English grammar
Telling an accident: events vs the scene
Tell someone about an accident and a visit to hospital.
From the scene In casualty
In short
Tell each event in the past simple: I fell. Describe the scene with was / were, or was / were + -ing.
- an event I fell down the stairs
- the situation there was no light
- describing a place the hospital was packed
- something in progress some lads were coughing
- an event that lasted we waited four hours
Your turn
Which one goes with the situation?
Options: I fell down the stairs · the hospital was packed · there was no light
Show answer
the situation → there was no light
How it works
When you tell the story of an accident, each event goes in the past simple: I fell, we waited, they X-rayed me.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
In the end, the doctor (blank) a test on him.
Clue: one completed action
Options: did · was doing · does
Show answer
In the end, the doctor did a test on him.
Finalmente, el médico le hizo un análisis a él.
Good to know
Use was or were, or was / were + -ing, to describe the scene around it: the hospital was packed, some lads were coughing.
Good to know
A length of time, like four hours, still takes the past simple: we waited four hours.
an event I fell down the stairs
Nuria
I fell down the stairs. There was no light.
Me caí en la escalera. No había luz.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank). There was no light.
Options: I fell down the stairs · The hospital was packed · Some lads were coughing
Show answer
Nuria
I fell down the stairs. There was no light.
Me caí en la escalera. No había luz.
the situation there was no light
Nuria
I fell down the stairs. There was no light.
Me caí en la escalera. No había luz.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
I fell down the stairs. (blank).
Options: There was no light · The hospital was packed · Some lads were coughing
Show answer
Nuria
I fell down the stairs. There was no light.
Me caí en la escalera. No había luz.
describing a place the hospital was packed
Nuria
The hospital was packed. There was a man with chest pain...
El hospital estaba lleno. Había un señor con dolor de pecho...
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank). There was a man with chest pain...
Options: The hospital was packed · I fell down the stairs · There was no light
Show answer
Nuria
The hospital was packed. There was a man with chest pain...
El hospital estaba lleno. Había un señor con dolor de pecho...
something in progress some lads were coughing
Your turn
What goes with some lads were coughing?
Options: an event · the situation · something in progress
Show answer
some lads were coughing → something in progress
an event that lasted we waited four hours
Nuria
We waited four hours. Then they X-rayed me.
Esperamos cuatro horas. Luego me hicieron una radiografía.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank). Then they X-rayed me.
Options: We waited four hours · I fell down the stairs · There was no light
Show answer
Nuria
We waited four hours. Then they X-rayed me.
Esperamos cuatro horas. Luego me hicieron una radiografía.
Common mistake
Not was falling or fall here. One sudden event.
I fell down the stairs. There was no light.
Me caí en la escalera. No había luz.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| an event | I fell down the stairs |
|---|---|
| the situation | there was no light |
| describing a place | the hospital was packed |
| something in progress | some lads were coughing |
| an event that lasted | we waited four hours |
More lines from the story
- NuriaIn the end, the doctor did a test on him.Finalmente, el médico le hizo un análisis a él.
- ElenaAnd we took her to casualty. It was eleven o’clock.Y la llevamos a urgencias. Eran las once.
- NuriaNo. My knee wasn’t broken. The treatment: ice and medicine.No. La rodilla no estaba rota. El tratamiento: hielo y medicina.