Dvizh. Spotlight 10. Stories

1.

Stories

2.

What can a story be about? What tenses do we normally use?
Read the theory box and check.
A story can be about something that
happened to us. We normally use past
tenses when telling stories.

3.

Read the story and answer the questions.
1. Where did the story take place?
The story took place at the
2. Who were the main characters?
Notting Hill Carnival.
The main characters were
3. What was the weather like?
two friends, Rachel and
4. What happened in the end?
The weather was not hot
Sarah.
and sunny and then there
was a sudden thunderstorm.
They found each other and
had coffee in a café.

4.

Whichtenses
paragraph(s):
What
has the writer used?
Para 2&3
• develop(s) the story?
• set(s) the scene?
The writer has used a variety of • end(s) the story?
past tenses (past simple +
continuous + past perfect)
Para 1
Para 4

5.

Number the events on the order they happened (1-10). Then, tell the
story from Rachel’s point of view.
6
5
3
2
10
8
4
1
7
9
Answer
Story

6.

Read the theory. Does the first paragraph in the story answer these
questions?

7.

Look at the picture. Use the words/phrases to set the scene. Compare
with your partner.
John, Jane, Sue and
Barry decided to go
sailing last weekend. It
was a sunny day with a
blue sky and they had
hired a big boat.

8.

Read the theory box.
Replace the adjectives in
bold in the paragraph below
with more interesting ones
from the list.
comfortable
pleased
deafening
relieved
terrifying
*terrifying *deafening
*pleased *relieved
*comfortable

9.

Complete the sentences with the following adverbs: happily, anxiously,
slowly, loudly, patiently, hungrily.
happily
patiently
anxiously
slowly
hungrily
slowly
anxiously
loudly
loudly
happily
patiently
hungrily

10.

Use the phrases in sentences of your own. Then complete the
sentences.
ate hungrily
screamed loudly
waited patiently
thought anxiously
moved slowly
smiled happily

11.

Complete with the correct synonym or antonym from the list. Can you
add to the table?
frightened
tired
worried
calm
bored
certain
glad

12.

Match the adjectives (1-6) to the feelings of the speakers (A-F). Then
make sentences, as in the example.
She was
disappointed
because
everything
went wrong.
He could hardly
keep his eyes
open because
he was
exhausted.
She felt like
crying because
she was upset.
• excited D
• confused E
F
• amused
• exhausted B
She was
excited
because she
was going on
holiday.
She was
confused
because she
just didn’t
understand it.
He was amused
because it was
quite a funny
situation.
• disappointed
A
• upset
C

13.

Read the theory box. What verbs are used in the story instead of
‘said’?
Told, shouted, thought
and replied.
Story

14.

Use appropriate verbs to replace said.
whispered
exclaimed
cried
screamed
wondered

15.

Read the theory box. What linkers are used in the story?
When, and, while, but, as, by
the time, just.
Story

16.

Use appropriate linkers to link the sentences below.
She was trying to unlock the door
but she was using the wrong key.
It wasn’t very busy around the
pool so we found two sunglasses…
We thought we should never find
help until/and then we saw a …
We didn’t worry until it began to
get dark and Holly still hadn’t …
I turned off my bedside lamp and
then there was a knock at the …
I tried to pull my leg out from
under the rock but it was stuck …
Andy went to look for Sam while
I tried calling him on his mobile …

17.

Read the theory box. What techniques has the writer used to
begin/end the story?
Story

18.

Match the beginnings with the endings. Which techniques do each of the
beginnings and endings use? Which do you find the most interesting? Why?
B
A
C

19.

Write the beginning and ending of a story entitled Nightmare at the
Festival. How did you make them interesting?
Beginning
Ending
I made my beginning and ending interesting by
describing the weather, using direct speech, creating
suspense, and asking a rhetorical questions.

20.

Read the theory box. Find the present and past participles used in the
story.

21.

Link the following sentences using present or past participles, as in the
example.
Shaking with fear, he hid in the
bushes.
Standing at the edge of the rock,
he admired the magnificent view.
Annoyed, she called her travel
agent to complain.
Thrilled, they couldn’t believe
they were really in Hawaii.
Shaking with fear, we were sure
the plane was going to crash.

22.

Read the rubrics (A, B, C) and find the key words. Choose a rubric and
discuss the questions with a partner.

23.

Read the rubrics (A, B, C) and find the key words. Choose a rubric and
discuss the questions with a partner.
Answer

24.

Now, write your story. Before handing it in, check for the following.
Answer A
Answer B
Answer C

25.

Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense. Match the beginnings to the endings.

26.

Replace the words in bold with others from the list: comfortable,
deafening, desperate, gigantic, calm, soaked, gentle.
1. calm
2. gentle
3. deafening
4. soaked
5. gigantic
6. desperate
7. comfortable

27.

Use the linkers to join the sentences.

28.

Join the sentences using a present or past participle.