Narrative Text

Definition
• Narrative is a text focusing specific participants.
• Its social function is to tell stories or past events and entertain the
readers.
Generic Structure
• Orientation: Introducing the participants and informing the time and
the place
• Complication: Describing the rising crises which the participants have
to do with
• Resolution: Showing the way of participant to solve the crises, better
or worse
Language Features
• Using processes verbs
• Using temporal conjunction
• Using Simple Past Tense
Example
Maura, who like to be thought of as the most beautiful and powerful queen of
Arabia, had many suitors. One by one she discarded them, until her list was reduced to just
three sheiks. The three sheiks were all equally young and handsome. They were also rich
and strong. It was very hard to decide who would be the best of them.
One evening, Maura disguised herself and went to the camp of the three sheiks. As
they were about to have dinner, Maura asked them for something to eat. The first gave her
some left over food. The second Sheik gave her some unappetizing camel’s tail. The third
sheik, who was called Hakim, offered her some of the most tender and tasty meat. After
dinner, the disguised queen left the sheik’s camp.
The following day, the queen invited the three sheiks to dinner at her palace. She
ordered her servant to give each one exactly what they had given her the evening before.
Hakim, who received a plate of delicious meat, refused to eat it if the other two sheiks
could not share it with him.
This Sheik Hakim’s act finally convinced Queen Maura that he was the man for her.
“Without question, Hakim is the most generous of you” she announced her choice to the
sheiks. “So it is Hakim I will marry”
Processes Verb
• what we do (action verbs)
• what we say (saying verbs)
• what we think, feel and perceive (sensing verbs)
• how we create links between bits of information (relating verbs)
• how we refer to things that simply exist (existing verbs)
Action verbs
• Verb that consists/ shows of physical activity
• Example: put, throw, run, visit, etc.
Saying verbs
• Saying verbs deal with the difference between direct and indirect
speech and the punctuation of direct speech.
• Example: said, pleaded, whispered, etc.
Sensing verbs
• Sensing verbs reflect processes of our internal world. They are
typically used in relation to humans – or non-humans given human-
like qualities – describing what they think, feel, desire and perceive.
• Example: know, like, notice, believe, etc.
Relating verbs
• These are the verbs that do not represent actions, speaking, thoughts
or feelings. Their job is to simply link two pieces of information.
• Example: be, has/have
Existing verbs
• Another type of verb is where there is no action or relationship being
described, simply a state. These types of verbs are introduced by the
word ‘there’.
• Example: there was an old house on the hill
there is a hole in your jeans
there are no decent shows on television
there was nothing to do
there was not a breadth of air stirring.
Simple Past Tense
• It is used to talk about a completed action in a time before now.
• The time of the action can be in the recent past or the distant past
and action duration is not important.
EXAMPLES
• John Cabot sailed to America in 1498.
• My grandfather died last year.
• He lived in Fiji in 1976.
• We crossed the Channel yesterday.
PATTERNS OF SIMPLE PAST TENSE FOR
REGULAR VERBS
Affirmative
Subject + verb + ed
I skipped.
Negative
Subject + did not + infinitive without to
They didn't go.

Interrogative
Did + subject + infinitive without to
Did she arrive?
Interrogative negative
Did not + subject + infinitive without to
Didn't you play?
SIMPLE PAST TENSE OF TO BE, TO HAVE, TO
DO
Subject Verb

Be Have Do

I was had did

You were had did

He/She/It was had did

We were had did

You were had did

They were had did

SIMPLE PAST, IRREGULAR VERBS
• TO GO
He went to a club last night.
Did he go to the cinema last night?
He didn't go to bed early last night.
• TO GIVE
We gave her a doll for her birthday.
They didn't give John their new address.
Did Barry give you my passport?
• TO COME
My parents came to visit me last July.
We didn't come because it was raining.
Did he come to your party last week?