LOVE STORY: Narrative tenses.

Use the correct tense (past simple, past continuous, past perfect)

A LOVE STORY

It was Friday again, the day for famous parties at Wellington High School. Students were dancing in the garden and everyone was enjoying the pleasure of being away from boring lessons.
When Sarah came to the party, the music had already started. Tim suddenly noticed Sarah and felt shocked. He had looked for her for 2 years. They had met each other at a holiday camp in 1999, but mysteriously Sarah disappeared after a while. He was thinking about her since then.
At the party, Sarah was talking to one of her friends while most of the students were drinking as much as they could. Tim decided to talk to her and waited for her friend to leave. When he went next to her, she was searching something in her bag, so she didn’t see him. As soon as he touched her on the shoulder, she raised her head and couldn’t believe her eyes. She had never forgotten him.
At the end of the party, no one was happier than Sarah and Tim as they had found each other after 2 years.



When we narrate stories we use: past simple, past continuous and past perfect.
Here are some tips that will help you to know how to use them.

PAST SIMPLE

When we start the narration, the first sentence. Example: It was Friday again...

Lineal narrations. --> --> --> Example: Tim suddenly noticed Sarah and felt shocked.

PAST CONTINUOUS

To set the scene. Example: ...students were dancing in the garden and everyone was enjoying the pleasure of being away from boring lessons.

To emphasize long duration activities. Example: At the party, Sarah was talking to one of her friends... (she talked for a looong time)

An activity with a long duration that is interrupted by one of short duration. Example: When he went next to her, she was searching something in her bag...

PAST PERFECT

To go back in the past. Introduce an event that happened before the one we are talking about.
Examples: When Sarah came to the party, the music had already started. (We are talking about Sarah. She came to the party but before that the music had started: 1° music started 2° Sarah came to the party)
At the end of the party, no one was happier than Sarah and Tim as they had found each other after 2 years. (1° they found each other 2° they were happy)

If you can notice this narration isn't lineal --> --> --> They go back --> --> [ sth before that] -->

Using this tips, share your LOVE STORY...

Discourse markers/ Linking words

Discourse Markers

There are many different uses for discourse markers in making an essay cohesive. The following are a few ways they are used.

To introduce ideas:

First of all, to begin/start with, initially, firstly.

To add extra points:

And, also, and then, secondly, additionally, moreover, next, second, in addition (to this), furthermore, further, besides (this), not only…but also, as well as (this), what is more, too, lastly, last but not least.

To add contrasting points:

But, however, on the other hand, while, and yet, despite, in spite of, although, even though, though, nevertheless, regardless (of), on the contrary, whereas, conversely.

To give a time sequence:

After, afterwards, after a while, meanwhile, before, lately, in the past, simultaneously, until, until now, subsequently, earlier, later, previously, prior to that, formerly, presently, thereafter, then, at last, eventually, as long as, next.

To signal causes, effects etc:

So (that), in order to, for the purpose of, then, if, suppose, supposing (that), as a result of, because (of), therefore, consequently, provided/providing (that), unless, even if, only if, otherwise, in that case, thus, in case, in the event that, as long as, due to, seeing that, in view of (this), owing to (this), for this reason.

To conclude:

In conclusion, as has been said/mentioned/noted, as stated, as I have said, finally, to summarise, to sum up, in summary, in short, in other words, in simpler terms.

Now, practise! Check these links!

http://www.bond.edu.au/tls/service/learningsupport/learning/discourse/lesson1.html

http://www.better-english.com/grammar/conjunctions.htm

http://www.better-english.com/grammar/con2.htm

http://englishonline.free.fr/GrammarAndHelp/HowToExpressThoughts/LinkwordsDoc.htm

Writing letters

These are some links with tips, key vocabulary, layouts and rules for writing letters.

Formal letters: http://www.usingenglish.com/resources/letter-writing.html

Informal letters: http://www.scribd.com/doc/12258697/How-to-Write-Informal-Letters