Creating Narratives in English

Narrative Tenses

Multiple Choice

I own so much _____, my husband had to buy me a bookcase for me to store it in.

• stationary

• stationery

• handwriting

Multiple Choice

A good way to get to know people is by mastering the art of ____; although not everyone enjoys talking about inconsequential subjects.

• small talk

• entertaining

• good impression

Multiple Select

In the song, Michelle's character moves from present tenses to past, according to what she is talking about. This is called "tense switching" or "tense shifting."

For example, in this part:

Hand in my hand and we promised to never let go

We're walking a tightrope high in the sky

What tenses is she using?

• Present simple

• Present continuous

• Past simple

• Present perfect

Multiple Select

In this other sentence, for example, she is mainly using present tenses:

We can see the whole world down below

We're walking a tightrope

What two present tenses is she using?

• Present simple

• Present Continuous

• Present Perfect Simple

• Present Perfect Continuous

Multiple Select

In this part, again, three tenses are used in the same paragraph:

Some people long for a life that is simple and planned

Tied with a ribbon

Some people won't sail the sea 'cause they're safer on land

To follow what's written

What tenses is she using?

• Present simple

• Future simple

• Conditional

• Present Perfect Simple

Multiple Select

Here, she is, again, using multiple tenses in the same paragraph:

All the will come in between, desert and ocean

You pulled me in and together we're lost in a dream

So I risk

Which tenses is she using to refer to the future?

• Present Simple

• Past Simple

• Future Will

Multiple Select

What do you think the writer trying to convey by using different tenses throughout the song?

• The passage of time

• How different events relate to one another

• The chronological order of events

Tense switching

• Is a writing technique where, writers maintain one tense for the main discourse and indicate changes in time frame by changing tense 

Multiple Choice

For example, in the sentence:

By the time Tom notices the doorbell, it has already rung three times.

Which event happened first?

• Tom notices the doorbell

• The bell rings 3 times

Multiple Choice

This is also very common when using state and action verbs in the same sentence:

The children love their new tree house, which they built themselves.

What does the use of a state verb in present tense indicate?

• That the children still love their tree house.

• That the house was built recently.

Multiple Choice

A shift in tense can also talk about things that will happen in the future:

Workers are installing extra loudspeakers because the music in tonight's concert will need amplification.

In this case, what does the use of present continuous indicate?

• Something that will happen in the future

• Something that is happening now

Tense Switching

After listening to the song We don't talk about Bruno, in teams, choose one or two verses and analyze the tenses used.

Think about what the writer is trying to convey with each tense