TIMELINES AND TENSES: GETTING READY TO WRITE NARRATIVES
Instructions: Underline the verbs in the sentences below, then identify the form of
each verb. Draw timelines for each sentence. Note: some events will overlap!
a) past continuous/progressive (was/were + verb + ing). Use a squiggly line
b) simple past (2nd part of verb, -ed).
Use a dot
rd
c) past perfect (had + p.p., 3 part of verb).
Use a square
a
c


b
1. While Saif was driving to Dubai, he had fallen asleep and went off the road.
Past
was driving
Now

had fallen
Future

went
2. Ahmed stood up, walked across the room, opened the door, and left class.
Past
Now
Future
3. When Abdulla and Ali walked into class, they were both carrying laptops.
Past
Now
Future
4. Omer was furious because he had overslept and missed English class.
Past
Now
Future
5. Since he had worked at the same place for five years, Naser wanted a new challenge.
Past
Now
Future
1
a) past continuous/progressive (was/were + verb + ing). Use a squiggly line
b) simple past (2nd part of verb, -ed).
Use a dot
rd
c) past perfect (had + p.p., 3 part of verb).
Use a square


6. Because Mohammed hadn't slept all night and was trying hard to stay awake in class,
he jumped when his telephone rang.
Past
Now
Future
7. Khalifa, the police chief, went to the scene of the accident to see what had happened.
Past
Now
Future
8. When I saw Sami after class yesterday, he was studying hard for his writing test.
Past
Now
Future
9. Witnesses told police that they had seen a man running away from the burning car.
Past
Now
Future
10. Now write your own sentence. Ask a partner to draw the timeline for it.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Past
Now
Future
2
TIMELINES AND TENSES: GETTING READY TO WRITE NARRATIVES (KEY)
Note for teachers: This works well with the Smartboard. Copy and paste the material into the
notebook, then pair students by number. Ask them to try drawing all the timelines but they are
responsible for drawing the sentence corresponding to their # on the board). You can personalize it
by changing some names to match your students' (Students with Acers can also draw the timelines
on your computers).
Instructions: Underline the verbs in the sentences below, then identify the form of
each verb. Draw timelines for each sentence. Note: some events will overlap!
a) past continuous/progressive (was/were + verb + ing). Use a squiggly line
b) simple past (2nd part of verb, -ed).
Use a dot
c) past perfect (had + p.p., 3rd part of verb).
Use a square
a
c


b
1. While Saif was driving to Dubai, he had fallen asleep and went off the road.
Past
was driving
Now
Future
had fallen went
b
b
b
b
2. Ahmed stood up, walked across the room, opened the door, and left class.
Past
Now
Future
b
a
3. When Abdulla and Ali walked into class, they were both carrying laptops.
Past
Now
Future
b
c
b (or c – had missed)
4. Omer was furious because he had overslept and missed English class.
Past
Now
Future
c
b
5. Since he had worked at the same place for five years, Naser wanted a new
challenge.
Past
Now
Future
3
a) past continuous/progressive (was/were + verb + ing). Use a squiggly line
b) simple past (2nd part of verb, -ed).
Use a dot
c) past perfect (had + p.p., 3rd part of verb).
Use a square

c
a
6. Because Mohammed hadn't slept all night and was trying hard to stay awake in
class, he jumped when his telephone rang.
b
b
Past
Now
Future
b
c
7. Khalifa, the police chief, went to the scene of the accident to see what had
happened.
Past
Now
Future
b
a
8. When I saw Sami after class yesterday, he was studying hard for his writing test.
Past
Now
Future
b
c
a
(a)
9. Witnesses told police that they had seen a man running away from the burning car.
-----------------
(a man who was running away from a car that was burning)
Past
Now
Future
10. Now write your own sentence. Ask a partner to draw the timeline for it.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Past
Now
Future
4