Language Focus: Telling Stories with Past Verbs
Narratives can be told in present tense or past tense. Telling a story in present makes it feel more
immediate and more exciting. Read the following story, which is written in present tense, and then
write it again in past tense. Note that the story ends with a quote. Since the purpose of quotation
marks is to preserve the language in its original form, DO NOT change the quotes.
There is a brilliant scientist who travels around to explain his new theory at universities all over the country. The scientist
doesn't like to drive, so he hires a driver to take him everywhere. The driver usually sits in the back of the room while the
scientist gives his lecture.
One day on their way to the 10 university of the week, the driver says that he has heard the lecture so many times that
he thinks he can give it himself. The scientist tells the driver that he will give him the chance to try. The scientist and the
driver trade clothes. The scientist sits in the back of the room while the driver gives the lecture perfectly.
At the end of the lecture, a member of the audience asks a difficult question. The driver thinks fast. He says, "That is such
a simple question. In fact, to show you how simple it is, I am going to invite my driver to come to the front of the room
and answer it!"