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A narrative is the way an action, or a series of actions and events, is told. Narratives can include descriptions of the characters performing the actions, as well as of objects or places. Narrated actions and events can occur in a short period of time, for example, events that occur for just a few minutes.
Example:
While I was walking my dog this morning, it saw a cat and started running towards it. My dog was on a leash and the pull took me by surprise so I tripped, fell and hurt my knee. Fortunately, a neighbor saw the whole thing and stopped my dog before it went too far.
While I was walking my dog this morning, he saw a cat and started running towards him. My dog was on a leash and the pull took me by surprise, so I tripped, fell and injured my knee. Luckily a neighbor saw everything that happened and stopped my dog before he got too far.
The example uses the continuous past (I was walking / was walking) to indicate an action that develops over time that is to say that they had not yet finished. In contrast, the past simple is used to mention various actions that were started and ended: it saw / saw; I tripped / fell.
In the narration, personal impressions and opinions of the narrator can be used, when he is involved in the story: fortunately / luckily.
Narrated events can occur over a long period of time, even decades. An example is the beginning and end of One hundred years of loneliness from Gabriel García Marquez .:
Start: "…Colonel Aureliano Buenda was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice. At that time Macondo was a village of twenty adobe houses, built on the bank of a river of clear water that ran along a bed of polished stones, which were white and enormous, like prehistoric eggs. The world was so recent that many things lacked names, and in order to indicate them it was necessary to point. Every year during the month of March a family of ragged gypsies would set up their tents near the village, and with a great uproar of pipes and kettledrums they would display new inventions. First they brought the magnet. A heavy gypsy with an untamed beard and sparrow hands, who introduced himself as Melquades, put on a bold public demonstration of what he himself called the eighth wonder of the learned alchemists of Macedonia.”
“… Colonel Aureliano Buendía had to remember that remote afternoon when his father took him to see ice. Macondo was then a village of twenty houses of mud and cañabrava built on the bank of a river with clear waters that tumbled down a bed of polished stones, white and huge as prehistoric eggs. The world was so recent that many things lacked names, and to mention them you had to point your finger at them. Every year in the month of March, a family of ragged gypsies pitched their tent near the village, and with a great uproar of whistles and kettledrums they made known the new inventions. They brought the magnet first. A burly gypsy with a wild beard and sparrow hands, who introduced himself by the name of Melquiades, made a gruesome public demonstration of what he himself called the eighth wonder of the wise alchemists of Macedonia. "
Near the end: "Aureliano, had never been more lucid in any act of his life as when he forgot about his dead ones and the pain of his dead ones and nailed up the doors and windows again with Fernanda's crossed boards so as not to be disturbed by any temptations of the world, for he knew then that his fate was written in Melquíades' parchments.”
“Aureliano had not been more lucid in any act of his life than when he forgot his dead and the pain of his dead, and he nailed the doors and windows again with Fernanda's crosses so as not to be disturbed by any temptation in the world, because then he knew that his destiny was written on the parchments of Melquíades. "
In the example, it can be seen that events from the protagonist's childhood are narrated, his entire life and that of his family, until he reaches adulthood and death.
Example of One hundred years of loneliness it is from a novel of great length. However, events very distant in time can also be narrated without the text being long. Example:
My parents met when they were children and lived in a small town called Beverley. They weren’t very good friends as children but when they grew up they fell in love. They got married in their twenties, and had their first child, my older brother, three years after their marriage. In their forties they decided to move to London, which was a big change for the whole family, including us, their four children. Now that they have retired, they when back to Beverley and are very happy there.
My parents met when they were children and lived in a small town called Beverley. They weren't very friends when they were kids, but when they grew up they fell in love. They were married in their twenties and had their first child, my older brother, three years after the wedding. After turning forty they decided to move to London, which was a big change for the whole family, including us, their four children. Now that they have retired, they have returned to Beverley and are very happy there.
The narratives can follow the chronological order of the events, that is to say, first narrate what happened in the beginning and then what happened next.
The suspect says he left his office at six p.m., had a cup of coffee with friends, went to the gym until eight p.m. and had dinner at a restaurant with his girlfriend until ten p.m.
The suspect says he left his office at 6 p.m., had coffee with friends, went to the gym until 8 p.m., and had dinner at a restaurant with his girlfriend until 10 p.m.
Or the events may be narrated in a different order than the one in which they occurred.
I had lunch with my mother yesterday. We chose a little restaurant by the river; the place was nice and the food was good, but I couldn't enjoy it. Earlier that day I had gone for a run in the park, I was distracted and twisted my ankle. It hurt all day and I was worried I might need to see a doctor. Fortunately, it doesn’t hurt anymore. I think I was distracted when I was running because I hadn't slept very well the previous night.
I had lunch with my mother yesterday. We chose a small restaurant by the river; the place was nice and the food was good but i couldn't enjoy it. Earlier that day I had gone for a run in the park, I was distracted and sprained my ankle. It hurt all day and I was worried that maybe I should see a doctor. Fortunately, it doesn't hurt anymore. I think he was distracted because he hadn't slept well the night before.
The example narrates first something that happened yesterday, then something that happened earlier yesterday and then the current state (it doesn’t hurt anymore / it doesn't hurt anymore). At the end, something is narrated that happened before all the events narrated, and that could have been the cause. In other words, this narrative does not follow a chronological order but a logical order.
The example shows the use of the past perfect to refer to an action that occurred before what was being counted: I had gone for a run / had gone to run. I hadn’t slept very well / hadn't slept very well.
Narrative structure
Although stories can have many different structures and organize information in varying ways, they are traditionally structured in introduction, middle, and closing.
Introduction
Martha and Kelly are two bright girls who have been friends for as long as they can remember. Their families were neighbors and the girls started playing together even before they learned to speak.
Martha and Kelly are two smart girls who have been friends for as long as they can remember. Their families were neighbors and the girls began to play together before learning to speak.
Development
Although they were very close to each other, they lost touch when they both went to the university in different parts of the country. A few years later they met by chance at a coffee shop in downtown London. They recognized each other instantly and after a few minutes it seemed that they had never been apart. They discovered that they had followed similar paths and were both thinking about starting their own business, but didn’t have enough capital to do it alone. As they kept on meeting frequently, they realized that their dreams would come true if they started a business together.
Although they were very close, they lost contact when they both went to study in different parts of the country. A few years later they met by chance in a cafe in central London. They recognized each other immediately and after a few minutes it seemed that they had never parted. They discovered that they had followed similar paths and that they were both thinking of starting a business, but did not have enough capital to do it alone. As they continued to see each other frequently, they realized that their dreams would come true if they started a business together.
Closing
After a lot of hard work, their business is flourishing. Martha and Kelly found out that good friends can also become good business partners.
After a lot of hard work, your business is flourishing. Martha and Kelly found that good friends can also become good partners.
Andrea is a language teacher, and on her Instagram account she offers private lessons by video call so that you can learn to speak English.
