Story — B1 Writing Practice

Exercise 1

Choose the correct narrative tense

6 points

1

The sun shone / was shining / had shone brightly when Maria left the house. (background)

2

She opened / was opening / had opened the letter and gasped. (main event)

3

She realised she left / was leaving / had left her bag at the café. (earlier event)

4

While they walked / were walking / had walked along the beach, it started to rain.

5

______, they reached the top of the mountain and looked around in amazement. (sequencer)

6

______, a car stopped and a woman leaned out of the window. (sudden event)

Exercise 2

Complete the story extract

6 points

Use the verbs in brackets in the correct narrative tense.

1

It (be) a cold winter evening when she first (notice) the light in the old house.

2

She (walk) towards it slowly when suddenly the door (open).

3

She realised she (see) this place before — but she (never / go) inside.

Exercise 3

Write a story

8 points

Continue this story opening. Write 120–160 words. Use past simple, past continuous and past perfect. Include at least three story connectors.
"It had been raining all day when Sara finally arrived at the airport..."

1