Tell What Happened

  • 1 TRY OUT LANGUAGE

  • 2 LEARN GRAMMAR

  • 3 APPLY ON YOUR OWN

Describe an Event

We know about things that have happened in the past because people tell and write about the events. Choose an event from history or a past event in the news and describe it in your own words.

Plan what you will say.

StepsExample

  • 1. Name the event.

Rosa Parks was arrested on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama.

  • 2. Give details about what happened. Tell information that will answer questions that begin with who, what, where, when, why, and how. Use descriptive words.

She was on her way home after working all day as a seamstress. She was on the bus in the 11th row—the first row of seats set aside for African American passengers.

  • 3. Use sensory words to describe the event. If possible, compare the event to something else.

Rosa’s feet ached after standing all day. She was tired, like a runner who had just finished a race.

Now describe the event to a partner. Answer questions that your partner may ask. Trade roles.

How to Describe an Event

  • 1. Name the event.

  • 2. Give details. Use descriptive words.

  • 3. Use sensory words. Compare people and things to something else.

What happened?

Rosa Parks had no energy after working hard all day. She was like a tired-out runner. She refused to give her bus seat to a white man.

Use Past Tense Verbs

The event you describe happened in the past. You will need to use past tense verbs when you talk about it. Remember that most verbs add -ed to show past time.

EXAMPLEPolice arrested Rosa Parks.

The irregular verb be has special forms to show the past.

EXAMPLERosa was tired after a long day at work.