Writing: Narrative Writing (Simple) (A2) - Lesson 1: Writing a Sequence of 2-3 Simple Sentences about a Past Event
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Hello Learners! 👋
Today, we're going to learn how to write about things that happened in the past – like yesterday, last week, or this morning. This is called narrative writing, which is like telling a short story.
In this lesson, you will:
- Learn about simple past tense verbs.
- See how to use time words like "Yesterday".
- Practice writing 2-3 simple sentences in order about a past event.
Writing About the Past
When we talk or write about something that already happened, we use past tense verbs.
Simple Past Tense Verbs
- For many verbs (called regular verbs), we add -ed to make them past tense.
- play → played
- watch → watched
- walk → walked
- Some verbs are irregular and change in a special way. Here are a few common ones:
- go → went
- eat → ate
- see → saw
- have → had
- is/am → was
- are → were
Time Words for the Past
Words like Yesterday, Last night, or This morning (if it's now afternoon or evening) tell us the event is in the past.
Example of a Short Past Event Description:
Yesterday, I went to the park.
I played with my friend.
We had fun.
Notice how the sentences are in order – what happened first, then next.
Remember: Start sentences with a capital letter and end with a full stop (.).
Activity 1: Choose the Past Tense Verb
Read the sentence. Choose the correct simple past tense form of the verb in (brackets).
Activity 2: Order the Story
These sentences tell a short story about the past, but they are mixed up. Type the sentences in the correct order (1, 2, 3) in the box below, each on a new line.
Activity 3: What Did You Do Yesterday?
Think about something you did yesterday. Write 2 or 3 simple sentences about it. Try to use past tense verbs.
You can start with: Yesterday, I...
Example ideas for verbs: played, watched, ate, went, saw, helped, studied, talked.
✨ Tips for Writing About Past Events ✨
- Think "When?": Use past time words like "Yesterday," "Last Sunday," "This morning."
- Use Past Tense Verbs: Remember to change your verbs (e.g., add -ed, or use words like "went," "ate").
- Tell it in Order: What happened first? What happened next? Simple words like "First," "Then," "Next," "After that" can help, but are not always needed for short stories.
- Keep it Simple: Use short sentences that you know how to write.
- Check Your C.U.P.S.: Capitals, Understanding, Punctuation (full stops!), Spelling.
Great Storytelling! 🎉
You are learning to write about things that happened in the past. This is how we share our experiences and tell stories!