TELLING STORIES - SEQUENCING EVENTS

Telling Stories - Sequencing Your Ideas

By Kenneth Beare, About.com Guide

See More About:

• writing skills
• linking language
• useful english phrases
• making presentations
• writing lesson plans

Telling stories is common in any language. Think of all the situations in which you can tell a story:

• Talking about your past to a friend
• Giving details about something that happened during a job interview
• Relating information about your family to your children
• Telling colleagues about what happened on a business trip

In each of these situations - and many others - you provide information about something that happened in the past. In order to help your audience understand, you need to link these ideas together. One of the most important ways to link ideas is to sequence them. Sequencing refers to the order in which events happened. These are some of the most common ways to sequence in writing or speaking: 
 Beginning:
Firstly,
First of all,
To start off with,
Initially,
Examples: Firstly, I began my education in London.
First of all, I opened the cupboard.
To start off with, we decided our destination was New York.
Initially, I thought it was a bad idea, ...  

Continuing: Then,
After that,
Next,
As soon as / When + full clause,
... but then
Immediately,
Examples: Then, I started to get worried.
After that, we knew that there would be no problem!
Next, we decided on our strategy.
As soon as we arrived, we unpacked our bags.
We were sure everything was ready, but then we discovered some unexpected problems.
Immediately, I telephoned my friend Tom. 

 Interruptions / New Elements to the Story: Suddenly,

Unexpectedly,
Examples: Suddenly, a child burst into the room with a note for Ms. Smith.
Unexpectedly, the people in the room didn't agree with the mayor.   Events

Occurring at the Same Time

While / As + full clause
During + noun (noun clause)
Examples: While we were getting ready for the trip, Jennifer was making the reservations at the travel agent's.
During the meeting, Jack came over and asked me a few questions.  

Ending:
Finally,
In the end,
Eventually,
Lastly,
Examples: Finally, I flew to London for my meeting with Jack.
In the end, he decided to postpone the project.
Eventually, we became tired and returned home.
Lastly, we felt we had had enough and went home. When you tell stories you will also need to give reasons for actions. Here is some help with linking your ideas, and providing reasons for your actions.

More Linking Language

• Expressing Conditions (if, unless, only if, even if, etc.)
• Time Expressions (when, as soon as, before, etc.)
• Expressing Opposition (though, even though, whereas, etc.)

Vocabulary to use in a restaurant.

Ordering Food in a Restaurant

Read this dialogue
Waiter: Hello, Can I help you?
Kim: Yes, I'd like to have some lunch.
Waiter: Would you like a starter?
Kim: Yes, I'd like a bowl of chicken soup, please.
Waiter: And what would you like for a main course?
Kim: I'd like a grilled cheese sandwich.
Waiter: Would you like anything to drink?
Kim: Yes, I'd like a glass of Coke, please.
Waiter... After Kim has her lunch.: Can I bring you anything else?
Kim: No thank you. Just the bill.
Waiter: Certainly.
Kim:I don't have my glasses. How much is the lunch?
Waiter: That's $6.75.
Kim: Here you are. Thank you very much.
Waiter: You're welcome. Have a good day.
Kim: Thank you, the same to you.

Use this menu to practice ordering food in a restaurant.

Joe's Restaurant

Starters
Chicken Soup	$2.50
Salad	$3.25
Sandwiches - Main Course
Ham and cheese	$3.50
Tuna	$3.00
Vegetarian	$4.00
Grilled Cheese	$2.50
Piece of Pizza	$2.50
Cheeseburger	$4.50
Hamburger deluxe	$5.00
Spaghetti	$5.50
Drinks
Coffee	$1.25
Tea	$1.25
Soft Drinks - Coke, Sprite, Root Beer, etc

Starters
Chicken Soup	$2.50
Salad	$3.25
Sandwiches - Main Course
Ham and cheese	$3.50
Tuna	$3.00
Vegetarian	$4.00
Grilled Cheese	$2.50
Piece of Pizza	$2.50
Cheeseburger	$4.50
Hamburger deluxe	$5.00
Spaghetti	$5.50
Drinks
Coffee	$1.25
Tea	$1.25
Soft Drinks - Coke, Sprite, Root Beer, etc

Ridiculous but useful for learning countables and uncountables.



Watching these short videos, you´ll get examples of the use of COUNTABLE and UNCOUNTABLE NOUNS within a conversation.

Try similar ones with your classmates.

AT THE RESTAURANT

PAY ATTENTION TO THE STRUCTURES AND VOCABULARY USED IN THIS DIALOGUE.

TRY TO CREATE ANOTHER ONE WITH THE SAME SITUATION BUT DIFFERENT VOCABULARY.

TEXT TO PRACTISE READING COMPREHENSION

READ THIS ARTICLE FOLLOWING THE STEPS OF READING COMPREHENSION. AFTER THAT TRY TO BRIEFLY SAY WHAT THE ARTICLE IS ABOUT IN SPANISH.

This article is a personal account and is limited to the perspective of the author. The information should not be generalised to reflect the diverse culture or societal values of China today. An invitation is extended to other writers and travellers who can confirm add to or substantiate the information contained in this article.

	Entertaining Essays on English Usage Printable, photocopiable and clearly structured format Designed for teachers and individual learners For use in a classroom, at home, on your PC or anywhere
	Start improving your listening skills today! Take these listening exercises now.

I am a foreign oral English teacher in Jiangsu Province, the People's Republic of China. The following story is my own reflection on an oral English lesson I gave to a class of twenty primary school children from grade 1 or grade 2 regarding "The Family".

On the surface, the lesson plan was asking the students to draw a large tree that had a thick trunk with its branches covered in green foliage. The objective was to have each child write the family titles (not personal names) of each member of their family. To simplify the drawing, the family tree would only branch out to include the child's mother/father, uncles/aunts, other siblings and grandparents.

I drew my family tree on the blackboard and gave a simple explanation of my family of origin. To the amazement of the class, my tree was very large and cluttered with smiling stick faces representing my grandparents, my parents and my three brothers and one sister, and one uncle. I could see the expression of wonder and surprise being projected by their dark eyes. To them, I was old enough to be their Grandfather and they were puzzled to see me draw such a large tree with twelve smiling faces.

The interaction with these young Grade 1 and 2 students gave me a different perspective to the meaning of China's one child policy and the style of parenting. I then asked myself what is the social structure of their families and did these young children accept as normal in their culture. My inquisitiveness uncovered the following results.

It was normal to have no brothers or sisters. In the majority of cases it was normal to have only one surviving grandmother or grandfather. Uncles and Aunts were rarely mentioned but some did have one cousin.

Here I was looking into some of the most innocent, beautiful faces I have ever seen; listening to their tiny voices struggling with oral English, and then it hit me like a lightening bolt that all these twenty children will be without a close living family relative, that is brother, sister when their parents become elderly and face eventual death. I found it difficult to image my life without the mutual and collective support of my brothers and sister throughout my lifespan.

---

what's your job?

Here are some examples of how people talk about their jobs. Try to practise similar dialogues.

what can you do?

|Here you can watch people talk about the things they CAN and CAN´T do. Try similar dialogues with your friends.

where are you from?

Try to imitate pronunciation and entonation. Dramatize similar dialogues.

Dates in English - DOB

spelling of names

Watch how people spell their names and practise doing so yourself.

LOOK, SEE and WATCH

Look, See and Watch are three related verbs that are easily confused. English
 learners can use this page to understand the differences between these three verbs.
Examples sentences for look, see and watch will help you understand how use these verbs.
Finally, there's a quiz to help you test your understanding of these key verbs.

Look (At)

Use the verb look (at) to say that you or someone else looks with concentration. In other words,
you look to see something specific. Look refers to seeing something specific one time, rather than
 over time as with the verb watch (see below).

I looked at the trees in the distance.
Tom looked at the picture and smiled.
Sarah looked at her sister and smiled.

Look is usually used with the preposition at. However, when using look as an imperative at is
not used when there is no object.

Look over there!
Look! It's Tom.

Use look as an imperative with at when followed by an object.

Look at those people.
Look at me when I speak to you!

See

See is used to make simple statements. In other words, use see to note that you saw
someone or something.

I saw Tom at school yesterday.
Did you see the beautiful sunset yesterday?
Mary saw an interesting man while she was in Chicago.

On the other hand look at and watch are used to state that you see something with
 particular attention. You look at something specific, and you watch something over time.

Compare:

I saw Jim at the party. (simple statement)
I looked at Jim's shirt. It was strange! (focus on a specific item)
I watched Jim speaking to Tom for five minutes. He seemed nervous. (watching the
movements and actions of someone or something over time)

Do not use see in the progressive form as see is used to express a fact, not an action.

I saw Tom at the party. (fact, not an action)
We saw an interesting car on the road. (statement of an interesting story, not recounting
 a specific action at a specific time)

The verb see is also used to express that an experience is completed. For example, you
can watch a film and see a film. If you see a film, you refer to the complete act. If you
 watch a film you speak about the action of watching the film at a specific moment.

Compare:

I saw a good film yesterday. (referring to the complete film)
I was watching TV when you called. (referring to the action that was interrupted)

See = Visit

The verb see can also be used to mean to visit, or have an appointment with someone.

Janice saw a doctor yesterday.
Peter will see the marketing manager tomorrow.
Have you seen a specialist?

Watch

Watch is used to express that you watch something in progress, something that
changes over time.

I watched the children playing in the park.
She has been watching those birds over there for the past thirty minutes.
What are you watching on TV?

Watch is similar to look at, but it refers to an action that takes place over time. Look at
 is used to refer to a single instance when someone looks for something specific.

Compare:

I looked at the message on the billboard. (referring to looking at something once to
understand)
I watched the debate on TV. (referring to a show that takes place over time on TV)

Exercise

Choose between look (at), see or watch to complete the following sentences.
Remember to conjugate the verb in the correct tense.

1.      _______ that dog over there. It's so cute!

2.      Have you ________ the new film by Spielberg?

3.      I was _______ the children play in the park when I met Alice.

4.      I'm going to ________ the doctor tomorrow afternoon.

5.      Did you ________ the amount on the check carefully?

6.      Peter ________ Andrew yesterday.

7.      Alice is ___________ a show at the moment.

8.      The students __________ the information on the whiteboard.

9.      I haven't ________ Susan in a long time.

HOMEWORK

Individual homework.
Describe a day in your life (routine) and then explain why one day everything was
completely different.

Example:
Every Monday I get up at six o´clock am., go to the bathroom, .....etc......
Last Monday, the alarm didn´t ring so........etc.......

Write 80 words.
Send me emails for correction.

Basic issues to have in mind when you describe an event or anecdote.

These points are the basic elements that you should remember when
writing a story, or describing an anecdote.

1) THEME
Describe in one sentence what you are going to write about.
2)WHERE and WHEN
Answer these two questions to let the reader know the time when
the story happens and where.
3) CHARACTERS
Don´t put too many characters in it. Try to keep it to two or three.
4) CONFLICT
There must be a problem, or something that caused you fear, laughter,
embarassment, excitement or sadness.
5) RESOLUTION
This is the end of the story and describes the way everything ended.

NOTE: remember that if you start the story talking in the present tense,
 you should keep using it, the same as if you start in the past tense.
Be coherent.
Analyze the story below as an example:

Mrs. Lehman has the most beautiful garden in her neighbourhood.
She is very proud of it. Last Sunday, when she was preparing dinner
for her family, the bell rang. There was a nice boy at her gate, with a
colourful bunch of flowers in his hand.
"-Good afternoon, madam. Would you buy these nice flowers, please?
I need the money." said a very charming little boy.
"But I have lots of those flowers in my garden! dear," said Mrs. Lehman.
"No, you don´t. They are here in my hand now..." frankly explained
the boy with a big smile.
He had to run very fast because Mrs. Lehman was so angry she started
running after him, forgot the dinner in the oven and they had to eat delivery
pizza that evening.

extra practice and revision of the Present Perfect Tense

Present Perfect Positive Form Review

Subject + have +  past participle + objects

Examples:

Tom has lived in New York for ten years.
We have studied French since 2003.

Present Perfect Negative Form

Subject + have not + past participle + objects

Examples:

She hasn't met Peter.
They haven't finished the job yet.

Present Perfect Question Form

(Question Word) + have + subject + past participle?

Examples:

Has she worked her for a long time?
Where has she gone?

Important Note!

Regular past participles in '-ed', irregular past
 participles of verbs vary and must be studied.

Yet / Just / Already

'Yet' is used in the present perfect negative and question forms.
'Just' is used in the present perfect positive form.
'Already' is used in the present perfect positive form.

Examples:

Have you finished the job yet?
She's just left for Chicago.
They've already eaten lunch.

Since / For

'Since' and 'for' are common time expressions used with the present perfect tense. 'Since' is

used with specific dates. 'For' is used with periods of time.

Examples:

Janet has worked at this company since 2997.
We've lived in this house for five years.

Present Perfect Worksheet 1

Conjugate the verb in parentheses using the form indicated. In the case

of questions, use the indicated subject as well.

1.      How long ______ (he / live) in New Jersey?

2.      Peter ______ (not play) baseball since 1987.

3.      I ______ (speak) Russian for twenty years.

4.      We _____ (not see) Tom since Christmas.

5.      ________ (Alan / fly) in an airplane before?

6.      Shannon _____ (not / go) to lunch yet.

7.      Our class _____ (take) a field trip three times this year.

8.      Where _____ (they / move) to?

9.      Jennifer _____ (ask) that question four times today.

10.  You _____ (not eat) lunch yet, have you?

11.  Jason _____ (want) to move to New York since he was five years old.

12.  How long _____ (they / know) Peter?

13.  Alexandra _____ (work) for IBM since 2002.

14.  Jeff _____ (buy) a few books this week.

15.  Sally ______ (not read) that book yet.

16.  _____ (they / leave) for work yet?

17.  Bill _____ (not / drive) very far today.

18.  We _____ (enjoy) eating seafood all of our lives.

19.  _____ (he / watch) the documentary yet?

20.  I _____ (not / finish) the job yet.

Present Perfect Worksheet 2

Choose the correct time expression used with the present perfect tense.

1.      They have lived in that house (since / for) ten years.

2.      She has (just / yet) gone to the bank.

3.      Franklin hasn't arrived in Boston (yet / already)

4.      We have worked at this company (since / for) 2008.

5.      Jason hasn't telephoned me (since / for) two weeks.

6.      How (long / much) have you known Susan?

7.      They've (already / yet) studied the past simple tense.

8.      Our mothers have (just / yet) left for the station.

9.      The President has traveled to more than twenty countries (since / for) he was elected.

10.  Thomas hasn't had time to read the book (just / yet).

11.  Alice has told me she's (yet / already) been to that park.

12.  My daughter's (just / since) finished her homework.

13.  Have they (already / yet) spoken to Mr. Peters?

14.  I've (just / for) interviewed the best candidate for the job.

15.  Our coach hasn't chosen the starting team (already / yet).

16.  Bob and Tim have (already / yet) decided where they are going on vacation.

17.  Have you purchased the new computer (just / yet)?

18.  Sam has wanted to go to Japan (for / since) he was a little child.

19.  Jason hasn't worked here (since / for) very long.

20.  Our boss has (just / yet) hired a new engineer.

Check your answers on the next page.

Present Perfect Worksheet 1 - Corrections

Conjugate the verb in parentheses using the form indicated. In the case of questions, use the
indicated subject as well.

1.      How long has he lived in New Jersey?

2.      Peter hasn't played baseball since 1987.

3.      I have spoken Russian for twenty years.

4.      We haven't seen Tom since Christmas.

5.      Has Alan flown in an airplane before?

6.      Shannon hasn't gone to lunch yet.

7.      Our class has taken a field trip three times this year.

8.      Where have they moved to?

9.      Jennifer has asked that question four times today.

10.  You haven't eaten lunch yet, have you?

11.  Jason has wanted to move to New York since he was five years old.

12.  How long have they known Peter?

13.  Alexandra has worked for IBM since 2002.

14.  Jeff has bought a few books this week.

15.  Sally hasn't read that book yet.

16.  Have they left for work yet?

17.  Bill hasn't driven very far today.

18.  We have enjoyed eating seafood all of our lives.

19.  Has he watched the documentary yet?

20.  I haven't finished the job yet.

Present Perfect Worksheet 2 - Corrections

Choose the correct time expression used with the

present perfect tense.

1.      They have lived in that house for ten years.

2.      She has just gone to the bank.

3.      Franklin hasn't arrived in Boston yet.

4.      We have worked at this company since 2008.

5.      Jason hasn't telephoned me for two weeks.

6.      How long have you known Susan?

7.      They've already studied the past simple tense.

8.      Our mothers have just left for the station.

9.      The President has traveled to more than twenty countries since he

was elected.

10.  Thomas hasn't had time to read the book yet.

11.  Alice told me she's already been to that park.

12.  My daughter's just finished her homework.

13.  Have they already spoken to Mr. Peters?

14.  I've just interviewed the best candidate for the job.

15.  Our coach hasn't chosen the starting team yet.

16.  Bob and Tim have already decided where they are going on vacation.

17.  Have you purchased the new computer yet?

18.  Sam has wanted to go to Japan since he was a little child.

19.  Jason hasn't worked here for very long.

20.  Our boss has just hired a new engineer.

Worksheets to Learn English

Worksheets

Preschool Printable Worksheets

Printable Worksheets

ESL English Grammar

(Continued from Page 1)

 

Present Perfect Worksheet 1 – Corrections

Conjugate the verb in parentheses using the form indicated. In the case of

questions, use the indicated subject as well.

How long has he lived in New Jersey?

Peter hasn't played baseball since 1987.

I have spoken Russian for twenty years.

We haven't seen Tom since Christmas.

Has Alan flown in an airplane before?

Shannon hasn't gone to lunch yet.

Our class has taken a field trip three times this year.

Where have they moved to?

Jennifer has asked that question four times today.

You haven't eaten lunch yet, have you?

Jason has wanted to move to New York since he was five years old.

How long have they known Peter?

Alexandra has worked for IBM since 2002.

Jeff has bought a few books this week.

Sally hasn't read that book yet.

Have they left for work yet?

Bill hasn't driven very far today.

We have enjoyed eating seafood all of our lives.

Has he watched the documentary yet?

I haven't finished the job yet.

Present Perfect Worksheet 2 - Corrections

Choose the correct time expression used with the present perfect tense.

They have lived in that house for ten years.

She has just gone to the bank.

Franklin hasn't arrived in Boston yet.

We have worked at this company since 2008.

Jason hasn't telephoned me for two weeks.

How long have you known Susan?

They've already studied the past simple tense.

Our mothers have just left for the station.

The President has traveled to more than twenty countries since he was elected.

Thomas hasn't had time to read the book yet.

Alice told me she's already been to that park.

My daughter's just finished her homework.

Have they already spoken to Mr. Peters?

I've just interviewed the best candidate for the job.

Our coach hasn't chosen the starting team yet.

Bob and Tim have already decided where they are going on vacation.

Have you purchased the new computer yet?

Sam has wanted to go to Japan since he was a little child.

Jason hasn't worked here for very long.

Our boss has just hired a new engineer.

Next

Related Quizzes and Information

CHOOSE ANY OF THESE TO CONTINUE PRACTISING ....

Quiz: Present Perfect or Present Perfect Continuous?

Common Mistakes in English - Since vs. For with Present Perfect

Find the Mistake - Past Simple or Present Perfect

More Present Perfect Grammar Help

Present Perfect

English Verbs - Tense Resources

Participles

Lesson Plans Focusing on Present Perfect

ESL Lesson Plans - Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous

Tip of the Day for English Learners - Present Perfect Passive Voice

ESL Lesson Plans - Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous

Find the Mistake - Worksheet for English Learners

Past Simple Worksheets

Find the Mistake - Present Simple or Present Continuous

Find the Mistake - Past Simple or Present Perfect

Find the Mistake - Homophone Mistakes