1 Which tenses can be used to:

1 set the scene of the story

2 describe the story's main events

3 clarify that one event happened before another

4 go back from the past and describe earlier activities


2 Read the story and fill in the gaps with the most appropriate form of the verbs in brackets.

I had spent (spend) a year off in France and ____________ (look for) a partner there for months but
I ____________ (not find) anybody I could relate to, or who also liked me. Anyway, that all
____________ (change) the day I ____________ (leave) France. I ____________ (wake up) early and
____________ (take) the six-hour train journey to the airport. So far, so good. I got to the
airport fine, no problem. But then chaos ____________ (strike). When checking in at the airport I
found out that my flight was full and I was on standby. They told me that I ____________ (do) the
online check-in wrong or something. I ____________ (travel) a long time already, was really tired
and that was the last thing I needed. Anyway, I ____________ (wait) patiently at the gate, hoping
to get my place, when the pilot of the plane ____________ (arrive), looked at me and asked the
stewards what ____________ (happen). Can you believe he intervened and got a seat for me in the
cockpit? Well, that's how we met. Incredible, isn't it? Funny thing is, he's not French, and I
____________ (not go back) to France since.


3 Think about something that happened to you (or your family/friends). Use of these ideas or your
own:

-       An important event in your life

-       An interesting travel experience

-       A funny story

Think of the background to your story and any effects it still has for you now (i.e. Use various
tenses when telling your story). Tell your story. You can make some notes about your story but be
prepared to tell it rather than read it!

Key:

1

1 past continuous

2 past simple

3 past perfect

4 past perfect continuous

2

Had been looking, hadn't found, changed, left, woke, took, struck, had done, had been travelling,
waited, arrived, had happened, haven't gone/been back


Based on English Unlimited Advanced, 2011