Narrative paragraphs are often used to describe what a person does over a period of time. Read this example narrative paragraph, notice how words like 'later' are used to connect what happens.
Yesterday evening I got home from work at 6 o'clock. My wife had prepared dinner which we ate immediately. After I had cleaned up the kitchen, we watched TV for about an hour. Then we got ready to go out with some friends. Our friends arrived at about 9 o'clock and we chatted for a while. Later we decided to visit a jazz club and listen to some music. We really enjoyed ourselves and stayed late. We finally left at one o'clock in the morning.Written Exercise I
Write out the following sentences on to a piece of paper to form a paragraph. Provide the correct form of the verb in the past and the correct prepositions. Click on the arrow to check your answers.
- Yesterday evening Jack _____ (get) home _____ (preposition) half past five.
- He immediately _____ (make) himself a cup of _____ (preposition) coffee and _____ (sit down) to read a book.
- He _____ (read) the book _____ (preposition) half past seven.
- Then he _____ (make) dinner and _____ (get ready) to go out with his friends.
- When his friends _____ (arrive) they _____ (decide) to go out to see a film.
- He _____ (stay out) until midnight with his friends.
- Finally he _____ (fall) asleep _____ (preposition) about one o'clock.
Written Exercise II
Now that you have a good feeling for the form of a narrative paragraph. Fill in the gaps in this paragraph with information about what you did yesterday evening.
Yesterday evening ______________ at ________ o'clock. I immediately ______________. After ______________, I (or we) ________________. Then I (or we) __________________________. I (or we) _________________a while. Later I (or we) _______________________________. I (or we) finally _______________.
Practice
Try to write a number of similar paragraphs about what you did last weekend, on your last holiday, etc.
