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Lesson 07
Module 02 · Everyday Talk
B1

Module 02 —Telling a Story

Writing Part 2 story · past simple vs past continuous · sequencing language

60 min Mixed skill · Narrative writing

PET parts in this lesson · mixed-skill spiral

Writing 2 storyGrammarVocabulary

Why this lesson now? Builds on the Writing 2 story introduced in Lesson 02.

CEFR Pathway · You are here

  1. A0/A1Beginner
  2. A1/A2Elementary
  3. A2/B1Pre-Intermediate
  4. B1/B1+Intermediate
  5. B2Upper-Intermediate
  6. C1Advanced
  7. C2Proficiency

Get ready · 01

5 min

Get talking

activity
One sentence, many stories

Your teacher reads: 'It was raining when Ana left the house.' In pairs, guess what happens next — you have 30 seconds.

discussion
Background or event?

'The sun was shining' vs 'The car stopped'. Which sentence describes the background, and which describes something that happened?

reflection
Story shape

Think of a film you like. Can you sum up the beginning, middle and end in three sentences?

Grammar for the Exam · 02

8–10 min

Past simple vs past continuous

Grammar Bank: Past simple vs past continuousJumps straight to this rule — full explanation, examples & practice
Quick rule

Past continuous = the background scene (was/were + -ing). Past simple = the events that happened, one after another.

Examples

PET Writing Part 2 stories are marked partly on how well you control narrative tenses. Use the past continuous to set the scene or describe an action already in progress — it paints the background of your story: 'It was raining', 'She was waiting for the bus'. Use the past simple for the events that move the story forward — the things that happened one after another: 'she opened her umbrella', 'the bus arrived'. The two often combine in one sentence, with the continuous as the background and the simple past as the interruption: 'While she was waiting, she noticed a strange bag on the seat.' This single sentence pattern is one of the highest-scoring structures in a PET story.

  • → It was snowing heavily when the train finally arrived.

  • → While I was walking home, I saw an old friend from school.

  • → She was reading a magazine when her phone suddenly rang.

Question 1.'While Tom ____ dinner, the phone ____.'

Question 2.Which sentence describes the BACKGROUND of a story?

Question 3.'I ____ home when I ____ the accident.'

Question 4.Choose the correct sequence of EVENTS (past simple).

Question 5.'They ____ for the bus when it started to pour with rain.'

Answer all items, then check.

Quick check 1.In a PET story, the past continuous is mainly used for…

Answer all items, then check.

Exam Vocabulary · 03

5–7 min

Words & phrases to own

Open Vocabulary BankTap any word below to jump straight to its entry
1

suddenly

quickly and unexpectedly

Use it

Finish: 'Suddenly, the lights…'

2

at that moment

exactly at that time in the story

Use it

Use 'at that moment' to link two events in a story.

3

eventually

after a long time, finally

Use it

Tell a partner something that eventually happened to you.

4

to notice

to see or realise something

Use it

Say something unusual you once noticed on the street.

5

to realise

to become aware of something

Use it

Complete: 'I suddenly realised that…'

6

in the end

finally, as the last result of a situation

Use it

Tell a short story ending with 'in the end'.

7

without warning

suddenly, with no sign beforehand

Use it

Use 'without warning' in a sentence about the weather.

8

to burst out laughing

to suddenly start laughing loudly

Use it

Describe a time someone burst out laughing.

Use it now

Activation · Personalise · Recycle

Use the sequencing words to link real or invented events — the examiner rewards range of linkers, not just correct tenses.

Ask your partner
Task 1

Ask your partner

  • Tell your partner about a time something happened suddenly.
  • Describe what you were doing at that moment.
  • What eventually happened?
Usesuddenlyat that momenteventually
Complete it
Task 2

"Without warning, …"without warning

Your opinion
Task 3

Do you think it's better to plan a story carefully, or just start writing and see what happens 'in the end'?

Give your answer + one reason.

Useto realisein the end
Quick write
Task 4

Write 40 words continuing this line: 'It was a normal Tuesday morning until…'

Usesuddenlyat that momenteventuallyin the end

Pronunciation for Speaking · 04

3–4 min

Sentence stress on time linkers

Say it like this

Sequencing words like 'suddenly' and 'eventually' carry strong stress — they signal a turning point in the story.

  • • SUDDENly, the door opened.
  • • At THAT moment, everyone turned around.
  • • EVENTually, she found her keys.
  • • In the END, they missed the train.

Reading Skills · 05

8–10 min

Reading — how a good story is built

A good short story does not need a complicated plot. What it needs is a clear shape: a calm beginning, a problem in the middle, and a clear ending. Readers — and PET examiners — quickly lose interest in a story that jumps around without warning.

Most successful PET stories follow the same pattern. The first sentence, which is often given to you, sets the scene: where the character is and what they are doing. The past continuous does most of this work — 'Maria was walking home from work' tells us the background before anything interesting has happened yet.

Then something changes. This is the moment the past simple takes over: 'she noticed', 'the phone rang', 'a car stopped beside her'. Sequencing words like 'suddenly' or 'at that moment' tell the reader that the calm background has been interrupted.

Finally, every story needs a clear ending, even a short one. 'In the end' and 'eventually' are useful signals that the story is finishing. Writers who forget to write an ending — and simply stop — lose marks, because the reader is left wondering what happened.

Question 1.According to the text, what shape does a good story need?

Question 2.What is the past continuous mainly used for in the first sentence?

Question 3.What do words like 'suddenly' signal?

Question 4.What mistake do some writers make with endings?

Answer all items, then check.

Listening Skills · 06

8–10 min

Listening — retelling a strange evening

Listening audio

Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.

Show transcript

Narrator:Priya is telling her friend Callum about something odd that happened last night.

Priya:So, last night I was walking home from the cinema, quite late, when I heard this strange noise behind me.

Callum:What kind of noise?

Priya:Like footsteps, but really quiet. I was getting a bit nervous, to be honest, so I stopped and turned round.

Callum:And? Was someone there?

Priya:No one at all! Just an empty street. So I kept walking, and then, suddenly, a cat jumped out from behind a bin.

Callum:A cat! That's what was making the noise?

Priya:Exactly. I burst out laughing at myself. But then, while I was still laughing, my phone rang and I nearly dropped it in the road!

Callum:Who was it?

Priya:Just my mum, checking I was okay. In the end, it was a completely normal walk home, but for about two minutes I was properly scared.

Question 1.What was Priya doing when she heard the noise?

Question 2.What was actually making the noise?

Question 3.What happened while Priya was laughing?

Question 4.Who was calling Priya?

Answer all items, then check.
Tick what you hear
Tick the expressions you actually hear.
Answer all items, then check.

Exam Strategy · 07

5 min

Writing Part 2 — the story task

Strategy

Background (continuous) → events (simple + linkers) → ending signal.

Task

You are given a first sentence and must continue the story in about 100 words.

Example

Given: 'Jack was walking his dog in the park when something unusual happened.' Continuation: He was walking his dog in the park when he noticed a small wallet on the ground. He picked it up and looked inside — there was no name, only some money. Suddenly, an old man ran up, looking worried. Jack gave him the wallet, and the man was so grateful that he invited Jack for a coffee. In the end, they became good friends.

Writing Task · 08

5 min

Put it in writing

Sentence transformation
Type a short answer (1–3 words)

Q1.Combine: 'She / walk / to school' (background) + 'she / see / an accident' (event).

Q2.Add a sequencing word: '____, the whole class stopped talking.'

Answer all items, then check.
Writing Part 2Write a story
≈100 words

Writing Part 2 — Continue this story in about 100 words: 'It was a quiet Saturday afternoon when Leo's phone suddenly rang.' Use at least two past continuous verbs and two sequencing words.

Your writing draft

0 words Saved
Show model answer & examiner comment

It was a quiet Saturday afternoon when Leo's phone suddenly rang. He was tidying his room and almost didn't answer it. It was his cousin, Ella, calling from the airport — her flight had landed early and no one was there to collect her. Leo was still wearing his old pyjamas, but he grabbed his keys and ran outside anyway. While he was driving to the airport, it started to rain heavily. Eventually he found her, tired but smiling, waiting by the entrance. In the end, they had a great afternoon together, even though it started in such a rush.

EX

Examiner comment

Reward range, organisation and style. Penalise lists, off-topic or under-length answers.
Mark scheme extract
5All content points covered; consistent style; range of structures; minor errors only.
3Content mostly covered; mostly suitable style; some range; errors don't stop the reader understanding.
1Limited content; intrusive errors; very basic structures; under-length.

Speaking Task · 09

10–15 min

Make it a real conversation

Open Expressions BankConversation phrases and functional language from across the course

In pairs, tell each other a short true story about something surprising that happened to you or someone you know. Your partner must ask one follow-up question using a past tense.

Useful phrases

PET Speaking Part 2 · Photo description
Speaking Part 2 — describe your photograph for about a minute. Say what you can see and imagine what might happen next, like the start of a story.
Candidate A Photograph 1
An adult writing in a notebook at a kitchen table

Candidate A — Writing at the kitchen table

Need help? Show prompts (try describing with no help first)
  • • What can you see?
  • • What is the person doing?
  • • How do they seem to feel?
  • • What do you think they are writing about?
Candidate B Photograph 2
A person waiting on a rainy city street with an umbrella

Candidate B — Waiting in the rain

Need help? Show prompts (try describing with no help first)
  • • What can you see?
  • • Where do you think this is?
  • • How does the weather affect the mood of the photo?
  • • What might happen next?

Useful phrases

  • • In the photo I can see…
  • • It looks like…
  • • The person seems to be…
  • • In the background, there's…
Show model 1-minute description

In the photo I can see someone sitting at a kitchen table, writing in a notebook. It looks like early morning because there's a cup of coffee next to them. They seem quite relaxed, maybe writing a diary or planning something. In the background, there's a window with soft light coming through.

Optional · Teacher-led

Teacher Activities

Use these if the writing task finishes early. ~14 min total

Homework · 10

Take-home

Take it home

Self-study — everything you need is included below. All four skills are covered so you keep the spiral going between lessons; pick the order that suits you.

WritingProductive

Write a full PET Writing Part 2 story (about 100 words) continuing the given first sentence. Use the checklist to self-mark.

Your response

0 words Saved

Materials included

First sentence

'The train stopped suddenly and everyone looked out of the window.'

Checklist

1. Background with past continuous ✔ 2. At least two events with past simple ✔ 3. Two sequencing words (e.g. suddenly, eventually) ✔ 4. A clear ending (e.g. 'in the end') ✔ 5. About 100 words ✔

Attempt the task first, then check your answers.

GrammarLanguage

Rewrite these sentences, choosing the correct past simple / past continuous form.

Your response

0 words Saved

Materials included

Sentences

1. I (walk) home when it (start) to rain. 2. While she (cook), the smoke alarm (go off). 3. They (watch) a film when the power (cut) out.

Attempt the task first, then check your answers.

ListeningReceptive

Listening review: rewrite Priya's story from the lesson as a short written narrative (60–80 words), using at least one sequencing word.

Your response

0 words Saved

Materials included

Reminder of the story

Priya was walking home late from the cinema when she heard footsteps behind her. She was scared, but it turned out to be a cat. While she was laughing, her phone rang — it was her mum.

Attempt the task first, then check your answers.

Recap · 11

2–3 min

What you've learned

  • Past continuous sets the background; past simple carries the events forward.
  • Sequencing words (suddenly, at that moment, eventually, in the end) organise a story and signal turning points.
  • PET Writing Part 2 stories score higher with a clear three-part shape: background, events, ending.
  • New vocabulary to reuse: suddenly, at that moment, eventually, to realise, in the end.
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