VOCABULARY 1
Used to skip details and get to the main point of a story.
to cut a long story short
Available for someone to use whenever needed.
at one’s disposal –
Explain use of PAST SIMPLE
Function: A completed past action or event (usually at a specific time)
A sequence of past actions
I was exhausted because I worked / had been working for twelve hours straight.
had been working
I locked the door before / as soon as I arrived home
as soon as
Used to introduce the final (often worst or best) event in a series.
to top it off
To accidentally hear something not meant for you.
overhear
Explain use of PAST CONTINUOUS
Function: An action in progress at a particular past point.
An action that was in progress when another action happened
A temporary past state or situation.
When we arrived at the station, the train left / had already left.
had already left
They hadn’t eaten anything by the time / while the meeting finally started.
by the time
A feeling of sadness, anxiety, or bad luck.
a black cloud over somebody
Used to tell someone not to worry because something is certain or guaranteed.
rest assured
Explain use of PAST PERFECT SIMPLE
Function:
A past action that happened before another past action
Life experience up to a past point.
A past action/event with a result/influence at a past point.
He ran / was running down the stairs when he slipped and fell.
was running
We finished the project early, and by the time/afterwards , we went out for dinner to celebrate.
afterwards
To become very friendly with someone very quickly.
get along like a house on fire
Cheerful, not serious, or meant to be funny.
light-hearted
Explain use of PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
The same 3 functions for Past Perfect apply to Past Perfect Continuous but we use continuous to focus on the long and repeated action or duration.
I didn’t recognise him at first because he had grown / grew a beard.
had grown
She was still sleeping when / by the time I left the house.
when
To be in trouble or a difficult situation.
find yourself in hot water
Someone who is confident and very successful, often in a showy way.
hot shot (guy)
Fill in the text with the correct narrative tense
Last summer, my sister 1. ____________ (decide) to surprise our parents with a family trip. We 2. ____________ (plan) everything for months before the big day finally arrived. On the morning of our departure, I 3. ____________ (help) pack the suitcases while my sister 4. ____________ (check) the flight times again. By the time we 5. ____________ (get) to the airport, the queue at the check-in was already very long.
decided
had been planning
was helping
was checking
got
She was always talking / had always talked during class, which annoyed the teacher.
was always talking
Before/As soon as the meeting finished, everyone started packing up their things. They were angry at their boss
before