Microsoft Word - English_Grammar_through_Stories.doc

by Alan Townend

With his free time, they said, Charlie could take up all those hobbies
and interests for which he had never had time before.
With his free time, they said, Charlie could pursue all those hobbies
and interests for which he had never had time before.

He would soon take to his new life.
He would soon start to like his new life.

At first he was so taken aback by the news that he couldn't think
straight.
At first he was so shocked by the news that he couldn't think clearly.

Then all he wanted was to take Henderson by the throat.
Then all he wanted was to strangle Henderson.

But Charlie took after his father.
But Charlie resembled his father.
But Charlie was very much like his father.

He began to take in the possible advantages he could get from his
new situation.
He began to comprehend the possible advantages he could get from
his new situation.

There was no point, he thought to himself, in taking it out on
Henderson.
There was no point, he thought to himself, in blaming Henderson.

Within the space of about six months his time was completely taken
up with making preparations for setting up a new agency.
Within about six month his time was completely occupied with
making preparations for starting a new agency.

.... so that he would always be clear in his mind what his aims were
and what task he had taken on.
..... so that he would always be aware what his aims were and what
task he had undertaken.

He took out a loan from his local bank to refurbish an office, worked
out a detailed business plan, which the bank manager was quite
taken with, advertised for some staff and took on two of the fifty that
applied and set up his business.
He negotiated a loan with his local bank to establish an office,
worked out a detailed business plan, which the bank manager was
quite impressed with, advertised for some staff and employed two of
the fifty that applied and set up his business.

Within three years he had taken on another ten staff and taken over
a local agency that had failed to make a profit.
Within three years he had hired ten more people and bought out a
local agency that had failed to make a profit.

Many people in the area originally took him for a bit of a confidence
trickster but they soon found out that he was very effective and
successful and it wasn't long before they took back all their critical