Narration

[solace]

Hi teacher,
In a narration, writers often use simple past tense because the actions happen in the past, but sometimes they use present tense to express the truth. In which other cases we should use present to describe the action?
If you know more about how to use tense in narration, please help me!

 

[RonBee]

It all depends on how you want to tell the story. You can tell a story in the past tense or in the present tense.

 

[solace]

Surely, I want to tell a story in the past tense. I means that sometimes the writers still use present tense to tell a past story. And I wonder which cases?
EX: I tell you about my childhood...I say:
.(actions)....At that time, I was 10 years old or I am ten ?? present tense or past tense ?
If I find a more concrete example, I will post it and have you explain to me. Will you agree?

 

[RonBee]

Yes, if you want to tell a story in the present tense you put everything in the present tense. Example:

• I am ten years old. It is my birthday. I am looking forward to having my friends over. We will have cake and ice cream and play some fun games.

Telling a story in the present tense does, I think, give it somewhat more immedicacy than telling it in the past tense.

 

[Tdol]

You can start in the past and then change to the present once the seen has been set:

I was coming to work this morning, and this guy gets on the train..... (From this point on, you should stick to the present) ;-)