Giving an account Form and usage

Giving an account When you give an account, you talk about something that you did in the past. Examples include: A birthday celebration as a child My holiday An accident report You have to give an account in your writing and speaking and listening exams from E2.

Giving an account When you give an account you should describe where and when something happened give some details about what happened and the order it happened (first, then, after that, later on…) explain how you feel/felt about it or what happened at the end

Verb tenses When we give an account, we usually use past verb tenses. These include: Simple past – I went to London. Used to – I used to live in London. Past continuous – It was raining.

The past continuous tense We use WAS / WERE + VERB + ING I was shopping. I was eating my dinner. I was sleeping.

The past continuous tense For the question – change the order: WAS / WERE + VERB + ING I was shopping. Was I shopping. I was eating my dinner. Was I eating I was sleeping. Were you sleeping

The past continuous tense For the negative use NOT WAS / WERE NOT + VERB + ING WASN’T / WEREN’T + VERB + ING I was shopping. I was eating my dinner. I was sleeping.

Past continuous - uses to talk about an event that was happening at a specific time in the past At 2 o’clock when it started to rain To set the scene – describe the background to the story It was snowing heavily. The old man was sitting on a bench.

to talk about an event that was happening at a specific time in the past

At 2 pm yesterday… Justina was walking the dog. Mike was waiting at the bus stop. Pete was cleaning windows. Sarah and Ahmed were having a coffee. Stefan was riding his bike. Sammy was crossing the road. Anna was running for the bus

It started to rain

It started to rain

A man and woman were drinking coffee, …

A man and woman were drinking coffee, when it started to rain.

A man and woman were drinking coffee, when it started to rain.

A man and woman were drinking coffee, when it started to rain. Past continuous

A man and woman were drinking coffee, when it started to rain. Past continuous

A man and woman were drinking coffee, when it started to rain. Past continuous

A man and woman were drinking coffee, when it started to rain. Past continuous Past simple

The window cleaner fell of his ladder while

The window cleaner fell of his ladder while he was cleaning the window.

The window cleaner fell of his ladder while he was cleaning the window.

Past simple The window cleaner fell of his ladder while he was cleaning the window.

Past simple Past continuous The window cleaner fell of his ladder while he was cleaning the window.

To set the scene – describe the background to the story

Look at these examples: I was about 17 years old at that time. I was staying with my grandparents in an old farmhouse near the sea.

Look at these examples: We were at a bonfire display in the park. We were watching the fireworks. Everybody was enjoying themselves, especially the children.

Look at these examples: I was cleaning the floor when I slipped on some water and fell down. I hurt my back and twisted my ankle.

Look at these examples: It was night when he left. The rain was pouring down and the wind was howling.