1. I am going to tell you a story…
Situations could be lots:
•Anecdotes
•Talking about your past to a friend
•Giving details about something that happened
at school/ the last weekend/a job interview
•Telling about what happened on a holiday/
business trip
USE : the past.
Link ideas together:>sequence them:> order in
which events happened. HOW?

2. Most common ways to sequence in
writing or speaking:
Beginning:
• Firstly,… First of all,… To start off with, …
Initially,…
• Firstly, we were having coffee in…
• First of all, I opened the cupboard…
• To start off with, we decided our destination was
New York.
• Initially, I thought it was a bad idea, but then ...

3. Continuing:
Then, … After that, … Next, …
As soon as / When + full clause, ... but then
Immediately, …
• Then, I started to get worried.
• After that, we knew that there would be no problem!
• Next, we decided what to do.
• As soon as we arrived, we unpacked our bags.

4. Interruptions / New Elements to
the Story:
• Suddenly, …Unexpectedly, …
• Suddenly, a child burst into the room
with a note for Ms. Smith.
• Unexpectedly, the people in the room
didn't agree with the mayor.

5. In informal conversations the listener(s)
usually interrupt the main speaker
• Really?
• I can’t believe it!
• You must be joking!
• Oh my God!
• And then what happened?
• And then what did you do?
• What did you do next?
• And weren’t you excited/ afraid/
nervous/ tired?
• Didn’t you feel embarrassed/
scared/stupid…?

6. Expressing Lack of Understanding
•I don't get it.
•(I'm sorry.) I don't understand.
•What do you mean?
•I'm not following you.
•I don't quite follow you.
•I'm not sure I get what you mean.
•What was that again?

7. Getting back to the topic
• Anyway,…
• Now, where was I?/ What was I saying?
• Where were we?
• What were you saying?
• You were saying . . .
• To get back to . . .
• (Do you) know what I mean?

8. Ending:
• Finally,… In the end,… Eventually, … Lastly,
…
• Finally, I flew to London for my meeting with Jack.
• In the end, he decided to postpone the project.
• Eventually, we found the road and...
• Lastly, we felt we had had enough and went home.
• © Dulce