How to Tell a Story in English - Using Past Tense

怎樣講一個英文故事 — 使用過去時態

Hi, I’m Gina.

Hi，我是Gina。

Welcome to Oxford Online English!

歡迎來到Oxford Online English！

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

在本節課裡，您可以學到 怎樣用英文講故事。

Stories are powerful.

故事是動人的。

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

無論您有沒有意識到您正在 做什麼，當您新認識某人、

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

去工作面試或者參加像IELTS 那樣的測驗，您要講故事。

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

當一個會講故事的人會幫助您成為 一個很有說服力的演講者。

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

人們會被好故事吸引 — 那是作為 人類的一個基本的組成部分。

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

一般來說，學習怎麼講故事講得更好 可以幫助您成為一個更有效能的

and a better communicator generally.

英文演說者，以及一位擅長溝通的人。

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

在本節課裡，您會學到怎樣一步步地 構思一個故事。

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

您會看到三種不同的故事，以及 您會看到您可以怎樣

ideas in almost any story.

在幾乎任何故事裡使用 相同的、簡單的想法。

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

如果您想在本節課之前讀故事， 確認您在我們的網站上

our website: Oxford Online English dot com.

看這個： 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上觀看，您可以在 影片描述裡找到一個連接。

There, you can read the three stories in full.

在那裡，您可以讀三個完整的故事。

We want you to take part in this lesson.

我們需要您參與到本節課裡。

Think of a story you want to tell.

想一個您想講的故事。

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

您在學習本節課時，會聽到我們的 故事，但是，您也構思

your own story.

您自己的故事。

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

所以，想想您有過的好笑、 可怕、有趣或奇怪的事情。

Do you have an idea for a story?

您有任何一個故事的構思嗎？

Then let’s begin!

那麼，我們開始吧！

A clear story needs to start with some background.

一個清晰的故事要伴隨 某些背景開始。

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

考慮基礎的wh — 問題：誰、什麼時候、 什麼地點、什麼事情？

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

用一個包含有這些資訊的句子 開始您的故事。

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?

在開頭保持事情簡單：誰、 什麼時候、什麼地點、什麼事情？

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

接下來，多添加一個或兩個句子， 來提供更多的背景細節。

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

在這裡，您需要一個平衡：您想要 給出足夠的背景細節，這樣您的故事

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

感覺起來更真實，但是，您也需要 迅速地進入您的故事主題。

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

如果您不進入重點， 人們會喪失興趣。

Let’s see how you can do this.

我們來看看您怎樣做這個。

Look at our first example:

看看我們的一個例子：

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：如果您聽到這裡，您可以問 什麼問題來獲得更多的細節？

You might ask things like:

您也許會問些事情像是：

Who were your friends?

誰是您的朋友？

Why did you go to this beach?

為什麼您去這個海灘？

What was the place like?

那個地方像是怎樣的？

Were there any other people there?

在那裡有其他人嗎？

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

在您的首句話之後，回答這些問題會 給您提供可以增加的細節。

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

在這裡，我們關注一件事情 — 地點— 因為那是最有趣的

and unusual detail.

並不尋常的細節。

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

對於一個不同的故事，您也許 會關注不同的細節：

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

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

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

在這個故事裡，人物是很重要的，所以 您要有更多與他們有關的細節。

Okay: your turn!

好了：輪到您了！

You need to start your story.

您要開始講一個故事。

Make an opening sentence.

造一個開場句子。

Remember: who, when, where, what?

記住：誰、什麼時候、什麼地點，以及什麼事情？

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

然後，添加1 — 2個句子給出 更多的背景細節。

Focus on the most important elements in your story.

關注在您故事裡 最重要的元素。

Pause the video and do it now!

暫停影片，現在開始做！

Write it down if you want.

如果您願意，寫下它。

What’s next?

接下來是什麼？

Big question: what makes a story a story?

大問題：是什麼讓故事變成故事？

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

如果我告訴您，我想去商店買一些 麵包，然後，我回家吃麵包，

bread, is that a story?

那是故事嗎？

Not really.

真的不是。

If it is, it’s not a good one.

如果那個是，那不是一個好故事。

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

那麼，考慮它：是什麼讓故事成為故事？

A story needs two things.

一個故事需要兩件事情。

One: there needs to be a goal.

一：有一個目的。

The person or people in the story should want something.

在故事裡的人物或人 應該想要某些東西。

Two: there needs to be tension.

二：是有張力、緊張的。

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

那意味著目的不是 太容易實現的。

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

在這個單元，我們看看在 您的故事裡有一個目的。

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

這裡是問題：在您的故事裡 的人們想要什麼？

They must want something.

他們必須想要什麼東西。

This is the heart of your story.

這是您的故事的核心。

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

如果在您的故事裡的人不想要任何東西， 那麼，您沒有一個故事。

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

我們一起來做一個例子： 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.

如果您需要額外的時間來 閱讀，暫停影片。

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

在這裡，我們有一個簡單的 目的：我們要搭火車。

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

我們再做一個：要到達Issyk-Kul湖， 那裡是我的旅程

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

終點，我必須翻過一個幾乎 海拔4000公尺的山口。

What’s the goal here?

在這裡的目的是什麼？

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

目的是穿過山口到湖泊。

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

您故事裡的目的可以是一些 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

您可以看到這兩個例子，我們有一些 很容易並且很簡單的事情 — 趕搭一班

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

火車 — 一些更大並且更難的事情 — 步行 穿過一個海拔4000公尺的山口。

What about your story?

您的故事呢？

What’s the goal?

目的是什麼？

What do the people in your story want?

在您的故事裡的人物想要什麼？

Keep this simple.

這個要簡單。

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

就添加一個句子到您的故事 裡，給您或者其他的人在

story.

故事裡設定一個目的。

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

暫停影片，寫下您的句子，然後， 我們會進入到下一個部分。

Ready?

準備好了嗎？

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

好，記住我們說每一個故事 有兩件必要的事情。

What’s the second?

其次是什麼？

Every story needs tension.

每一個故事需要有緊張情節。

What does that mean?

那意味著什麼？

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

簡單，那意思是您的目的應當 是不太容易達成的。

Here’s a story:

這裡是一個故事：

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.

結束。

Good story?

是好故事嗎？

Obviously not!

絕對不是！

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

如果在您故事裡的目的太容易了， 那麼，您的故事會很短，並且很無聊。

There needs to be tension.

故事需要有緊張的情節。

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

在聽您講時，人們會考慮： 接下來會發生什麼？

Will everything be ok?

所有都還好嗎？

How are they going to get out of this problem?

他們要怎麼擺脫這個問題。

The goal needs to be difficult.

目的必須是有點難的。

There need to be problems.

必須是問題。

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

人們要懷疑 您會成功還是失敗。

This is tension.

這是故事緊張情節。

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，您聽到了那是多艱難， 甚至是在暴風雨來臨之前。

Then, the storm arrives.

然後，暴風雨來了。

What’s going to happen?

發生了什麼事情？

Did I make it over the pass?

我有通過這個山口嗎？

Did I get hurt?

我受傷了嗎？

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

我們看更多的例子： 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.

這是一個類型很不同的故事，但是， 構思是一樣的。

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

我有一個目的，那是我去探望我的父母， 然後我回來時，我的朋友們

to my room.

沒有對我的房間做任何事情。

You also have some tension.

您的故事也有一些緊張情節。

You hear sentences like this:

您聽到這個句子像是：

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

當您聽到這裡，您知道他們要對 我的房間做些事情，但是，

know what.

您不知道是什麼。

This is called foreshadowing.

這稱為預示。

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會發生，但是， 您不是很確定。

That’s where the tension comes from.

那就是故事緊張情節所在。

What did they actually do?

實際上他們做了什麼？

Hopefully, you want to know what happened next.

有可能您想知道接下來 發生了什麼事。

Now, think about your story.

現在，考慮您的故事

How can you add some tension?

您要怎樣添加一些緊張情節呢？

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

一種方法是添加問題或難度： 在您和您的目的之間發生的事情。

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

另一種方式是使用預示， 像是上述我們的故事。

Pause the video and add tension to your story.

暫停影片，給您的故事增加緊張情節。

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

這是您的故事裡一個很重要的 部分，所以仔細地考慮它。

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

目標是寫2 — 3個句子， 當您做好之後，再開始。

Okay?

好嗎？

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

現在，您已經準備好考慮 您的故事結尾了。

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

要完成您的故事，您需要去 化解緊張情節的問題。

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

在這一個重點，聽您故事的人們 應該想知道接下來發生了什麼事情。

You’ve created some tension.

您添加了一些故事的緊張情節。

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

他們不確定會發生什麼事， 但是，他們想知道。

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

所以，完成您的故事是簡單： 在結尾解釋發生了什麼事情。

(or whoever) reached your goal or not.

以及您或誰有達成目的 了嗎，還是沒有。

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

我們一起來完成您在本節課裡 看到的三個故事：

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

記住，如果您需要更多的時間來閱讀 或複習故事，您可以暫停影片 。

Let’s read the end together.

我們一起來讀結尾。

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.

您能看到結尾做了兩件事情。

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

在這個故事裡，我們有了緊張情節： there’s a mine in the harbour and we can’t leave

by boat.

by boat.

How did we solve it?

我們怎樣化解它？

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，結尾解釋我們有沒有 達到我們的目的。

In this case, happily, we caught the train!

在這個故事裡，令人高興地是， 我們搭上了火車！

What about our second story?

我們的第二個故事呢？

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

同樣，結尾化解了緊張 — 我在暴風雨下跑，並且次日又

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

嘗試了 — 也解釋了我是否 達到了我的目的。

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

那是同樣的結構：我們用回答 問題化解了緊張：我的舍友

do to my room?

對我的房間做了什麼？

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

我們也看到我有沒有達成 我的目的（我沒有）。

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

現在，您看到了三個故事，您可以 看到在每一個結尾有什麼嗎？

Each story ends with a retrospective comment.

每個故事用了一個回顧性的評論結尾。

Retrospective means ‘looking back’.

回顧性意思是“looking back”。

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

一個回顧性評論告訴人們您現在 感到故事怎樣，或者

felt.

其他人感到怎樣。

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

您不必在您的故事結尾加一個 回顧性評論，但是，那是

way to finish.

一個結尾的好方法。

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

最重要的是，一個回顧性評論 聽起來像是一個結尾。

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

那是有用的，特別是如果您在 講話，因為那告訴您的聽眾

finished speaking.

您已經講完您要講的了。

Now, you need to finish your story.

現在，您需要完成您的故事。

Pause the video and write an ending.

暫停影片，寫一個結尾。

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

記住，您需要做兩件事情：化解 緊張，並且解釋您有沒有

reached your goals.

達成您的目的。

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

我們來複習一下：要講 一個好故事，您要：

- Set the scene and give some background information.

— 設定場景，並給出一些背景資訊。

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

— 為您故事裡的人物或人 建立一個目的。

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

— 添加一些緊張情節，這樣人們不確定 在結尾會發生什麼事情。

- Finish the story and add a retrospective comment.

— 完成故事並添加一個 回顧性的評論。

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

當然，在故事裡有其他 重要的事情。

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

添加有趣的細節和描述能夠 讓您的故事更生動。

Adding jokes and humour can improve many stories.

添加笑話和幽默能讓很多故事更好。

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

給出人物的一些背景，和他們的 個人特質可以讓您故事裡的

stories to life.

人物更生動。

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

但是，沒有什麼比構思更重要了， 那就是您在本節課裡所看到的。

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

一個沒有好構思的故事不是 一個真正的故事。

Get the structure right first.

首先要有正確的構思。

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

也許您在想“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.

不是那樣的，我從一些只講很基礎英文的學生 那裡聽到過很多非常動人的故事。

Vocabulary doesn’t make a good story.

字彙不會創造一個好故事。

Structure and emotion make a good story.

構思和情感創造一個好故事。

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

重點放在構思和練習那些您在 本節課裡學到的東西那裡。

You can tell great stories in English, too!

您也能用英文講動人的故事！

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

您有一個想要分享的故事嗎？

Please post it in the comments.

請在留言板上發表它。

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

您可以在我們網站的完整版本裡 看到我們在這節課裡的故事事例：

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.

我們也有很多其他的您可以看 和學習的免費英文課程。

That’s all for this lesson.

本節課就到此結束。

Thanks for watching!

感謝觀看！

See you next time!

下次見！