Lesson 1 of 6

Telling Stories

Tell engaging stories using natural tenses and connecting phrases.

14 minLevel B2–C1

Stories are at the heart of social conversation in American culture: what happened at work, a funny moment on vacation, an awkward situation. Good storytellers are seen as confident and fun. You need just a few tense patterns and a set of connecting phrases.

LearnThe key ideas

Story tenses

UseTenseExample
Background scenePast continuousI was waiting for the bus and it was pouring rain...
Main eventsPast simpleSuddenly, a car stopped and a guy got out.
Earlier eventsPast perfectI'd never seen him before.
Casual, dramatic stylePresent tenseSo I'm standing there, and this guy walks up to me...

Story connectors

Start: "So, the other day...", "You won't believe what happened...". Move forward: "And then...", "Next thing I know...", "All of a sudden...". Skip ahead: "Long story short...", "Anyway...". End: "It was crazy.", "I'll never forget it.", "Lesson learned!"

ListenListen and repeat

  • So the other day, I was at the grocery store...Opening.
  • Next thing I know, my phone's ringing.A dramatic present tense.
  • Long story short, we missed the flight.Skipping to the end.
  • Anyway, it all worked out in the end.Wrapping up.

AvoidCommon mistakes

Telling a story in a flat sequence of "then... then... then..."✓ Vary your connectorsVariety keeps listeners engaged.
Mixing tenses randomly✓ Pick past or dramatic present and stay with itConsistency makes stories clear.
Too many unimportant details✓ Long story short...Keep the story moving.

SpeakShadowing practice

Press Listen, then repeat straight away, copying the speed, rhythm and tone. Say each sentence three times, then record yourself.

  • So the other day, I was walking to work, right?
  • And all of a sudden, it starts pouring rain.
  • Long story short, I showed up to the meeting completely soaked.
Record the sentences above and compare with the audio.

CheckQuick quiz

1. Best tense for the background scene of a story:

2. "Long story short" means:

3. "Next thing I know..." is used to:

PracticeToday's speaking task

Tell a 90-second story about something funny, scary or surprising that happened to you. Use at least four connectors. Record it.

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