Tell a Story Well: Learn to Write Stories

The key idea

I can tell a story with background, main events, a problem and a fitting ending, using suitable past tenses.

What is it for?

Learn to tell a clear story with a beginning, main events, a problem and a fitting ending.

What you need to know

Introduce the people, place and time.
Use the past continuous for actions already happening.
Use the past simple for the main events.
Use the past perfect for events that happened earlier.
Show a problem, a feeling or a sense detail.
End the story by solving the problem or showing its result.

1. Give the reader some background

Start by showing who was there, where they were and when it happened. Use the past continuous for an action already in progress. This helps the reader picture the scene before the main event.

Use was or were + verb-ing for an action in progress.
Add one detail about the weather, sound or place.
Do not explain every small detail.

It was raining, and Mia was waiting outside the station.

The past continuous shows the scene before the main event.

The kitchen smelled of fresh bread while Dad was preparing breakfast.

A smell helps the reader imagine the place.

2. Tell the main events in order

Use the past simple for the main events. Put events in an order that is easy to follow. Add time words to show when things happened.

Use the past simple for finished events.
Use at first, a little later and suddenly to guide the reader.
Use while this was happening for an action in progress.
Use the past perfect when an earlier event matters.

At first, we walked along the river. Suddenly, we heard a loud crash.

The time words show how the story moves forward.

I was worried because I had left my phone on the bus.

Had left shows that the phone was left behind earlier.

3. Make the problem clear

A problem or surprise gives the story a clear purpose. Show what went wrong and how the people reacted. One feeling or sense detail can make the event easier to imagine.

Use suddenly when an unexpected event happens.
Show a feeling through a word such as worried or relieved.
Include one useful detail about a sound, smell or sight.
Do not add events that do not help the story.

Suddenly, the lights went out, and someone shouted from the hallway.

The sound makes the unexpected problem clear.

I felt relieved when the shop assistant found my bag.

The feeling shows how the problem affected the writer.

4. End the story in a fitting way

The ending should connect to the main problem. Explain how the problem ended or what happened because of it. You can also show what the person learned or felt afterwards.

Use in the end or fortunately to introduce a result.
Make the result clear to the reader.
Keep the same main tense unless the time changes.
Avoid adding a new problem in the final sentence.

Fortunately, a neighbour returned the keys before we left.

The ending solves the problem with the missing keys.

What I remembered most was the stranger who helped us.

This ending shows what stayed important after the event.

How to do it, step by step

Introduce the people, place and time.
Describe what was happening before the main event.
Tell the main events in a clear order.
Show the problem or surprise and the reaction.
Explain the result and finish with a fitting ending.

Formulas and key language

Use it for	Example	Another example
It was ... while ... was/were + verb-ing.	It was cold while we were waiting outside.	It was getting dark while Sam was riding home.
At first, subject + past simple.	At first, we followed the map.	At first, nobody noticed the broken window.
A little later, subject + past simple.	A little later, the bus stopped.	A little later, my cousin called me.
Suddenly, subject + past simple.	Suddenly, a dog ran across the road.	Suddenly, the door slammed shut.
While subject + was/were + verb-ing, subject + past simple.	While I was cooking, the phone rang.	While we were walking, it started to snow.
Subject + past simple because subject + had + past participle.	I returned home because I had forgotten my wallet.	She missed the bus because she had left late.
Fortunately, subject + past simple.	Fortunately, a passer-by showed us the way.	Fortunately, the rain stopped before the match.
In the end, subject + past simple.	In the end, we found the missing keys.	In the end, everyone arrived safely.

UK / US: British and American English use the same main story tenses. Some past forms differ, such as learnt in British English and learned in American English.

Level up: Replace basic words (good, very, nice) with stronger ones. See our A2 to B1 upgrades page.

Model text

The Missing Backpack

Background

Last Saturday, I was travelling home by bus after visiting my cousin. It was raining, and the windows were covered with tiny drops. I was tired, so I rested my head against the seat. My blue backpack was beside me.

The opening introduces the time, place and situation. The past continuous sets the scene.

Main events

A little later, the driver announced the final stop. I stood up, picked up my coat and hurried outside. After that, I noticed something strange. My backpack was missing. I suddenly remembered that I had moved it earlier to make room for an older passenger.

Time words guide the reader. The past perfect shows what happened before the discovery.

Problem

I felt worried because my notebook and house keys were inside. The bus had already started moving, so I waved at the driver. He stopped near the next corner while I explained the problem. Then he checked the empty seats and found my backpack under the last row.

The problem creates tension. The actions and reactions explain how the search began.

Ending

Fortunately, nothing was missing. I thanked the driver and walked home in the light rain. What I remembered most was his patience. Since then, I have kept my bag on my lap when travelling.

The ending solves the problem and shows what the writer learned.

Common mistakes

✗ I was dropped my keys near the door.

✓ I dropped my keys near the door.

Use the past simple for a finished action, without was.

✗ While I cooked, the phone was ringing suddenly.

✓ While I was cooking, the phone rang suddenly.

Use the past continuous for the ongoing action and the past simple for the interruption.

✗ I had lost my wallet yesterday, so I looked for it.

✓ I lost my wallet yesterday, so I looked for it.

Use the past simple when you describe a finished event at a stated past time.

✗ Fortunately, we lost the keys and went home.

✓ Unfortunately, we lost the keys and went home.

Unfortunately fits a problem, while fortunately introduces a positive result.

✗ In the end, the bus was breaking down, and we were waiting.

✓ In the end, the bus stopped, and we waited.

The ending should report the result of the events, not leave the action unfinished.

Plan it, then check it

Plan

Write notes about who, where and when.
Choose the main event and the problem.
Put the events in time order.
Decide how the problem ends and how the person feels.

Check

Does the beginning show the people, place and time?
Did I use the past continuous for the background?
Did I use the past simple for the main events?
Did I use the past perfect only for an earlier event?
Does the ending connect clearly to the problem?

Practice

EXERCISE:

Choose the best story language

Choose the best word or verb form for each sentence.

1.It ___ raining when we left the house.

Use was raining for an action already happening in the background.

2.___, I checked my bag and walked to the bus stop.

At first introduces the beginning of a sequence of events.

3.While we were eating, the lights ___.

The past simple shows the event that interrupted the ongoing action.

4.I could not open the door because I ___ my key at work.

Had left shows that the key was left at work before the problem.

5.___, the shop assistant found my missing wallet.

Fortunately introduces a positive result that solves the problem.

6.In the end, we ___ home safely.

The past simple gives a clear result at the end of the story.

Now write

Your task

Write a story of 120-160 words that begins with this sentence: I was walking home when I saw something strange. Continue with your own made-up story. First, describe where you were and what was happening. Then explain what you saw, what happened next and why it was a problem or surprise. Include one feeling or sense detail. Finish by explaining what happened in the end. Use suitable past tenses and time words. Before you write, plan your main events in order. You can use the short plan below: background, discovery, problem, result. Draft your story here: I was walking home when I saw something strange.

Target: 120-160 words

Word bank

a little latersuddenlyin the distancea strange soundnervoussurpriseda broken gatea missing bagwhile I was lookingfortunatelya few minutes laterhad forgottenin the endrelievedwithout warning

Sentence starters

It was getting dark when...
At first, I thought...
A little later, I noticed...
Suddenly, someone...
I felt worried because...
Fortunately, the problem...

Use made-up people, places and events. Do not include private details about yourself or other people.

Instant feedback on your own text is part of Premium.

Check your writing

Have I introduced the people, place and time?
Have I used the past continuous to set the scene?
Have I used the past simple for the main events?
Have I used the past perfect for an earlier event when needed?
Does my ending connect to the problem and show the result?

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