plot forward; finished actions; habits & states. She opened the door, ignored us and went upstairs.
Past continuous was/were + -ing Background scene-setting; actions in progress; longer action interrupted by past simple. It was raining and people were running for cover when the lights went out.
Past perfect simple had + past participle Earlier past flashbacks; how much/how many by a point in the past; stative duration (for/since). When she arrived, he had already left. • They had been married for 48 years.
Past perfect continuous had been + -ing Earlier past in progress longer ongoing or repeated activity before the past moment. I was furious — I had been waiting for an hour.

Use the simple forms for results and finished steps; use the continuous forms for processes and background activity.

Past simple — events & habits

  • Chronological steps He called, I packed, and we left.
  • Past habits/states We often went for a drink before dinner. • He was fit and loved sport.
  • Narrative style Keep sentences short to speed the action.

Past continuous — scene & interruptions

  • Setting the scene That evening, the sun was sinking and the streets were getting quiet.
  • Longer action + short interruption We were talking about her when she walked in.
  • Simultaneous actions two past continuous: I was driving while she was reading the map.

Stative verbs (know, believe, love) rarely appear in continuous forms in narratives.

Past perfect simple — earlier past

  • Single earlier events/experience I realised I had been there before.
  • Result by a past time By noon we had driven 500 miles. (how much/how many)
  • Stative duration They had lived in Rome for years when I met them.

Use the past perfect to “jump back”, then you can return to past simple once the timeline is clear.

Past perfect continuous — earlier activity

  • Long actions before the story moment She had been working all day, so she looked exhausted.
  • Repeated actions He had been sending emails every hour.
  • Process focus choose continuous when the activity (not the result) matters.

Time links: when, while, as

LinkerTypical patternMeaningExample
when Past simple + past simple/continuous point in time; often interruption When she rang, I was cooking.
while Past continuous + past continuous/simple two actions at the same time While I was waiting, he read the messages.
as often past continuous gradual change / background As the crowd was leaving, the rain stopped.

Past habits toolkit

  • used to states or habits: We used to live by the sea.
  • would repeated actions (not states): On Sundays he would bake bread.
  • past simple neutral: We walked to school.

Linkers & narrative devices

  • Sequencing first, then, after that, finally
  • Change of pace suddenly, just then, a moment later
  • Time anchors that night, the next morning, in 2019
  • Flashback markers before, by the time, earlier, already, just

Paragraph breaks help readers follow shifts from background (past continuous) to action (past simple) and to earlier past (past perfect).

Quick contrasts (result vs process)

  • Who ate the cake? (finished result) ↔ Who had been eating the cake? (activity before a point; some cake remains)
  • He had finished the report (completed) ↔ He had been working on the report (ongoing effort).

Common pitfalls to avoid

  • ❌ Overusing the past perfect. Use it to establish the “earlier past”, then switch back to the past simple.
  • ❌ Continuous with stative verbs: *She was knowing* → ✔ She knew.
  • ❌ Mixing linkers: after while prefer continuous; after when a simple verb often marks the interrupting action.
  • ❌ Timeline confusion: add anchors like by then, earlier, the previous night to keep order clear.
Exercises:
1
2
3

Storytelling with Past Tenses (Narrative Tenses)

Choose the correct option to complete the text below.
1
Years ago, I to take a solo trip in the mountains.
2
I twelve-hour shifts for months, so a week away sounded perfect.
3
When the train into the station,
4
I too many bags, and
5
I that I
6
my map at home.
7
I the guard for directions when
8
an old friend suddenly on the platform.
9
We each other since school, but we
10
each other at once.
11
He told me he to a nearby village the previous year and
12
to show me the trail.
13
While we through the forest,
14
the sky dark and
15
a cold wind to blow.
16
I the weather forecast all week, because I
17
of quiet days in the sun.
18
By the time we the hut,
19
the rain , and within minutes
20
hailstones the roof like stones.

Storytelling with Past Tenses (Narrative Tenses

Choose the correct narrative tenses to complete the sentences below.
1
By the time we ____ at the cinema, the film ____.
A.
B.
C.
D.
2
I couldn’t open the door because I ____ my keys.
A.
B.
C.
D.
3
When I ____ out of the shower, the phone ____.
A.
B.
C.
D.
4
We were exhausted because we ____ for hours.
A.
B.
C.
D.
5
She ____ the email, then she ____ to bed.
A.
B.
C.
D.
6
As I ____ the hill, I ____ that someone was following me.
A.
B.
C.
D.
7
He ____ for ten minutes when the bus finally ____.
A.
B.
C.
D.
8
It was my first time in Tokyo; I ____ never ____ such a huge city before.
A.
B.
C.
D.
9
While the guests ____ dinner, the lights suddenly ____.
A.
B.
C.
D.
10
After she ____ the report, the manager ____ it to the team.
A.
B.
C.
D.

Storytelling with Past Tenses (Narrative Tenses)

Fill in the gaps with the most appropriate narrative tenses of the verbs in brackets: past simple, past continuous, past perfect simple or past perfect continuous.
1
We thought we were following the river when suddenly we (lose) the path entirely.
2
Only then we (notice) that we…
3
… (walk) in the wrong direction for over an hour.
4
We (be) exhausted,
5
and the fact that we (not/eat) since dawn didn’t help.
6
We (decide) to take a short cut across the fields,
7
because Tom said he (see) it on a map the night before.
8
What he (not/realise) was that…
9
…the fields (flood) after the storm.
10
We (trudge) for a mile when we…
11
… (start) to hear thunder.
12
We (not/say) anything,
13
but I could tell we (think) the same thing: we needed shelter.
14
As we (look) for a barn,
15
a pickup (appear) from nowhere
16
and a woman (wave) at us to get in.
17
She said she (drive) past that lane every day
18
and (never/see) anyone there before.
19
She asked how long we (be) lost
20
and we admitted we (wander) since sunrise.