The key idea
I can put story events in order with a beginning, a problem, and an ending.
What is it for?
Learn how to write a short story with a beginning, a problem, and an ending.
What you need to know
- A title that tells readers what the story is about.
- A beginning that introduces the people and place.
- A middle part that describes a problem or surprise.
- An ending that explains what happened at the end.
- Time words that help readers follow the events.
- Past simple verbs to describe the events.
1. Give your story three parts
A short story has three main parts. Each part has a different job. Start with the people and the place. Then describe a problem or surprise. Finally, explain what happened at the end.
- Beginning: Who is in the story? Where are they?
- Middle: What problem or surprise happens?
- Ending: How does the problem finish?
Mia visited a small park with her brother.
This beginning tells us who and where.
Suddenly, her brother lost his bag.
This sentence introduces the problem.
In the end, they found it near a tree.
This ending shows how the problem finished.
2. Put events in order
Time words show when things happen. They help readers follow your story. Use different words instead of repeating and then.
- Use one day to start a story.
- Use then or after that for the next event.
- Use suddenly for an unexpected event.
- Use a few minutes later for a later event.
- Use in the end or finally for the ending.
One day, Tom went to the market.
One day introduces the story.
Suddenly, his shopping bag broke.
Suddenly introduces an unexpected problem.
A few minutes later, his friend arrived.
This phrase shows when the next event happened.
3. Use past simple verbs
Stories often describe finished events. Use the past simple for these events. Many verbs end in -ed. Some verbs have different past forms.
- Regular verbs: walk becomes walked.
- Irregular verbs: go becomes went.
- Keep most sentences short and clear.
- Use one longer sentence for an important moment.
Lucy opened her bag.
Opened is the past form of open.
She saw a small kitten.
Saw is the past form of see.
She took it home because it looked cold.
This longer sentence gives an important detail.
4. Write a clear ending
Give your story a title. The title helps readers know the main topic. Finish the story clearly. Show what happened to the people or the problem.
- Choose a short title.
- Do not stop immediately after the problem.
- Explain what happened next.
- Use finally or in the end to introduce the last event.
The Missing Keys
This short title tells readers about the problem.
Finally, Dad found the keys in his coat.
This sentence gives the problem a clear ending.
5. Plan before you write
Make a small plan before you start. Write three keywords. One keyword is for each story part. Then turn your ideas into sentences.
- Beginning: person and place.
- Problem: something goes wrong or changes.
- Ending: the final result.
- Check that your events follow a clear order.
Beginning: Ben, bus stop.
These words help you start the story.
Problem: lost ticket.
This tells you what goes wrong.
Ending: driver helps.
This gives you an idea for the ending.
How to do it, step by step
- Choose a title for your story.
- Introduce the people and place.
- Describe a problem or surprise.
- Tell the events in order with time words.
- Explain the ending and check your past verbs.
Formulas and key language
| Use it for | Example | Another example |
|---|---|---|
| One day, + past simple | One day, Nina visited her aunt. | One day, Sam found a small box. |
| Then, + past simple | Then, Nina opened the door. | Then, Sam looked inside the box. |
| Suddenly, + past simple | Suddenly, the lights went out. | Suddenly, a dog ran into the garden. |
| After that, + past simple | After that, we called our teacher. | After that, Dad checked the car. |
| A few minutes later, + past simple | A few minutes later, the bus arrived. | A few minutes later, Mia found her phone. |
| In the end, + past simple | In the end, we found the house. | In the end, Leo returned the wallet. |
| Finally, + past simple | Finally, the shop opened. | Finally, the family arrived home. |
| Subject + past verb + because + reason | Ella ran home because it started to rain. | We stopped because the road was closed. |
UK / US: Both British and American English use the same basic story structure. Some words differ, such as holiday (British) and vacation (American).
Model text
The Missing Lunch Bag
Beginning
One day, Alex went to school with his sister, Emma. They carried their lunch bags and talked about their classes. At lunchtime, Alex opened his backpack, but his lunch bag was missing.
The beginning introduces the people and place. It also starts the problem.
Problem
Suddenly, Emma remembered something. Alex left his lunch bag on the bus. After that, they asked their teacher for help. The teacher called the bus office, and a worker checked the seats. A few minutes later, the worker found the bag under a seat. Alex felt happy because his lunch was still inside.
The middle explains the problem and the steps they took. Time words keep the events in order.
Ending
In the end, Alex collected his lunch bag after school. He thanked the worker and shared a biscuit with Emma on the way home.
The ending explains how the problem finished.
Common mistakes
✗ Yesterday, I go to the park.
✓ Yesterday, I went to the park.
Use the past form went for a finished event.
✗ Suddenly, the bus arrived. Finally, it started raining.
✓ Then, the bus arrived. Suddenly, it started raining.
Use suddenly for an unexpected event, not a normal next event.
✗ In the end, we find the missing bag.
✓ In the end, we found the missing bag.
Use the past simple for the final event.
✗ One day Tom visited his uncle.
✓ One day, Tom visited his uncle.
Put a comma after an opening time phrase.
✗ We ate and then we played and then we slept.
✓ We ate. Then we played. After that, we slept.
Do not repeat and then. Use short sentences and different linking words.
Plan it, then check it
Plan
- Choose a title and two main characters.
- Write one keyword for the beginning, problem, and ending.
- Choose time words for the main events.
- Write your story in the past simple.
Check
- Does the beginning tell us who and where?
- Does the middle show a problem or surprise?
- Are the events in a clear order?
- Did you use past simple verbs?
- Does the ending explain what happened?
Practice
Choose the best story sentence
Choose the best answer for each question.
1.Which sentence introduces a problem?
Losing a key creates a problem in the story.
2.Which sentence gives a clear ending?
The first sentence shows that Ben solved his problem.
3.Which word introduces an unexpected event?
Suddenly introduces something unexpected.
4.Which sentence introduces the people and place?
This sentence tells us who was there and where they went.
5.Which word best links the next normal event?
Then is useful for the next event in a story.
6.Which sentence best finishes the story?
The last sentence explains how the problem finished.
Match the story parts
Match each story part with the correct example.
1.Beginning
2.Problem
3.Next event
4.Later event
5.Ending
Complete the story
Write one word in each gap.
1.Yesterday, Kim (go) to the supermarket.
Went is the past simple form of go.
2.Suddenly, the shop (become) very dark.
Became is the past simple form of become.
3. that, Kim called her father.
After that links this event to the earlier event.
4.A few minutes later, her father (arrive) .
Arrived is the past simple form of arrive.
5.In the end, they (walk) home together.
Walked is the past simple form of walk.
6., Kim thanked her father.
Finally introduces the last event.
Correct the story sentences
Correct the one mistake in each sentence.
1.Last Sunday, we visit our grandparents.
Use visited because the event happened last Sunday.
2.Suddenly, I found my lost shoe at the end of the day.
Finally is better for an event that ends the search.
3.Then, the lights suddenly go out.
Use went, the past form of go.
4.In the end, Sara find her phone under the sofa.
Found is the past simple form of find.
5.After that, they was happy.
Use were with they in the past simple.
Now write
Your task
Write a short story called The Lost Phone or A Strange Day. Include a beginning, a problem, and an ending. Use time words to link the events.
Word bank
phoneschoolshopfriendbagstreetlostfoundlookedaskedsuddenlythenfinallyhappy
Sentence starters
- One day, I went to...
- At first, everything was...
- Suddenly, I noticed...
- After that, I...
- A few minutes later,...
- In the end,...