2. Let’s review our verb tenses
2. Let’s review our verb tenses
Unidad 1 – Tema 1 – Podcast número 4 |
Throughout this lesson we have been learning about a new online school, some of its staff members, the products it has to offer and its organization. Now, let’s have a look at the language that has been used and why.
The story of CEOLS is a piece of narrative writing, as such, it is written to entertain, but also, of course, to teach and inform. Some features include:
– Characters with defined identities: Mr. Pengelly, Serena and Blake…
– Narrative (or dialogue) with tenses which vary from past to present to future: CEOLS was created…The company offices are located…CEOLS will provide…
– Descriptive language to create images in the reader’s mind and enhance the story: a well-known harbour on the south coast of Cornwall…entrepreneur James Pengelly…young couple… teachers are keen, innovative and dedicated…
The structure includes an introduction or orientation in which the characters, the setting and the time of the story are established by answering questions such as: Who? When? Where? And so on: CEOLS was created in 2005 by a young couple…
The introduction is followed by a complication or problem which involves the main characters: …spotted by entrepreneur…
To wrap a narrative up there is a resolution: Wherever you are, whenever you need us, we are just a click away.
Having established the general layout, let’s take a closer look at the story.

Verbs in the past:
were going to
wanted to
arrived
decided
needed to
understood

Verbs in the present tenses include:
know
calls for
are learning
carry out
has
study
requires
takes place
are guaranteed
are not satisfied

The two verbs are:
– was going to be (it is the “going to” future we are accustomed to but in the past tense because it is speaking of an intention in the past);
– will be fully refunded (it is a passive with the “will” future).
