Narrative tenses
Sally hasn't contacted us for over six weeks.
HEARD
We _______________________ over six weeks ago.
last heard from her
The thieves of the painting escaped without punishment because of a technicality.
AWAY
On account of a technicality the thieves _______________ the painting.
got away with stealing
This manual is too difficult for me.
CONCERNED
As ... , this manual is too difficult.
FAR AS I AM CONCERNED/FAR AS I'M CONCERNED
None of the phones were left when we got to the shop.
time
... the shop, all the phones had been sold.
by the time we got to
My boss suggested that I shouldn´t stand for disrespectful clients.
UP
My boss told _______________ disrespectful clients.
me not to put up with
We were late arriving at the conference and so we missed the opening ceremony.
BY
The opening ceremony ... we arrived at the conference.
had finished/was over by the time
The shop was closed for a week while they decorated it.
done
While it ... , the shop was closed for a week.
was being done up
I failed the exam as I hadn’t gone over the vocabulary enough.
HAD
If only _______________, I would have passed the exam.
I had reviewed the vocabulary more
The committee will reach its decision after considering all the facts.
TAKEN
All the facts ......................the committee reaches its decision.
will be taken into consideration before
This is your third warning from me this week about being late for work.
NOT
This is the third time this week I ... be late for work.
have warned/told you not to
We decided we wouldn't go with him to the airport after all.
SEE
We decided not to .......... the airport after all.
see him off at
It hasn't snowed quite as much this year as it did last year.
SLIGHTLY
This year, there has ... than there was last year.
been slightly less snow
Immediately after Emi quit her job, she booked a package tour around Europe.
HAD
As ... in her notice Emi booked a package tour around Europe.
soon as she had handed
Jane said she was at home at the time of the murder, but police didn't believe her.
up
Jane said she was at home at the time of the murder, but police...
said her story didn't add up.
We missed the train because we arrived at the station late.
BY
The train ... we arrived at the station.
had left/gone/departed by the time