9.1 The simple present and present progressive tenses (1)9.4C The simple past and the past progressive in story-telling [> LEG 9.21 ]
Study: We often use past tenses (simple past, past progressive and past perfect [> 9.6]) for story-telling.
1*3 We use the past progressive to set the scene at the beginning of the story.
Write: a Circle the simple past and the past progressive verbs in this story.
b Number the past progressive verbs 1, 2, 3 to show their uses [> 9.4В].THE SECRET AGENT
lt(was)just before the Second World War. Tom was only 20 at the time and was living with his mother.
He was working in a bank and travelling to London every day. One morning, he received a mysterious
letter. It was addressed to 'Mr Thomas Parker'. The letter, which was signed, 'A Friend', asked Tom to
go to The Crown Inn during his lunch hour. All morning, as he was dealing with customers, Tom was
wondering whether he should do this. At lunch time he decided to go to the inn. It was full of people
and Tom couldn't recognize anyone. He was just wondering if he should leave, when a stranger
introduced himself and said he had known Tom's father, who had died when Tom was a baby. The
stranger explained that Tom's father, Bill, was a secret agent in the First World War. Through this
meeting, Tom was recruited to be a secret agent, too, and was already working in France when the
war began.9.4D Context
Write: Put in the simple past or past progressive. Note where both forms are possible.TUG-OF-WAR WITH A HEDGEHOG
Mrs May, our District Nurse, (drive)^1 home at 3 a.m. one night after an urgent visit to a
sick patient. She (drive)^2 along a deserted country lane, when she (see)(^3) a new kind of animal. She (stop) (^4) her car and (get out)
(^5) The animal (be) (^6) clearly visible in the blaze of her headlights. It (look)
(^7) like a hedgehog with a tall white hat. It (cross) (^8) the road without paying
any attention to Mrs May. When Mrs May (go)^9 close to it, she (notice)^10
that there was a plastic yoghurt pot on the hedgehog's head. The poor creature had got its head stuck
in the plastic pot! Her instincts as a nurse (tel!)^11 her she would have to rescue it, so
she (pull)^12 at the pot, but the hedgehog (put!)^13 , too. After a struggle,
she (pull)^14 the pot off the hedgehog's head. Mrs May (think)^15 the
hedgehog (look)^16 rather sad, when she (notice)^17 that the pot was half
full of strawberry yoghurt. She (give)^18 it back to the hedgehog. The creature (seize)
(^19) it, (put) (^20) it on its head again, and triumphantly (continue)
(^21) its journey across the road.
A hedgehog with a tall white hat