Series ID: EDKS-BASIC-ZH-0043 · Lesson No.043 · A2 Past Narrative
Past Stories with Background and Events | 用背景与事件讲过去故事
I was walking to the station when it started to rain.
我正走去车站的时候，突然开始下雨。
Simple past tells us what happened. Past continuous helps us show what was already happening around the event.
这一课把“发生了什么”升级成“当时正在发生什么 + 后来发生了什么”。
Chinese Edition Hub · 中文版入口 · ← Lesson No.042 · Giving Reasons, Opinions and Advice
The past-story map | 过去故事路线
- simple past for main events
- past continuous for background
- was/were + -ing
- when
- while
- interrupted actions
- two actions happening together
- scene-setting
- sequence words
- cause/result
- story focus
- pronoun reference
- clear ending
1. Simple past = event | 一般过去 = 事件
- The train arrived.
- Mei called her friend.
- David dropped his phone.
These actions are viewed as complete events.
2. Past continuous = background/action in progress | 过去进行 = 背景/进行中的动作
- I was walking.
- She was waiting.
- They were talking.
3. Form | 结构
was/were + verb-ing
- I was working.
- She was studying.
- We were travelling.
4. Was/were choice | was / were
- I/he/she/it was
- you/we/they were
5. Negative | 否定
- I wasn’t sleeping.
- They weren’t waiting.
6. Question | 问句
- Were you working?
- What were they doing?
7. Background + event | 背景 + 事件
I was walking to the station when it started to rain.
- background: was walking
- event: started
8. When | when 引出事件
- I was cooking when the phone rang.
- She was driving when she saw the sign.
when often introduces the event that interrupts or occurs during the longer background action.
9. While | while 引出持续背景
- While I was waiting, I checked my messages.
- While they were eating, the lights went out.
10. When vs while | when 与 while
Useful beginner map:
- when often introduces a shorter event
- while often introduces an ongoing action
Real English is more flexible, but this is a strong starting point.
11. Interrupted action | 被打断的动作
- I was sleeping when the alarm rang.
- We were talking when the teacher came in.
12. Two actions happening together | 两个同时进行动作
- I was cooking while Anna was setting the table.
- They were talking while they were walking home.
13. Scene-setting | 场景背景
Past continuous can set the scene:
It was raining. People were waiting under the shelter, and cars were moving slowly.
14. Main event enters the scene | 主事件进入
Then a bus stopped suddenly near the crossing.
Background prepares the reader for the event.
15. Story opening | 故事开头
Useful structure:
- time
- place
- background action
- main event
16. Example opening | 示例
Last Friday evening, I was walking home from work. It was raining heavily, and the streets were busy. As I was crossing the road, I heard someone call my name.
17. Then / next / after that | 顺序
- Then…
- Next…
- After that…
- Finally…
18. Suddenly | 突然
- Suddenly, the lights went out.
- Suddenly, I heard a loud noise.
Use only when the event is genuinely sudden.
19. At that moment | 就在那时
- At that moment, the train doors opened.
20. Meanwhile | 与此同时
Recognition/useful A2 connector:
- Mei was speaking to the driver. Meanwhile, Anna was checking the map.
21. Because | 原因
- I was late because the train had a delay.
- We stayed inside because it was raining.
22. So | 结果
- The road was closed, so we took another route.
23. But | 转折
- I was tired, but I finished the task.
24. Although | 虽然
Recognition/useful A2:
- Although it was raining, we continued walking.
25. Main event vs detail | 主事件 vs 细节
Not every action deserves equal space. Decide what the story is mainly about.
26. Too many events make the story hard to follow | 事件太多会乱
Choose 3–5 main events and use the rest as short background details.
27. Use pronouns carefully | 代词要清楚
Weak:
Anna called Mei when she was leaving.
If necessary, rewrite:
Anna called Mei when Mei was leaving.
28. Use time markers | 时间标记
- at six
- that morning
- later
- ten minutes later
- the next day
29. Story question: what changed? | 故事核心：什么发生了变化？
A story usually has a change:
- plan changes
- problem appears
- person learns something
- unexpected event happens
30. Before the event / after the event | 事件前后
Organise:
- before: normal/background
- event: disruption
- after: response/result
31. Story skeleton | 故事骨架
- setting
- background
- main event
- response
- result
32. Short story example | 短故事示例
Yesterday evening, I was waiting for the bus outside my office. It was raining, and several people were standing under the shelter. While I was checking the timetable, a taxi stopped in front of me. The driver asked if I had called for a car, but I hadn’t. A minute later, another person ran over and got into the taxi. We all laughed, and I went back to waiting for the bus.
33. Why past continuous? | 为什么用过去进行？
- was waiting → ongoing background
- was raining → scene
- were standing → simultaneous background
- stopped/asked/ran/got → main events
34. State verbs usually avoid continuous | 状态动词通常不用进行式
Common beginner examples:
- know
- like
- want
- need
Usually say I knew, not I was knowing.
35. I was wanting? | 不自然用法
- I was wanting water. △/usually unnatural for beginner target
- I wanted water. ✓
36. Past continuous question | 过去进行问句
- What were you doing at eight?
- Were you sleeping when I called?
37. Answering background questions | 回答背景问句
- I was studying.
- We were having dinner.
38. Story repair: wrong tense | 故事时态修复
If everything is past simple, the story can sound like a list:
I walked. It rained. I checked my phone. A car stopped.
Improved:
I was walking in the rain and checking my phone when a car stopped.
39. But do not overuse past continuous | 也不要全部改成进行式
Main completed events still need simple past.
40. Mandarin transfer: 正在 / 当时 | past continuous bridge
- 我当时正在走路。 → I was walking.
- 我正在做饭的时候，电话响了。 → I was cooking when the phone rang.
41. Mandarin transfer: 了 does not choose tense alone | 了 不直接决定英语时态
English chooses simple past or past continuous according to whether the action is viewed as complete event or ongoing background.
42. Mandarin transfer: simultaneous actions | 同时动作
- 我做饭的时候，她在收拾桌子。 → I was cooking while she was setting the table.
43. Listening: was/were + -ing | 听进行式
Listen for the be verb plus -ing verb. In natural speech, was can be weak.
44. Listening: event word | 听主事件
In a story, stronger verbs such as rang, stopped, fell, arrived often mark key events.
45. Reading practice A: missed train | 阅读 A
David was walking to the station when his phone rang. He stopped to answer it because the call was from his manager. While they were talking, David didn’t notice the time. When he finally reached the platform, the train was leaving. He missed it and had to wait twenty minutes for the next one.
- What was David doing first?
- What interrupted him?
- Why did he answer?
- What happened while he was talking?
- What was the final result?
46. Reading practice B: café accident | 阅读 B
Anna and Mei were having coffee when a child accidentally knocked over a glass of water. The water went across the table and reached Mei’s bag. While the child’s father was apologising, a member of staff brought some towels. Nothing important was damaged, and everyone relaxed after a few minutes.
- What were Anna and Mei doing?
- What happened?
- What was the father doing?
- Who brought towels?
- Was anything important damaged?
47. Reading practice C: weather change | 阅读 C
We were walking in the park when the weather changed suddenly. The sun was shining when we arrived, but dark clouds were moving in from the west. A few minutes later, it started raining heavily, so we ran to a nearby café.
- What was the background?
- What signs showed change?
- What main event happened?
- What did they do?
48. Writing practice: interrupted action | 写作
Write five examples using:
I was ______ when ______.
49. Writing practice: scene + event + result | 场景故事
Write 8 sentences:
- time/place
- two background details
- main event
- response
- result
50. Speaking practice: what were you doing? | 口语
- What were you doing at 8 PM yesterday?
- What happened while you were doing that?
51. Speaking practice: picture story | 看图讲故事
Use three pictures:
- background
- event
- result
52. Error clinic | 常见错误
| Error | Better English | What broke? |
|---|---|---|
| I was walk. ✗ | I was walking. ✓ | be + -ing |
| I were walking. ✗ | I was walking. ✓ | was/were |
| When I was cook, phone rang. ✗ | When I was cooking, the phone rang. ✓ | -ing + article |
| While I cooked, the phone was ringing. △ | While I was cooking, the phone rang. ✓ | background/event choice |
| I was knowing him. ✗ | I knew him. ✓ | state verb |
53. First weak link diagnosis | 第一个卡点诊断
- I use past simple for everything → background/event distinction.
- I use continuous for everything → completed event control.
- I confuse was/were → agreement.
- I confuse when/while → connector function.
- story feels like random events → skeleton/sequence.
- reader loses who is acting → reference clarity.
54. Retrieval lab | 提取练习
- 我正在走路的时候，下雨了。 → ______
- 她正在做饭的时候，电话响了。 → ______
- 我们正在吃饭，灯突然灭了。 → ______
- 我等车的时候看了信息。 → ______
- 他们走路时一直在聊天。 → ______
- 那时正在下雨。 → ______
- 突然，一辆车停了。 → ______
- 最后，我回家了。 → ______
Suggested answers: I was walking when it started to rain. / She was cooking when the phone rang. / We were eating when the lights suddenly went out. / While I was waiting for the bus, I checked my messages. / They were talking while they were walking. / It was raining at the time. / Suddenly, a car stopped. / Finally, I went home.
55. Ten-minute daily practice | 每天十分钟
| 2 min | was/were + -ing | 形式 |
| 2 min | when | 主事件 |
| 2 min | while | 背景 |
| 2 min | scene + event | 结构 |
| 2 min | one short story | 输出 |
56. Seven-day training cycle | 七天训练
| Day 1 | past continuous form | 结构 |
| Day 2 | when | 打断事件 |
| Day 3 | while | 同时动作 |
| Day 4 | scene-setting | 背景 |
| Day 5 | sequence/cause/result | 连接 |
| Day 6 | story editing | 修复 |
| Day 7 | two-minute past story | 综合 |
57. Self-test: 30 questions | 30 题自测
- What is the past-continuous form?
- Use was + -ing.
- Use were + -ing.
- Make a negative.
- Make a question.
- Explain background vs event.
- Use when.
- Use while.
- Give one interrupted action.
- Give two simultaneous actions.
- Set a scene in two sentences.
- Add a main event.
- Use suddenly.
- Use after that.
- Use finally.
- Use because.
- Use so.
- Use but.
- Name three state verbs.
- Explain why “I was knowing” is usually wrong.
- Correct: I was walk.
- Correct: I were walking.
- Correct: I was knowing him.
- Write one 5-sentence interrupted-action story.
- Write one two-background-actions sentence.
- Identify background in a short story.
- Identify main event.
- Identify result.
- Tell a 60-second past story.
- Tell a two-minute past story with background, event and result.
Answer key | 答案
1 was/were + verb-ing; 2–18 answers vary; 19 know/like/want/need examples; 20 state verb normally simple form; 21 I was walking; 22 I was walking; 23 I knew him; 24–30 performance tasks.
58. For parents and teachers | 给家长和老师
Teach the narrative contrast visually: a long background line interrupted by a short event point.
Do not make every story grammatically complex. One or two past-continuous backgrounds are enough at first.
For Mandarin speakers, use 正在/当时 as a bridge but teach the English tense choice by event viewpoint, not word matching.
Assess whether the story is easy to follow, not only whether every verb is perfect.
59. Final real-world challenge | 最终真实任务
- Set a past scene.
- Use two past-continuous actions.
- Introduce one main event.
- Use when and while correctly.
- Use three sequence markers.
- Add cause and result.
- Keep pronouns clear.
- Use simple past for completed events.
- Use past continuous selectively.
- Tell a two-minute story with a clear ending.
Next: Lesson No.044 | 下一课
The next lesson is the A2 consolidation point: combine comparison, opinion, advice, present perfect, longer conversation, connected reading, paragraph writing and past storytelling into independent real-life English missions.
Lesson No.044 · A2 Review and Independent English · A2 复习与独立英语
Reference floor: British Council A2 Pre-intermediate · British Council A1–A2 Grammar.
