DESCRIBING EVENTS IN THE PAST

Objectives

DESCRIPTION: Analyze social functions, structures of text and language unsure in a statement or question about action/event happened in the past by referring the past times and times after depends on the usage contexts. 

LESSON

Key Points

DEFINITION:
Describing events in the past is very common in our daily lives. We sometimes do it when telling story to a friend, do any homework or other school-works related with delivering any events in the past, answer the question or request to tell any event happened before etc. As what we have in some previous lessons, make sure your description on any past event suitable with the context or as needed and properly.

Take a look at this following conversation: 
X: Can you tell me what really happened at class yesterday? 
Y: Yes, only a little bit I know.
X: No problem, just tell me. 
Y: One of our classmates was sleeping during the lesson and teacher found him. 
X: Which teacher?
Y: The mathematics’ teacher. 
X: Wow. Then what happened next?
Y: The teacher awakened the student and punished him a big and hard punishment.
X: Thank you so much

You can see that in requesting or asking someone to describe any events in the past, the expression must be clear and unambiguous. Mentioning the class and yesterday shows the clearness so the second person didn’t have to ask anymore. Moreover, the expression must be polite and suitable with the context, as the above conversation happens between two classmates. In other certain contexts, you don’t have to tell any event in detail description when, for example, telling it in front of the class. However, you have to give full and clear description in some important occasions, such as police investigation, answering important request or serious question etc. Additionally, remind yourself that a good description mainly consists of five-senses wording such as beautiful (for sight), soft (for feeler), fragrance (for smelling), sweet (for tasting) and melodious (for hearing).

Other than that, the first person must be communicative because he/she is an asker of the information so he/she must speak nicely and not too insisting because the second person may be reluctant to describe any event due to various reasons. Meanwhile, if you are the second person or those who receive request to describe any event in the past, tell any information you know as clear as possible but keep being polite and firm. For example, if you are asked about a secret event especially regarding with someone else, you must be wise responding your interlocutor whether by telling him/her as simple as possible or by not telling anything at all. In short, no matter what position you are in it, make sure you behave properly and politely. Never insist others to tell any event in the past and give good and polite responses for those who ask you to tell any story of the past.

Here are some keywords in asking information or describing any event in the past
• Would you like to tell me the event of…
• Do you mind telling the condition when…
• May I know about the tragedy of…
• I guess you know the real story. Are you willing to tell me? 
• I wish you don’t mind to tell me about what happened…

Anyway, there are two common tenses used in describing any event in the past, i.e. Simple Past and Present Perfect. Here is the guideline to differentiate both of them
• Simple past is used to describe anything happened in the past and usually give no effect on present. Remember that in this sentence, you use second form of a verb as the following examples. 
1. We hiked the mountain although the sky was cloudy
2. The rain came so hard last night
3. The train’s bell rang so loud

Note that the underlined words are signs of past tense showing that the events were in the past.

• Present perfect is used to describe any event that had (just) perfectly finished and usually has influence to the present. In this sentence, you use HAVE or HAS and the third form of the verb. Take a look at the following examples:
1. I have been a student since last three years
2. My mother has just finished cooking and now the tea is ready the the is ready
3. My brother has eaten that he isn’t hungry right now

Note that the underlined words are signs of present perfect showing that the events—usually happened just before the time of speaking—were already and perfectly finished.

From all above explanations, you know that in asking someone to describe any event in the past, you must be:
• Politely asking and setting the situation as comfortable as possible
• Giving free choice to him/her whether to tell you or not
• Choosing the diction as proper and suitable as possible depends on who your interlocutor is
• Not insisting others to tell what you want to know
• Thanking for the kindness of your interlocutor no matter what responds she/he gives

Meanwhile, in describing any event in the past, you have to:
• Give information as honest, necessary, polite and proper as possible
• Pay attention to whom you are talking with
• Deliver it clearly and systematically so others can imagine what really happened
• Avoid any ambiguous diction or information considering that what you already knew is not also known and understood by others. 
• Help the understanding of the interlocutor by choosing good and right diction so that he/she can feel like being in the event you describe. 
• Use simple past and/or present perfect 

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