Part OneWriting （Revision with Grammar）Writing Narrative EssaysSection 1 Verbs*The underlined parts are mistakesRange of assessment: A,B,C,D,E (pass); F, U (fail)(1) The Past Simple∙Definite time in the past∙Started/ Completed an actionDifferent forms of a verbProblem words ☹Useful Time Expressions for the simple past tense☺*e.g. He didn’t move here until 1991.A. StatementsUseful Writing Skills ☺∙Succession of activitiesHe woke at seven, got out of bed, washed, shaved, dressed, ran downstairs, ate breakfast, put his coat on, rushed to the bus stop, and took a bus to the station.B. Questions∙YES/NO QUESTIONSDid Bob repair the TV last week?∙WH-QUESTIONSWhat did you drink for breakfast this morning?What made you look so sad?C. NegativeCarlo did not arrive in Australia until 1994.Passive Voice ☹∙was/were + past participleDepending on the subject, the active or passive voice should be used.e.g. He was born in 1983. (bear)∙Singular or plural?e.g. They were caught by the police. (catch)My idea was ignored by everybody.∙Passive voice/ adjective / past participle?e.g. He was disappointed with my results. (My results disappointed him.)She was concerned about his safety. (His safety made her feel concerned.)∙Active/Passive?Some verbs can only be used in the active voice.e.g. appear, occur, collapse, happenSome verbs can be used in both the active and the passive voice, with a difference in meaning.e.g. H e drowned/ was drowned last weekend.The meeting adjourned/ was adjourned at 3o’clock.(2) The Past Continuous∙An activity was continuing at the time when another activity occurrede.g. I was taking the train from Central to Tsuen Wan (when the theft happened).She was shouting as all the other passengers on the train stared at her∙Chief interest is in the activity itself and its continuitye.g. What were you doing all morning?She was watching TV all evening.The girls were making cakes this morning.She was writing letters all afternoon.∙Two or more activities were continuing at the same timee.g While I was sowing the seeds, Harry was digging up potatoes and George waspicking plums.Lucy was practising the piano and Carol was baking a chocolate cake.TEXT COMPARISONA passage without linking words:A passage with linking words:Time Expressions ☺e.g. After buying some noodles, I went back to my building.Before going back to my building, I bought some noodles.After hearing the bad news, she fainted.Before setting out, they checked their luggage.While watching the play, he found that his purse was missing.Other Useful Structures ☺∙To use appropriate tenses, consider the relationship between two actions When he arrived, he discovered their secret.When he was singing, Mary suddenly dropped in.He was playing video games while she was reading a newspaper.∙Participles can also be used as adverbs expressing:1. TimeWhen the super star came out of the car, he was greeted by his fans.Coming out of the car, the super star was greeted by his fans.2. ReasonAs/Since/Because he was busy, he politely declined the invitation.Being busy, he politely declined the invitation.3. MannerShe sat there reading a TV magazine.The students sat in the library buried in their books.Practice SectionExercise 1Fill in the blank with the correct tense and underline the time phrase.1. He (die) ________________ yesterday morning.2. The First World War (begin) _______________ in 1914.3. Harry (come) ______________ to see me yesterday.4. I (hear)____________ the news an hour ago.5. The Greens (live)____________ in Ireland during the war.Exercise 2Matching1. Did you see her last night? A. Y es, it was the most exciting party I’veever seen.2. Did you feel hungry? B. Why not? It was a very easy paper.3. Did you have a good time? C. There were too many people. Maybe shewas not there.4. Did you pass the English test? D. I didn’t have much t ime.5. Did you bring any flowers for her? E. I felt more tired than hungry.F. The flowers are roses.G. She is my sister.H. I think they were useless.1. _____2. _____3. _____4. _____5. _____Exercise 3Matching1. When did you begin your homework lastnight? A. Not many things. Only carrots andtomatoes.2. What did you buy at the grocery storewhen you were there?B. Not much.3. Where did you grow up? C. At seven, I think.4. When did you send in your application? D. Two postcards and some books.5. How much did you pay for this book? E. Before the deadline, of course.F. This book is very expensive.G. In a small village.1. _____2. _____3. _____4. _____5. _____Exercise 4Matching1. What happened when you were there? A. No one. I learned it myself.2. Who told you the secrets? B. It was a very difficult subject.3. How many people came to the party? C. Peter, of course.4. Which vehicle ran over the woman? D. A lorry.5. Who taught you English? E. That Toyota.F. A bomb exploded.G. About forty1. _____2. _____3. _____4. _____5. _____Exercise 5Matching1. Did you see her last night? A. She didn’t have a chance.2. Who did she look like? B. Before anyone else did.3. Where did you see her? C. At John’s party.4. Did she say anything to you? D. She left for the hotel.5. When did she leave? E. Princess Diana.F. Of course, she was so special.G. She liked Barbie.1. _____2. _____3. _____4. _____5. _____Exercise 6Write the correct past form of the verbs in the brackets.e.g. (invite) When did she invite the dinner guests?1. (marinate) ____________ you ______________ the meat?Y es, I ______________ it in white wine.2. (spoil) _________________ the milk __________________ overnight?No, __________________.3. (sift) How thoroughly __________________ he ______________ the flour?He ____________________ it several times.4. (bring) ____________________ the waiter ____________________ themappetizers?Y es, he ____________________ them a few minutes ago.5. (stuff) ____________________ the cook ____________________ the turkey?Y es, she ____________________ it with fruit and rice.Exercise 7Complete the blank with the correct form of the verb in the brackets.1. Many great cathedrals ________________ during the Middle Ages. (build)2. I________________ by her smile. (puzzle)3. They ________________ by the wonderful performance of the singer. (fascinate)4. She ________________ about the examination. (worry)5. The letters ________________ to us this morning. (deliver)Key 9Exercise 8Fill in the blank with the correct verb form.1. The two-storeyed building __________________ last night. (collapse)2. The radio __________________ down during the mid-night programme. (break)3. The meeting ___________________ off because the chairman was absent. (call)4. No one knows why the accident __________________. (happen)5. He __________________ to succeed. (determine)Exercise 9Fill in the blank with the correct verb form.1. When George (arrive) ________ home, his sister (watch) _____________ TV.2. Where (live) _____________you _____________ when the war (break)_____________ out.3. I (see) _________ Mr Grey while I (walk)_________ to school.4. The boy (knock) _________ down by a bus while he (cross) _________ the street.5. We (play) _________ tennis when you (phone) _________ .Exercise 10Write the correct form of the verb in each blank. Pay attention to the time expressions.When Annie (1) __________________ (finish) her work last night at 11 o’clock, she (2) __________________ (walk) home. While she (3) __________________ (walk), a strange car (4) __________________ (stop) near her. A man (5)__________________ (ask) her for directions to High Street. She (6)__________________ (answer) his questions politely, but she (7)__________________ (not like) the strange man.At the same time, James (8) __________________ (go) home from the grocery store, and he (9) __________________ (notice) Annie on the other side of the street. She (10) __________________ (talk) to a man in a very old car. James (11)__________________ (call) her name, and she (12) __________________ (wave) to him. He (13) __________________ (walk) across the street. The man (14)__________________ (stop) talking and (15) __________________ (start) his car. While he (16) __________________ (drive) away, Annie (17) __________________ (smile) very happily at James.Exercise 11Some of the linking words in the following paragraphs have been missed out. Complete them by filling in each blank with a suitable linking word or phrase. You can use a word or phrase more than once.Something frightening happened to me last Wednesday. It was late in the evening ___________ I was very hungry, ___________ I went out to the supermarket near my building to get something to eat. ___________ buying some snacks, I went back to my building ___________ got in the lift.I pressed my floor button ___________ stood patiently ___________ the lift slowly began going up. It had just passed the eighth floor ___________ I heard a crashing sound. ___________, the lift stopped between the ninth and tenth floors.Key 14I tried to keep calm. I carefully put my bag on the floor of the lift ___________ rang the emergency bell once. It made a loud noise but ___________ I stopped ringing it, there was only silence. I began to get nervous, ___________ started ringing the bell again and again. ___________ I was ringing it, I heard a loud bang on the lift doors. I immediately stopped pressing the button ___________ shouted for help.___________ someone had heard me!To cut a long story short, I waited in the lift for almost an hour ___________ the lift maintenance man arrived. ___________, ___________ I had the chance to eat my noodles that night, they were completely cold. ___________ I was happy that I could eat them in my own home!Exercise 12Choose the most suitable word.1. It rained very hard ...... last Tuesday.A. inB. onC. --D. at2. As a result, we could not go out ...... that day.A. --B. inC. atD. on3. My sister was born ......February 28th ...... a leap year.A. in......onB. in......inC. on......onD. on......in4. I'll see you ...... next Wednesday.A. inB. onC. --D. at5. The landlady wants three ......rent in advance.A. monthsB. month'sC. months'D. month6. Y esterday was March the ......A. 27thB. 21thC. 11stD. 13rd7. The year 2010 will be in the ......century.A. 19thB. 20thC. 200thD. 21st8. We have a holiday ......Chinese New Y ear and ...... Christmas Day.A. for ......inB. at......onC. on......atD. in......in9. A fortnight ago, the date was December 2nd, so the date today must be .......A. 18th NovemberB. 2nd DecemberC. 16th DecemberD. 2nd January10. Of the following periods a year, a decade, a century and a millennium, the next toshortest is ......A. a centuryB. a decadeC. a millenniumD. a yearExercise 13Using the structures, combine the following events.e.g. (9:00) Peter dressed himself tidily.(9:30) He set off.After dressing himself tidily, Peter set off.Before setting off, Peter dressed himself tidily.1. (10:00) Mary went to the library.(11:00) Mary visited her grandmother.1. ____________________________________________________________2. (2005) John graduated from the University of Hong Kong.(2006) John furthered his studies abroad.2. ____________________________________________________________3. (January) Tom took a course in Chemistry.(May) Tom enrolled in a Science class.3. ________________________________________________________Exercise 14Fill in each blank with the correct form of the verb in the brackets.1. Before they _____________ the decision, they _____________ a public meeting.(make, hold)2. While May _____________, her husband _____________ dinner. (study,prepare)3. He _____________ out of school as I _____________ ready to graduate.(drop, get)4. Mary _____________ me last night after she _____________ with herparents. (call, talk)5. While he _____________ Science, the boy _____________ him. (study,interrupt)Exercise 15Complete the sentences.1. The moment she heard the bad news, _______________________.2. The minute he reached 18, he ______________________________.3. Just as she was writing the last sentence, _____________________.Exercise 16Combine the following pairs of sentences, using present or past participles. Follow the example.e.gThe neighbours heard a scream.They called the police.Hearing a scream, the neighbours called the police.1 We saw the accident.We dialled 999.______________________________________________________________2 The students felt tired.They took a rest under a tree.______________________________________________________________3 Ann was fed up with the gossip.She left the room.______________________________________________________________4 Henry did not know her number.He could not telephone her.______________________________________________________________5 They were not satisfied with the service.They decided to complain to the manager.______________________________________________________________6 Cynthia did not know what to do.She went to her best friend for advice.______________________________________________________________7 She was born into a poor family.She is used to hard work.______________________________________________________________Writing Narrative Essays Section 2 Language for narrative essaysThe Past Perfect∙When we have two past references, we are not obliged to use the simple past perfect:After I finished work, I went home.∙But we often need the past perfect for the event that happened first to avoid ambiguity:When I arrived, Ann left. (i.e. at that moment)When I arrived, Ann had left. (i.e. before I got there)∙We use the past perfect to refer to ‘an earlier past’, that is to describe the first of two or more actions:First the patient died. Then the doctor arrived.The patient had died when the doctor arrived.∙The past perfect continuous is for repeated actions or actions in progress throughout a period:He had been phoning every night for a month.He was very tired. He had been typing all day.e.g.Never had I seen such a ridiculous event before.Once/ After/ As soon as/ When we had seen the match, we went home.I feared/thought/remembered/realized/regretted that I had done something stupid. ☞Exercise 1Using connectives ☺∙conjunctions or adverbs?He was upset, however, he pretended to look happy. (wrong)He was upset; however, he pretended to look happy. (correct)Just after he had finished. It started to rain. (wrong)∙We can join two or more simple sentences to make complex sentences: The fire was discovered. The alarm was raised.The alarm was raised as soon as the fire was discovered.The alarm was raised when the fire was discovered.The alarm was raised after the fire was discovered.∙Some words can be used either as prepositions or conjunctionsafter, before, till, sinceModal Verbs∙Some modal verbs often used in narrative writing:should could mightA short narrative paragraph with different past tenses:Read the following passage. Discuss the use of different past tenses with your teacher.It was just before the Second World War. John was only 20 at the time and was living with his mother. He was working in a bank and travelling to Central every day. One morning, he received a mysterious letter. It was addressed to ‘Mr. John Chan’. The letter, which was signed, ‘A Friend’, asked John to go to The Holiday Inn during his lunch hour. All morning, he was thinking about the inn. As he arrived during the lunch time, the inn was full of people and John couldn’t recogni se anyone. He was just wondering if he should leave, when a stranger introduced himself and said he had known John’s father, who had died when Tom was a baby. The stranger explained that John’s father, George, was a secret agent in the First World War. Through this meeting, John was recruited to be a secret agent, too.Negative Patterns ☹●After negative adverbs, etc.hardly, hardly ever, never, rarely, seldom (adv) are very formal stylephrases with only: e.g. only after, only when, only thene.g. Only then did I learn the truth.Never had he seen such a terrible scene.So difficult was this problem, Einstein could not solve it.●No sooner...than, Hardly...whene.g. No sooner had I arrived than it began to rain.Hardly had I arrived when it began to rain.More about patterns with participles ✌●Present Participle1.We can use the present participle in place of and, so, etc. to join two simple sentences:e.g. I found the front door locked. I went r ound the back.I found the front door locked and went round the back.Finding the front door locked, I went round the back.2. To make a negative, we put not in front of the -ing form:e.g. I did not know his phone number. I was not able to ring him.I did not know his phone number, and/ or I was not able to ring him.Not knowing his phone number, I was not able to ring him.3. Note how we can use being in place of is or was:e.g.I was short of money. I couldn’t afford to buy it.Being short of money, I couldn’t afford to buy it.4. In place of adverb clausese.g.Since we arrived here, we have made many new friends.Since arriving here, we have made many new friends.5. Beware of the dangling subjecte.g.Turning the corner, a tile f ell off the roof. (wrong)Turning the corner, I saw a tile fall off the roof (right)●Passive/Adjectives/Past Participlese.g. He was tired of play, so he sat down to rest.(Being) tired of play, he sat down to rest.He was accustomed to rule, and he told himself to obey.Accustomed to rule, he told himself to obey.He was deceived by his friend, so he lost all hope.Deceived by his friends, he lost all hope.Three Sample Essays ✌Here are three narrative essays on the same topic about a boy who disappeared and what happened to him. Decide which essay is below average, average or above average. Pay attention to the verb forms. The topic is from Question 1 of the 1998Essay ABOY RETURNS TO WORRIED FAMILYThis morning I was lucky to be the first reporter to talk to Harry Tung since he returned home. When asked about his adventure he told me he was afraid in this experience. he will not remember this experience for his life.He said that he was going to China by ship with his mother. About three hours, they will be reached the Nasm King pier. His mother slept. Suddenly, he was hiding on ship. Unluckly, nobody saw him. His mother wake up but she cannot found him on the ship. So, his mother made sure that her son was missing. When the ship arrived the Nam King pier. his mother was going to polic station. She give all nescessary particular to the police. The police was recorded all about. After, the police help his mother to find a hotel.He said that he was hiding on ship. Luckly, a fishman help his life on 13rd may, 1988. he told the fishman. He was going from Hong Kong to Nam King with his mother. Now that, he was disappeared.Essay BThis morning I was lucky to be the first reporter to talk to Harry Tung since he returned home. When asked about his adventure he told me that it was a terrible experience.On May 9, when Harry after school, he came home as usual. Nothing wrong, just walked his daily route to go home. Suddenly, there were four strong men, rushed toward Harry and took him to a car. "The car was very small, actually there was no empty space for me to move! I schemed loudly, but nobody heard, I don't know why!" said Harry in a pity voice. Because Harry was a son of well-known businessman, those strong men want money so they also want Harry to achieve their goal.They took him to a village hut in the New Territories. No food but water. Harry's both hands and foots were tied. They phoned to his father for money. Unlucky, Harry's father was not in Hong Kong, but in Europe.When Harry's family knew Harry was missing, they called police and worried to wait for Harry's return. They only waiting and nothing they can do.Past two days, Harry was locked for two days! On May 11 mid-night, all strong men was asleep. Harry made action, he wanted to escape. "I used my teeth to tear the rope and than slightly opened the unlocked door and ran away, but I kicked a stone and the strong men awarded my escape! My escape was fail!" Four strong men felt very angry because they cannot contect to Harry's father and Harry's escape. They also fear that police found them so on May 12 morning, they took Harry to a ship and hiding him like a cargoes. Actually, they wanted to took Harry to China for easily hiding.When Harry was in a ship, he felt very afaird, he didn't known where they took him to. No hope for escape at all for he was shipping on Pacific Ocean.On May 13, when China imgration Depertment investingate the ship which hidding Harry in, Harry knew there was a chance for him to out. he cried loudly and kicked other cargoes. Imigration Depertment's staffs heard Harry's cried and found Harry out. Those four strong men knew that their goal was fail, they ran away but also arrested by the police!Harry was free and returned to his worried family. "thank God! Next time I will choose another route to come home and do not want to see another strong men again!" he laugh.*Note: There are a lot of spelling errors in this essay.Essay CThis morning I was lucky to be the first reporter to talk to Harry Tung since he returned home. When asked about his adventure he told me that he was afraid and did not know what to do at that time.Harry Tung, aged 16, the son of a well-known businessman, had lost his way when he went shopping with his parents in Causeway Bay. the police had leaved no stone unturned to find Harry Tung but all the effort was in vain."I saw a crowd of people standing at the side of the harbour. Then, I went with them to see what was happened." Harry Tung said. He was then pulled into a big ship. the ship was going to China and it had loads on it."I was frightened. I followed the man who carried loads on their back because I wanted to find the exit of the ship. I followed them up to a room and went into it. the room filled fully with loads. When I was looking at the labels on the loads with interest, the door was shut." Harry Tong said.Without rhymes or reasons, Harry Tong was shut in the room for about four days. he said he was very hungry. He could not withstand such condition because he had never been in hunger before. Loudly as he cried for help, no body came to open the door. hardly can one not felt the cold of the circumstance if one has long been in hunger.Harry Tung was found hiding on the ship yesterday. he was in China then. he was very hungry at that time and he drank some milk that was given by the man on the ship. he was sent back to Hong Kong at once.Harry Tung's parents was very happy when Harry returned home. Although Harry has lost his weight, he could return to home is a more important thing.Practice SectionExercise 1Supply the simple past or the simple past perfect.1. They __________________ the gates before I __________________ three (lock,get)2. By the time we __________________, the party __________________. (arrive,finish)3. I __________________ the shop as soon as I __________________ all the doorsand windows. (ring, check)4. After we __________________ it on the phone, I __________________ him aletter about it. (discuss, write)5. We __________________ a good rest when our guests __________________(have, all leave)Exercise 2Mark the ‘connecting ideas’ (a-h) that are expressed in the text.According to (1. ) many people I know, there are few things more terrifying than having to speak in public. The only way to succeed is to follow strict rules. First of all, (2. ) you should be well-prepared. Second, (3. ) you should have a few jokes ready. As well as that, (4. ) you should have rehearsed your speech, preferably in front of a mirror. In comparison with (5. ) being hit by a vehicle, public speaking isn’t too bad, but it’s bad enough. However, (6. ) you can make things easier for yourself by being ready. Alternatively, (7. ) you can do nothing and make a fool of yourself. To sum up, (8. ) success depends entirely on you.a. I am introducing a listb. I am making an additionc. I am pointing to a contrastd. I am stating an alternativee. I am summarisingf. I am making a second pointg. I am making a comparisonh. As stated byExercise 3Rewrite the sentences with the words given in the brackets.e.g.1. When I reached the station, the train had already left.a. (use ‘after’) I reached the station after the train had left.b. (use ‘until’) I didn't reach the station until after the train had left.c. (use ‘before’) The train (had) left before I reached the station.2. When we got to the hall, the concert had already started.a. (use 'after') ____________________________________________________b. (use 'until') ____________________________________________________c. (use 'before') ____________________________________________________3. For several years after Dick (had) left school, he worked in a zoo.a. (use 'when') ____________________________________________________4. As soon as they had finished breakfast, they ran out to play.a. (use 'after') ____________________________________________________ Key 23Exercise 4Complete these sentences with a) a noun object b) a clause1. He could not work before ____________________________________________.2. He promised to meet her after _________________________________________.3. She did not appear till ________________________________________________.4. He had been staying in the hotel since ___________________________________.Exercise 5Supply the simple past or the simple past perfect. Show when both are possible. 1.. When she __________________ the office this morning, John__________________. (ring, already go out)2. Before we __________________ Paul to the theatre, he __________________ anopera before. (take, never see)3. I __________________ the carpet when the cat __________________ in and__________________ himself. (just clean, come, shake)4. He __________________ to do the job in half an hour, but he still__________________ by 11 o’clock. (promise, not finish)5. When I __________________, she __________________. (arrive, already leave)6. When I __________________ what I __________________ to the little girl, I__________________ that I __________________ an unforgivable mistake. (see, do, realise, commit)7. The police __________________ an informer among them. That__________________ why the robbers __________________. (plant, be, catch)8. No one __________________ him the machine __________________ out of order.Therefore, he __________________ the button. (tell, be, press)9. He __________________ strange. He __________________ sure somebody__________________ there before. (feel, be, be)10. Never before __________________ (I hear) such a silly story.。
