Narrative tenses are verb tenses used to talk about things in the past.
Normally you can use them in stories, descriptions of past events, and personal anecdotes.[1]https://prezi.com/ja2fl95x7feq/narrative-tenses/
Some common narrative tenses that are used in the narrative tense are the past simple, past continuous, and past perfect.[2]https://www.test-english.com/explanation/b1/past-simple-past-continuous-past-perfect/
Present Tenses
Do not mix the present and past tense when narrating past events.
This will only confuse the reader or listener as to when an event happens.[3]https://www.slideshare.net/marolmedo/narrative-tenses-10054596
For example, avoid using the present simple, present continuous, or the present perfect.
Past Simple
For regular verbs, the past simple is formed by adding –ed to the end of a verb such as talked, walked, and played.[4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYVfYRzdTF0
For irregular verbs, you must memorize the past simple such as for eat (ate), go (went), and buy (bought).
If you would like to learn more about the past simple tense, check out:
Past Continuous
The past continuous tense is formed in the following way.[5]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYVfYRzdTF0
Was/were + verb – ing
For example:
- They were
walking. - She was
eating. - I was
sleeping.
If you would like to learn more about the past continuous tense, check out:
Past Perfect
The past perfect is formed in the following way.
Had + past participle
For example:
- I had
eaten breakfast. - Susie had
studied for the exam. - We had lived there for 5 years.
If you would like to learn more about the past continuous tense, check out:
Conclusion
Understanding grammar rules is just the first step — the real progress happens when you practice using them in real conversation. A private lesson is the fastest way to get there.
References
