Step 21: My Story So Far
Telling your story — Past simple mastery; time markers
📖 Read — Ethan's Story
My name is Ethan, and this is my story so far. I was born in Chicago in 2008. When I was ten, my family moved to Austin, Texas. Back then, I did not like my new school. But in my first week, I met Tom. He was funny and kind, and we became best friends.
Three years ago, I started learning English with Miss Taylor. At first, it was hard. Then last summer, something changed. I visited Miami with my family, and I talked to people in English every day. I was not afraid. When I came home, I knew one thing: English is my door to the world.
🧩 Grammar — Past Simple — Telling Your Story
Use the past simple for finished actions in your story, and add time markers to make the order clear: yesterday, last week / last summer, three years ago, in 2008, when I was ten. Time markers usually go at the start or the end of the sentence.
- I was born in Chicago in 2008.
- We moved to Austin five years ago.
- Last summer, I visited Miami.
- When I was ten, I met my best friend.
🏗️ Key structures
- I was born in + place + in + year — I was born in Chicago in 2008.
- ___ years ago, I ___ — Three years ago, I started learning English.
- When I was ___, I ___ — When I was ten, I moved to Austin.
⭐ Idiom & natural phrases
Back then, we had no phones. We played outside all day.
🔤 New words
came into the world as a baby
I was born in Chicago.
before now (two days ago = two days before today)
We moved here five years ago.
keep something in your mind from the past
I remember my first school day.
go to live in a new place
They moved to Texas last year.
start to be something (past: became)
We became best friends.
feeling fear
I was not afraid to speak English.
become different
Everything changed last summer.
the earth and all its people and places
English is my door to the world.
🎧 Say it with me
I was born in Chicago. Three years ago, I started learning English, and last summer everything changed.
🎤 Your turn to speak
Tell your story in 4–5 sentences: where you were born, one thing from your childhood, and one thing from last year. Use ago, last, and when I was…
Say it out loud three times. Even better: record it on your phone and listen — your ear is your best teacher.
✍️ Your turn to write
Write 5 sentences about your story so far. Use: I was born…, years ago…, last…, when I was…
See a model answer
I was born in Denver in 2012. When I was eight, we moved to Florida. Two years ago, I started learning English. Last summer, I visited my cousin in Seattle. I talked in English every day!
Self-check: capital letters? Full stops? Did you use the grammar of this step?
📝 Quick check
Go deeper
This step is a doorway — the full lesson goes much further:
🎉 Saved in your progress!