Writing: Narrative Writing (Simple) (A2) - Lesson 2: Using Basic Time Words (e.g., first, then)
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Hello Learners! 👋
When we tell a story or write about something that happened, we often use special words to show the order of events. These are called time words or sequence words.
In this lesson, you will learn to use basic time words like:
- First
- Then
- Next
- After that
- Finally
These words make your stories clearer and easier to follow!
Showing the Order of Events
Time words help the reader understand what happened first, what happened second, and so on.
How to Use Time Words:
These words often come at the beginning of a sentence and are usually followed by a comma (,).
Examples:
Imagine you are describing your morning:
First, I woke up.
Then, I brushed my teeth.
Next, I ate breakfast.
After that, I got dressed.
Finally, I went to school.
Without these time words, the story might be a little confusing! They help connect the sentences smoothly.
Remember to start each sentence with a capital letter and end with a full stop (.).
Activity 1: Choose the Best Time Word
Read the short story. Choose the best time word to fill in the blank.
Activity 2: Add Time Words to a Story
Here are some sentences about making a sandwich. Rewrite them as a short story, adding time words like First, Then, and Finally,. Remember commas after the time words!
Activity 3: Continue the Story
Read the start of the story. Add one more sentence to continue it, using one of the time words provided.
✨ Tips for Using Time Words ✨
- Think About Order: What happened at the beginning? What happened in the middle? What happened at the end?
- Common Time Words:
- For the beginning: First, ...
- For the middle: Then, ... Next, ... After that, ...
- For the end: Finally, ... Lastly, ...
- Comma After: Usually, put a comma after these time words when they start a sentence (e.g., First, I ...).
- Keep Sentences Simple: Focus on clear, simple past tense sentences.
Great Sequencing! 🎉
You've learned how to use basic time words to make your stories clearer and show the order of events. This is very helpful for narrative writing!