English course

Lesson 176 of 240

New here? This is lesson 176 of a free 240-lesson English course.

Start hereHow this works

The story grows in English

Ana and Tasha are back at the Blue Plate after Milwaukee. Tasha tells the wrong train story, and it is bigger than the real trip.

Dee does not believe her. Ana was there, so she can say what really happened.

By the end, you'll stop a story that grew too much. You'll tell the true version, and you'll notice extra details.

By the end of this lesson

Retell something and notice how it grows with each telling.

  • Here's what really happened.I will tell you the true story now.
  • The version I heard was different.Someone told me another story of this.
  • It gets bigger every time you tell it.Each telling adds more than the last one.
  • It wasn't actually that dramatic.The real story was smaller than that.
  • That's not how it was.The real story was not like that.
  • I might have added a little.I think I put extra details in.

Scene — back from Milwaukee

Same booth at the Blue Plate. Ana and Tasha are back from Milwaukee. Tasha talks with her hands. Dee pours coffee and does not look convinced.

Murray sits on two stools with a black coffee he has not finished. The jukebox by the door stays quiet.

Ana and Tasha settle into the Blue Plate booth while Dee pours coffee nearby.

Learn — when a story grows

Six lines help you retell a story and catch it when it grows.

You'll say what really happened, and you'll hear when extra details sneak in.

  1. Tasha leans toward Ana and begins telling the true version of the trip.

    Here's what really happened.

    I will tell you the true story now.

    When to use it: Say this when you start the true version of a story.

    Here's is Here is as one piece.

  2. Dee pours coffee while listening to Tasha's increasingly elaborate account.

    The version I heard was different.

    Someone told me another story of this.

    When to use it: Say this when the story you know is not the one you just heard.

    Heard is the past tense of hear.

    Say it: Stress the first part of different.

  3. Murray listens from two stools with his black coffee still unfinished.

    It gets bigger every time you tell it.

    Each telling adds more than the last one.

    When to use it: Say this when a story grows with each telling.

    Bigger here means the story adds more details.

  4. Ana presses her palms down to bring the tale back to its smaller, truer scale.

    It wasn't actually that dramatic.

    The real story was smaller than that.

    When to use it: Use this after someone makes a small event sound huge.

    Wasn't is was not as one piece.

    Say it: Stress the first part of actually.

  5. Ana turns toward Tasha and calmly rejects the latest version of the story.

    That's not how it was.

    The real story was not like that.

    When to use it: Say this when a retelling does not match what happened.

    That's is that is as one piece.

  6. Tasha holds her thumb and forefinger a little apart as she admits adding extra details.

    I might have added a little.

    I think I put extra details in.

    When to use it: Use this when you admit you put extra details in.

    Might have added is for something you maybe did.

    Say it: Have after might often sounds weak.

Story — tasha tells it bigger

Watch Tasha tell the Milwaukee train story at the counter. Dee does not believe the big version.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

  1. Tasha leans on the counter. Dee holds the coffee pot. Murray listens.
  2. DeeSo, how was Milwaukee, hon?She asks about the trip in a warm way.
  3. TashaSo we almost missed the whole weekend. The train left without us.She makes a small delay sound huge.
  4. AnaThat's not how it was.The real story was not like that.
  5. TashaWell, we got on the wrong train. Then we had to run.She starts closer to the truth, then adds a rush.
  6. DeeThe version I heard was different.Someone told me another story of this.
  7. MurrayWhat happened next?What was the following thing in the story?
  8. TashaWe jumped platforms. People clapped. Then frozen custard saved the day.She makes the delay sound like a movie.
  9. AnaIt wasn't actually that dramatic.The real story was smaller than that.
  10. The jukebox clicks, then plays nothing. Dee does not look over.
  11. DeeIt gets bigger every time you tell it.Each telling adds more than the last one.
  12. TashaI might have added a little.I think I put extra details in.
  13. AnaHere's what really happened. We sat one extra stop, then we switched.She starts the true story, then gives the small facts.
  14. DeeThat's more like it, sweetie.She likes the smaller, true version better.
  15. TashaThe trip didn't go as planned, but the Third Ward was great.The trip did not happen the way she wanted, but the visit was still good.
  16. Murray looks at the pie case. His coffee is still full.
  17. MurrayIs it almost ready?He asks if the food is coming soon.
  18. DeePie's coming, hon. Your coffee is still full.She tells him the pie is on the way, and she sees his cup.

Practice — catch the extra details

Eleven short tasks wait here. You'll listen, match, fill a gap, and build a line.

Use them to catch a story that grew too big.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    English

    Here's what really happened.Drop the Simple English here
    The version I heard was different.Drop the Simple English here
    It gets bigger every time you tell it.Drop the Simple English here
    That's not how it was.Drop the Simple English here

    Simple English

    Drag a Simple English line onto its English, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    Tasha makes a small train delay sound huge. You were there, and her story is not the real one.

  4. What does it mean?

    The version I heard was different.

  5. Swap the word

    At the time, the real story was smaller than that.

    It ____ actually that dramatic.

  6. Build the line

    The real story was not like that.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Pick the reply

    Dee says:

    Tell me the true story, hon.

    She wants the real version, not the big one.

    And you reply with:

  8. Swap the word

    You told the train story with extra details. Admit it, but keep the extra small.

    I might have added a ____.

  9. True or false?

    This line means the trip went exactly as you wanted.

  10. What do you say?

    You and Tasha plan a weekend in Milwaukee. You want to go by train, not by bus.

  11. Fill the gap

    What was the following thing in the story?

    What happened ____?

Say it — tell it straight

Now you're Ana at the Blue Plate after Milwaukee. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap play first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. TashaSo we almost missed the train. People even clapped.She makes a small delay sound huge.
  2. Ana (you)Tell her the real story was not like that.

    That's not how it was.

    The real story was not like that.

0 of 5 said

Recap — what you can say now

EnglishSimple English
Here's what really happened.I will tell you the true story now.
The version I heard was different.Someone told me another story of this.
It gets bigger every time you tell it.Each telling adds more than the last one.
It wasn't actually that dramatic.The real story was smaller than that.
That's not how it was.The real story was not like that.
I might have added a little.I think I put extra details in.
Next: lesson 177Wait, what?

Save your progress — it’s free

Keep your place in the course and see which lines you’ve learned.

Want the next lesson in your inbox?

Get the next lesson by email, one a day.

Where should we start?
Join the newsletter

Daily lesson emails are coming soon. Newsletter subscribers get them first.

Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to keep these story lines handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A quick round with the Yak Cards keeps these retell lines ready for the next story.

Open Yak Cards