How to Tell a Story in English - Using Past Tense

怎样讲一个英语故事 — 使用过去时态

Hi, I’m Gina.

Hi，我是Gina。

Welcome to Oxford Online English!

欢迎来到Oxford Online English！

In this lesson, you can learn how to tell a story in English.

在本节课里，您可以学到 怎样用英语讲故事。

Stories are powerful.

故事是动人的。

When you meet someone new, go to a job interview or take a speaking exam like IELTS, you need

无论您是否意识到您正在 做什么，当您新认识某人、

to tell stories, whether you realise that’s what you’re doing or not.

去工作面试或者参加像IELTS 那样的测验，您要讲故事。

Becoming a better storyteller will make you a more convincing speaker.

做一个会讲故事的人会帮助您成为 一个很有说服力的演讲者。

People are attracted to good stories—it’s a fundamental part of being human.

人们会被好故事吸引 — 那是作为 人类的一个基本的组成部分。

Learning how to tell better stories can help you become a more effective English speaker,

一般来说，学习怎样讲故事讲得更好 能够帮助您成为一个更有效率的

and a better communicator generally.

英语演讲者，以及一位更好的沟通者。

In this class, you’ll learn how to build a story, step by step.

在本节课里，您会学到怎样一步步地 构思一个故事。

You’ll see three different stories, and you’ll see how you can use the same simple

您会看到三种不同的故事，以及 您会看到您怎样可以

ideas in almost any story.

在几乎任何故事里使用 相同的、简单的想法。

If you want to read the stories before the lesson, make sure you’re watching this on

如果您想在本节课之前读故事， 确认您在我们的网站上

our website: Oxford Online English dot com.

看这个： Oxford Online English dot com.

If you’re watching on YouTube, you can find a link in the video description.

如果您在YouTube上观看，您可以在 视频描述里找到一个链接。

There, you can read the three stories in full.

在那里，您可以读三个完整的故事。

We want you to take part in this lesson.

我们需要您参予到本节课里。

Think of a story you want to tell.

想一个您想讲的故事。

As you go through the lesson, you’ll hear our stories, but you should also be building

您在课程的学习过程里，会听到我们的 故事，但是，您也构思

your own story.

您自己的故事。

So, think of something funny, scary, interesting or weird that happened to you.

所以，想想您发生过的好笑、 可怕、有趣或奇怪的事情。

Do you have an idea for a story?

您有任何一个故事的构思吗？

Then let’s begin!

那么，我们开始吧！

A clear story needs to start with some background.

一个清晰的故事需要伴随某些背景开始。

Think about basic wh- questions: who, when, where, what?

考虑基本的wh — 问题：谁、何时、 哪里、什么事？

Start your story with one sentence which gives some of this information.

用一个包含这些信息的句子 开始您的故事。

For example:

例如：

It was summer, and I went with some friends to a beach in Crimea which you could only

It was summer, and I went with some friends to a beach in Crimea which you could only

get to by boat.

get to by boat.

I was travelling in Kyrgyzstan, and I decided to go hiking in the mountains.

I was travelling in Kyrgyzstan, and I decided to go hiking in the mountains.

At university, I shared a flat with three other guys.

At university, I shared a flat with three other guys.

Keep it simple at the beginning: who, when, where, what?

在开头保持事情简单：谁、 何时、何地、何事？

Next, add one or two more sentences to give more background details.

接下来，多添加一个或两个句子， 来给出更多的背景细节。

You need a balance here: you want to give enough background details to make your story

在这里，您需要一个平衡：您想要 给出足够的背景细节让您的故事

feel real, but you also need to get to the heart of your story quickly.

感觉起来更真实，但是，您也需要 迅速地切入您的故事主题。

People will lose interest if you don’t get to the point.

如果您不进入重点， 人们会丧失兴趣。

Let’s see how you can do this.

我们来看看您怎样做这个。

Look at our first example:

看看我们的第一个例子：

It was summer, and I went with some friends to a beach in Crimea which you could only

It was summer, and I went with some friends to a beach in Crimea which you could only

get to by boat.

get to by boat.

Think: if you heard this, what questions could you ask to get more details?

想想：如果您听到这里，您可以问 什么问题来得到更多的细节？

You might ask things like:

您也许会问些事情像是：

Who were your friends?

谁是您的朋友？

Why did you go to this beach?

为什么您去这个海滩？

What was the place like?

那个地方像是什么？

Were there any other people there?

在那里有其他人吗？

Answering these questions gives you details you can add after your opening sentence.

在您的首句开场白之后，回答这些问题会 给出您可以增加的细节。

For example:

例如：

People had been going there for years, and there were benches and tables, places to camp,

People had been going there for years, and there were benches and tables, places to camp,

fire places and so on.

fire places and so on.

It was kind of a hippy place, with everyone walking around naked and doing whatever they

It was kind of a hippy place, with everyone walking around naked and doing whatever they

felt like.

felt like.

Here, we’re focusing on one thing—the place—because it’s the most interesting

在这里，我们聚焦在一件事情 — 地点— 因为那是最有趣的

and unusual detail.

和不寻常的细节。

For a different story, you might focus on different details:

对于一个不同的故事，您也许 会聚焦在不同的细节：

We were all good friends, but like lots of guys in that situation, we played a lot of pranks on each other.

我们都是好朋友，但是，像在那种情形里 的大部分伙计，我们经常互相作弄。

In this story, the people are more important, so you would give more details about them.

在这个故事里，人物是很重要的，所以 您要有更多与他们有关的细节。

Okay: your turn!

好了：轮到您了！

You need to start your story.

您要开始讲您的故事。

Make an opening sentence.

造一个开场白句子。

Remember: who, when, where, what?

记住：谁、何时、何地，以及何事？

Then, add 1-2 sentences giving more background details.

然后，添加1 — 2 个句子给出 更多的背景细节。

Focus on the most important elements in your story.

聚焦在您的故事里 最重要的元素。

Pause the video and do it now!

暂停视屏，现在做！

Write it down if you want.

如果您愿意，写下它。

What’s next?

接下来是什么？

Big question: what makes a story a story?

大问题： 是什么让故事成为故事？

If I tell you that I went to the shop to buy some bread, and then I came home and ate the

如果我告诉您我想去商店买一些 面包，然后，我回家吃面包，

bread, is that a story?

那是故事吗？

Not really.

真的不是。

If it is, it’s not a good one.

如果那个是，那不是一个好故事。

So, think about it: what makes a story a story?

那么，考虑它： 是什么让故事成为故事？

A story needs two things.

一个故事需要两件事情。

One: there needs to be a goal.

一：有一个目的。

The person or people in the story should want something.

在故事里的人物或人 应该想要某些东西。

Two: there needs to be tension.

二：是紧张的。

That means the goal can’t be too easy to reach.

那意味着目的不是 太容易达到的。

In this section, let’s look at putting a goal in your story.

在这个单元，我们看看在 您的故事里放一个目的。

Here’s the question: what do the people in your story want?

这里是问题：在您故事里的 人们想要什么？

They must want something.

他们必须想要什么东西。

This is the heart of your story.

这是您的故事的核心。

If the people in your story don’t want anything, then you don’t have a story.

如果在您故事里的人不想要任何东西， 那么，您没有一个故事。

Let’s do an example together: On the last day, we had to catch a train in

我们一起来做一个例子： On the last day, we had to catch a train in

the evening.

the evening.

Pause the video if you need extra time to read.

如果您需要额外的时间来 阅读，暂停视屏。

Here we have a simple goal: we needed to catch our train.

在这里，我们有一个简单的 目的：我们要搭火车。

Let’s do one more: To reach Issyk-Kul lake, which was the end

我们再做一个：要到达Issyk-Kul湖， 那里是我的旅程

of my journey, I had to cross a mountain pass, almost 4,000m high.

终点，我必须穿过一个海拔 几乎4000米的山口。

What’s the goal here?

在这里目的是什么？

The goal is getting across the mountain pass to the lake.

目的是穿过山口到湖泊。

The goal in your story can be something big or something small.

在您故事里的目的可以是一些 大事情，或者一些小事情。

You can see in these two examples that we have something very easy and simple—catching

您可以看到这两个例子，我们有一些 很容易并简单的事情 — 赶一趟

a train—and something bigger and more difficult—crossing a 4,000-metre mountain pass on foot.

火车 — 一些更大并更难的事情 — 步行 穿过一个海拔4000米的山口。

What about your story?

您的故事呢？

What’s the goal?

目的是什么？

What do the people in your story want?

在您故事的人物想要什么？

Keep this simple.

让这个简单。

Just add one sentence to your story, setting a goal for you or the other people in your

就添加一个句子到您的句子 里，给您或者其他的人在

story.

故事里设定一个目的。

Pause the video, write your sentence, then we’ll move on to the next part.

暂停视屏，写下您的句子，然后， 我们会进入到下一个部分。

Ready?

准备好了吗？

Ok, remember that we said there are two things every story needs.

好，记住我们说每一个故事 有两件需要的事情。

What’s the second?

其次是什么？

Every story needs tension.

每一个故事需要紧张情节。

What does that mean?

那意味着什么？

Simply, it means that your goal shouldn’t be too easy to reach.

简单，那意思是您的目的应当 是不太容易达成的。

Here’s a story:

这里是一个故事：

There was a monster which liked to eat people.

There was a monster which liked to eat people.

A hero killed the monster.

A hero killed the monster.

Everyone was safe.

Everyone was safe.

The end.

结束。

Good story?

好故事吗？

Obviously not!

绝对不是！

If the goal in your story is too easy, then your story will be very short and boring.

如果，在您故事里的目的太容易了， 那么，您的故事会很短，并且无聊。

There needs to be tension.

故事需要有紧张情节。

As they listen to you, people should be thinking: what’s going to happen next?

在听您讲时，人们会考虑： 接下来会发生什么？

Will everything be ok?

所有事情都好吗？

How are they going to get out of this problem?

他们要怎样摆脱这个问题。

The goal needs to be difficult.

目的要是难的。

There need to be problems.

必须是问题。

People need to doubt whether you’re going to succeed or fail.

人们需要怀疑 您会成功还是失败。

This is tension.

这是故事紧张情节。

For example: On the third day, I had to cross a mountain

例如： On the third day, I had to cross a mountain

pass, almost 4,000m high.

pass, almost 4,000m high.

It was so hard, because the air is thin up there and I was carrying a very heavy pack.

It was so hard, because the air is thin up there and I was carrying a very heavy pack.

It seemed to take forever, but finally I got close to the top… and then a storm boiled

It seemed to take forever, but finally I got close to the top… and then a storm boiled

over the ridge and landed right on my head.

over the ridge and landed right on my head.

There was lightning all around me, even below me!

There was lightning all around me, even below me!

The noise was unbelievable.

The noise was unbelievable.

First, you hear how difficult it was, even before the storm hit.

首先，您听到了那是多艰难， 甚至是在暴风雨来临之前。

Then, the storm arrives.

然后，暴风雨来了。

What’s going to happen?

发生了什么事？

Did I make it over the pass?

我有过了这个山口吗？

Did I get hurt?

我受伤了吗？

Let’s look at one more example: One weekend, I was going home to visit my

我们看更多的例子： One weekend, I was going home to visit my

parents.

parents.

I said bye to my flatmates, and told them not to do anything to my room.

I said bye to my flatmates, and told them not to do anything to my room.

“Don’t worry, we won’t.

“Don’t worry, we won’t.

Have a good weekend,” they said.

Have a good weekend,” they said.

I knew they were going to do something, but I couldn’t believe what they actually did:

I knew they were going to do something, but I couldn’t believe what they actually did:

This is a very different kind of story, but the structure is the same.

这是一个类型很不同的故事，但是， 结构是一样的。

I have a goal, which is to visit my parents and come back without my friends doing anything

我有一个目的，那是我去探望我的父母， 然后回来时，我的朋友

to my room.

没对我的房间做任何事。

You also have some tension.

您的故事也有一些紧张情节。

You hear sentences like this:

您听到句子像这个：

I told them not to do anything to my room.

I told them not to do anything to my room.

I knew they were going to do something.

I knew they were going to do something.

When you hear these, you know they’re going to do something to my room, but you don’t

当您听到这里，您知道他们要对 我的房间做些事情，但是，

know what.

您不知道是什么。

This is called foreshadowing.

这被称为预示。

You know something bad is going to happen, but you aren’t sure exactly what.

您知道某些糟糕的事情会发生，但是， 您不准确地确定是什么。

That’s where the tension comes from.

那就是故事紧张情节所在之处。

What did they actually do?

实际上他们做了什么？

Hopefully, you want to know what happened next.

有可能您想知道接下来 什么发生了。

Now, think about your story.

现在，考虑您的故事

How can you add some tension?

您要怎样添加一些紧张情节呢？

One way is to add problems or difficulties: things that get between you and your goal.

一种方式是添加问题或难度： 在您和您的目的之间发生的事情。

Another way is to use foreshadowing, like our story above.

另一种方式是使用预示， 像是上述我们的故事。

Pause the video and add tension to your story.

暂停视屏，并给您的故事增加紧张情节。

This is an important part of your story, so think about it carefully.

这是您的故事里一个很重要的 部分，所以仔细地考虑它。

Aim to write 2-3 sentences, and start again when you’re done.

目标是写2 — 3个句子， 当您做好以后，再开始。

Okay?

好吗？

Now, you’re ready to think about the end of your story.

现在，您已经准备好考虑 您的故事结尾了。

To finish your story, you need to resolve the tension.

要完成您的故事，您需要 化解紧张情节的问题。

At this point, the people listening to your story should want to know what comes next.

在这一个重点，听您故事的人们 应该想知道接下来发生了什么。

You’ve created some tension.

您添加了一些故事紧张情节。

They aren’t sure what’s going to happen, but they want to know.

他们不确定什么会发生， 但是，他们想知道。

So, finishing your story is simple: explain what happened in the end, and whether you

所以，完成您的故事是简单的： 在结尾解释什么发生了。

(or whoever) reached your goal or not.

以及您或谁有达成目的 了吗，还是没有。

Let’s finish the three stories you’ve seen in this lesson:

我们一起来完成您在本节课里 看到的三个故事：

Remember that you can pause if you need more time to read or review the story.

记住，如果您需要更多时间来阅读 或复习故事，您可以暂停视屏 。

Let’s read the end together.

我们一起来读结尾。

We loaded our stuff onto a kayak and swam almost a kilometre around the cliffs.

We loaded our stuff onto a kayak and swam almost a kilometre around the cliffs.

A naked hippy paddled the kayak, which was piled high with our things and looked like

A naked hippy paddled the kayak, which was piled high with our things and looked like

it could sink at any minute.

it could sink at any minute.

We made it to land, and after several hours of hitchhiking and walking, we caught our

We made it to land, and after several hours of hitchhiking and walking, we caught our

train.

train.

It was stressful at the time, but looking back now it makes a good story!

It was stressful at the time, but looking back now it makes a good story!

You can see that the ending does two things.

您能看到结尾做了两件事。

In this story, we have tension: there’s a mine in the harbour and we can’t leave

在这个故事里，我们有了紧张情节： there’s a mine in the harbour and we can’t leave

by boat.

by boat.

How did we solve it?

我们怎样化解它？

By swimming for a kilometre, with a naked hippy transporting our stuff in an overloaded

By swimming for a kilometre, with a naked hippy transporting our stuff in an overloaded

kayak.

kayak.

Secondly, the ending explains whether we reached our goal or not.

其次，结尾解释我们有没有 达到我们的目的。

In this case, happily, we caught the train!

在这件事里，高兴地是， 我们赶上了火车！

What about our second story?

我们的第二个故事呢？

I forgot how tired I was and ran down the slopes to get to safety.

I forgot how tired I was and ran down the slopes to get to safety.

I stayed the night lower down and tried again the next day.

I stayed the night lower down and tried again the next day.

I made it over the pass, but it was a very frightening experience.

I made it over the pass, but it was a very frightening experience.

Again, the ending resolves the tension—I ran below the storm and tried again the next

同样，结尾化解了紧张 — 我在暴风雨下跑，并次日又

day—and also explains whether I reached my goal or not.

尝试了 — 也解释了我是否 达到了我的目的。

Finally, what did happen to my room at university?

Finally, what did happen to my room at university?

They made my room into a jungle!

They made my room into a jungle!

I’m not kidding: there were flowers, plants, three whole trees, jungle animals made from

I’m not kidding: there were flowers, plants, three whole trees, jungle animals made from

paper, and a ‘sounds of the forest’ mix playing on my stereo.

paper, and a ‘sounds of the forest’ mix playing on my stereo.

It took me three hours to clean up, and also I have hay fever—an allergy to pollen—so

It took me three hours to clean up, and also I have hay fever—an allergy to pollen—so

I was sneezing and blowing my nose the whole time.

I was sneezing and blowing my nose the whole time.

For my flatmates, that just made it funnier…

For my flatmates, that just made it funnier…

It’s the same pattern: we resolve the tension by answering the question: what did my flatmates

那是同样的结构：我们通过回答 问题化解了紧张：我的舍友

do to my room?

对我的房间做了什么？

We also find out whether I reached my goal or not (I didn’t).

我们也看到我有没有达到 我的目的（我没有）。

Now you’ve seen the three stories; can you see what each one has right at the end?

现在，您看过了三个故事，您能 看到在每一个结尾有什么吗？

Each story ends with a retrospective comment.

每个故事用一个回顾性评论结尾。

Retrospective means ‘looking back’.

回顾性意思是“looking back”。

A retrospective comment tells people how you feel now about the story, or how other people

一个回顾性评论告诉人们您现在 感到故事是怎样，或者

felt.

其他人感到怎样。

For example:

例如：

It was stressful at the time, but looking back now it makes a good story!

It was stressful at the time, but looking back now it makes a good story!

It was a very frightening experience.

It was a very frightening experience.

For my flatmates, that just made it funnier…

For my flatmates, that just made it funnier…

You don’t have to put a retrospective comment at the end of your story, but it’s a good

您不必在您的故事结尾放一个 回顾性评论，但是，那是

way to finish.

一个结尾的好方法。

Most of all, a retrospective comment sounds like an ending.

最重要的是，一个回顾性评论 听起来像是一个结尾。

That’s useful, especially if you’re speaking, because it shows your listener that you’ve

那是有用的，特别是如果您在 讲话，因为那告诉您的听众

finished speaking.

您已经结束您讲的了。

Now, you need to finish your story.

现在，您需要结束您的故事。

Pause the video and write an ending.

暂停视屏，写一个结尾。

Remember that you need to do two things: resolve the tension, and explain whether or not you

记住，您需要做两件事情：化解 紧张，并解释您有没有

reached your goals.

达成您的目的。

Let’s review: to tell a good story, you need to:

我们来复习一下：要讲 一个好故事，您要：

- Set the scene and give some background information.

— 设定场景，并给出一些背景信息。

- Establish a goal for the person or people in your story.

— 为您故事里的人物或人 建立一个目的。

- Add some tension, so that people aren’t sure what will happen in the end.

— 添加一些紧张情节，这样人们不确定 在结尾会发生什么事情。

- Finish the story and add a retrospective comment.

— 完成故事并添加一个 回顾性的评论。

Of course, there are other things which are important in a story.

当然，在故事里有其他 重要的事情。

Adding interesting details and descriptions can make your story more lifelike.

添加有趣的细节和描述能够 让您的故事更生动。

Adding jokes and humour can improve many stories.

添加笑话和幽默能让很多故事更好。

Giving some background on the people and their personalities can bring the people in your

给出人物的一些背景，和他们的 个人特质能让您故事里的

stories to life.

人物生动。

But, nothing is more important than structure, and that’s what you’ve seen in this lesson.

但是，没有什么比构思更重要了， 那就是您在本节课里所看到的。

A story without good structure isn’t really a story.

一个没有好构思的故事不是 一个真正的故事。

Get the structure right first.

首先要有正确的构思。

Maybe you’re thinking, “I don’t have the vocabulary to tell stories like that.”

也许您在想“I don’t have the vocabulary to tell stories like that.”

Not true: I’ve heard very powerful stories from students who spoke very basic English.

不是那样的，我从只讲很基础英语的学生 那里听到过很多非常动人的故事。

Vocabulary doesn’t make a good story.

词汇不会创造一个好故事。

Structure and emotion make a good story.

构思和情感创造一个好故事。

Focus on structure and practise what you’ve learned in this lesson.

重点放在构思和练习那些您在 本节课里学到的东西那里。

You can tell great stories in English, too!

您也能用英语讲动人的故事！

Do you have a story you’d like to share?

您有一个您想要分享的故事吗？

Please post it in the comments.

请把它发表在评论里。

You can see the sample stories we used in this lesson in the full lesson on our website:

您可以在我们网站的完整版本里 看到我们在这节课里的故事事例：

Oxford Online English dot com.

Oxford Online English dot com.

We also have many other free English lessons which you can watch and study from.

我们也有很多其他的您能看 和学习的免费英语课程。

That’s all for this lesson.

本节课就到此结束。

Thanks for watching!

感谢观看！

See you next time!

下次见！