1. The Opening Sets the Scene
The first one or two sentences help the listener quickly imagine the story. It is usually useful to name the time, place, and participants, and then show the action or state against which the main event will begin.
You do not need to explain everything immediately. For a short story, a few specific details are enough: One evening, at the station, my cousin and I. After such an opening, the listener is ready for the answer to the question “What happened?”
Last Friday, I was at a small café with my sister.
Last Friday, I was at a small café with my sister.
Last Friday gives the time, at a small café gives the place, and with my sister gives another participant. Past Simple was naturally describes a state and location.
One evening, two neighbours were talking outside our building.
One evening, two neighbours were talking outside our building.
The phrase introduces the time, participants, and place, while were talking shows an action that was already in progress in this scene.
2. A Time Expression Does Not Choose the Verb Tense by Itself
Last week, one day, a few years ago, and at that time take the listener into the past. Different forms can follow them: the choice depends on whether we show an action in progress, a completed event, or a state.
In writing, a comma after a short opening expression makes the opening easier to read. In speech, a short pause often marks the same boundary.
A few years ago, we were living near the sea.
A few years ago, we were living near the sea.
Were living opens a view from inside a temporary period and prepares the background for the next event.
Last summer, we stayed with my aunt.
Last summer, we stayed with my aunt.
Past Simple stayed presents the stay as a completed fact. This is a grammatical opening; it simply has a different viewpoint.
3. Past Continuous for an Action Already in Progress
We form Past Continuous with was or were and an -ing form. Was agrees with I, he, she, it, and a singular subject; were agrees with you, we, they, and plural subjects.
In an opening, this form shows that an action was in progress at a selected moment in the past. It often becomes the background for a more important event, but the form itself does not say when the action began or ended.
subject + was/were + verb-ing
- subject / S —
- The grammatical subject: who or what the clause is about; the verb agrees with it. In The book was written, the book is the subject, although someone else does the action.
- verb / V —
- A word for an action or state, such as work or be. The pattern determines its form.
- V-ing / -ing —
- The verb form ending in -ing: working, going. Its role depends on the construction.
One morning, I was walking to work.
One morning, I was walking to work.
Was walking shows movement in progress; the listener expects something important to happen during this walk.
At six, my friends were waiting outside the cinema.
At six, my friends were waiting outside the cinema.
The plural subject friends requires were, while waiting describes the process at the named moment.
4. The Background and the Main Event Have Different Roles
When one action was already in progress and another happened during it, we often present the background action in Past Continuous and the main event in Past Simple. When, while, and as help connect the parts, but they do not work as automatic signals of one particular tense.
The main event does not necessarily physically stop the background action. A phone can ring while a person continues cooking dinner. The sentence reports the time relationship, not every consequence.
background: was/were + V-ing; main event: Past Simple
- verb / V —
- A word for an action or state, such as work or be. The pattern determines its form.
- V-ing / -ing —
- The verb form ending in -ing: working, going. Its role depends on the construction.
I was waiting for a bus when I saw an old friend.
I was waiting for a bus when I saw an old friend.
The waiting was already in progress, and saw introduces the event that moves the story forward.
As we were leaving the park, it started to rain.
As we were leaving the park, it started to rain.
Were leaving creates the background, and started names the new event. As shows simultaneity here; it does not determine the form by itself.
5. Past Simple Can Also Be Correct at the Beginning
Past Simple naturally opens a story with a completed event, a sequence of events, or a state. The sentence Last summer, I worked at a hotel is not a mistake. The version I was working at a hotel presents the work more strongly as temporary background for the next incident.
So do not correct every Past Simple to Past Continuous. First identify the intention: to show a process at a selected moment, to name a complete finished fact, or to describe a state.
One Saturday, Leo opened the shop early.
One Saturday, Leo opened the shop early.
Opened is a completed opening event. It can immediately start the sequence of the story.
At that time, I knew the town well.
At that time, I knew the town well.
Knew describes a past state. The ordinary meaning of know does not require the form was knowing.
6. States and the Limits of the Rule
Know, need, believe, and ordinary have meaning possession usually describe states, so in a neutral A2 story we use Past Simple: I knew the address; we had a small car. Be also often gives a location, age, weather, or characteristic through was/were.
This rule does not require complex narrative tenses, and it does not make every past action background. Here we practise a clear opening: the time, place, participants, an appropriate viewpoint on the action, and the first event.
It was cold, and we had only one blanket.
It was cold, and we had only one blanket.
Was and had describe states, so Past Simple naturally creates the background without Continuous.
I was looking for the key because I needed the car.
I was looking for the key because I needed the car.
Was looking is an active action in progress; needed is a state of need. Different forms in the same background are normal.
7. Put Together a Short, Natural Opening
Check the opening with four questions: when was it, where was it, who was in the scene, and what was already happening or what was the state? Then add one event that gives the story direction.
Your own facts are not required: you can create an imaginary scene. Other natural words and orders of details are acceptable if the time relationships and grammatical roles remain clear.
Yesterday evening, my cousin and I were waiting at the station. Then we heard a strange announcement.
Yesterday evening, my cousin and I were waiting at the station. Then we heard a strange announcement.
The first sentence gives the time, participants, place, and process; the second introduces an event in Past Simple.
When I was ten, our flat was near my school. My best friend lived next door.
When I was ten, our flat was near my school. My best friend lived next door.
Two sentences with states in Past Simple form a completely grammatical opening without artificial Continuous.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:One day, I walking home when I heard a noise.
Correct:One day, I was walking home when I heard a noise.
For Past Continuous, a matching past form of be is needed before walking: with I, use was.
Incorrect:Last year, we was living near the station.
Correct:Last year, we were living near the station.
The subject we requires were, not was.
Incorrect:At that time, I was know everyone in the village.
Correct:At that time, I knew everyone in the village.
Know in the state-of-knowledge meaning does not form Past Continuous; the Past Simple form knew is needed.
Incorrect:We were make dinner when the lights went out.
Correct:We were making dinner when the lights went out.
After were, an -ing form of the verb is needed: making.
Incorrect:I was waiting outside when Sara call me.
Correct:I was waiting outside when Sara called me.
The main completed event in the past requires Past Simple: called.