New here? This is lesson 218 of a free 240-lesson English course.
Link a story in English
Tasha is back at the Blue Plate with the Milwaukee trip still on her mind. Danny leans on the counter and grins.
Ana is saving the words that hold a story together. She wants each turn to land in the right place.
By the end, you'll start a story, add a fact, go back to it, wait, add one more thing, and give the point.
These lines keep a story moving. Use them to join one part to the next, in order.
By the end of this lesson
Move through a story with linking words.
- To start with, this is what happened.I will begin with the first part of the story.
- In fact, it was even simpler than that.The truth is it was easier than that.
- Speaking of which, I never finished the story.That word makes me remember I left the story open.
- Meanwhile, we were still waiting.At the same time, we had not moved yet.
- On top of that, it started to snow.Also, snow began to fall.
- All of that to say, we made it.The point of the whole story is we arrived.
Scene — milwaukee at the counter
Saturday afternoon at the Blue Plate. Tasha has a stool, a coffee, and the Milwaukee weekend still half told.
Danny leans on the counter with a dish towel on his shoulder and a grin ready for every turn.
Ana sits next to Tasha with a notebook. The jukebox by the door stays quiet.
Learn — words that link a story
Six lines help you move through a story. You start, add a fact, go back, wait, add more, and give the point.
Learn each one as a piece you drop in at the right moment.
To start with, this is what happened.
I will begin with the first part of the story.
When to use it: Say this when you begin the first part of a story.
To start with is one piece you put at the front of a story.
Say it: The stress is on start.
In fact, it was even simpler than that.
The truth is it was easier than that.
When to use it: Say this when the real version is easier than the last idea.
In fact adds the true, simpler version after a bigger claim.
Say it: The stress is on fact.
Speaking of which, I never finished the story.
That word makes me remember I left the story open.
When to use it: Say this when a word brings you back to an open story.
Speaking of which is one piece that returns to a word you just heard.
Say it: Stress which at the end.
Meanwhile, we were still waiting.
At the same time, we had not moved yet.
When to use it: Say this for a second thing happening at the same time.
Use meanwhile for something happening at the same time as another thing.
Say it: The stress is on the first part.
On top of that, it started to snow.
Also, snow began to fall.
When to use it: Say this when one more thing happens after the last one.
On top of that is one piece that adds one more fact to the same story.
Say it: Top carries the stress.
All of that to say, we made it.
The point of the whole story is we arrived.
When to use it: Say this when you give the point after a long story.
All of that to say is one piece that closes the story and names the point.
Say it: The stress falls on say.
Story — tasha tells it again
Watch Tasha retell Milwaukee at the counter. Danny grins at every turn.
The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.
- Saturday light on the counter. Tasha turns on her stool.
TashaTo start with, this is what happened.I will begin with the first part of the story.
DannyWhat happened next?What was the following thing in the story?- TashaWe almost took the wrong train out of Chicago.They nearly got on the wrong train.
AnaWas it as complicated as it sounded?She asks if the trip was as hard as it seemed.- TashaIn fact, it was even simpler than that. We waited, so we didn't get on the wrong train.The truth is it was easier than that. Waiting kept them off the wrong train.
- DannyThat's wild.You say this when something sounds very surprising.
- He leans harder on the counter. The dish towel slips.
- AnaYou said waited.She repeats the word Tasha just used.
- TashaSpeaking of which, I never finished the story.That word makes me remember I left the story open.
- DannySo you were still on the platform?He checks they had not left the platform yet.
- TashaMeanwhile, we were still waiting. The next train was late.At the same time, we had not moved yet.
- AnaAnd then the sky changed?She asks about the next part of the weather.
- TashaOn top of that, it started to snow.Also, snow began to fall.
- DannyFrozen custard in the snow. Of course you went.He jokes that they still got the dessert.
- TashaAll of that to say, we made it.The point of the whole story is we arrived.
- AnaTo the Third Ward, right? What was it like?She checks they reached Milwaukee, and asks how it seemed.
- TashaYeah. Old brick streets. The story got bigger on the way home.She agrees, and she knows the retelling grew.
- DannyYou always grow it, and you know you do.He teases her for making the story bigger.
- TashaI know. Ana is saving the linking words this time.She admits it, and she sees Ana keeping the link words.
Practice — hold the story together
Ten quick exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, match, fill a gap, and build a line.
They stay short, so you can hear how each link lands.
0 of 10 done
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
In fact, it was even simpler than that.
What do you say?
What do you say?
Danny just used the word platform. Your Milwaukee story is still open.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
At the same time, we had not moved yet.
____, we were still waiting.
Swap the word
Swap the word
Tasha adds one more fact after the late train: snow began to fall.
On top of that, it started to ____.
Build the line
Build the line
The point of the whole story is we arrived.
, .
Tap the words in order.
Match the pairs
English
To start with, this is what happened.Drop the Simple English hereIn fact, it was even simpler than that.Drop the Simple English hereMeanwhile, we were still waiting.Drop the Simple English hereAll of that to say, we made it.Drop the Simple English hereSimple English
Pick the reply
Tasha says:
Pick the reply
We almost took the wrong train.
They nearly got on the wrong train.
And you reply with:
What do you say?
What do you say?
Tasha just told you about the wait on the platform. You want the feeling of that wait.
True or false?
True or false?
You say this when a story sounds very surprising.
Say it — say the links
Now you're Ana at the counter. 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.
- TashaHow was Milwaukee, really?She asks for the real version of the trip.
- Ana (you)Begin with the first part of the Milwaukee story.
Begin with the first part of the Milwaukee story.
To start with, this is what happened.
I will begin with the first part of the story.
0 of 6 said
Recap — what you can say now
| English | Simple English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| To start with, this is what happened. | I will begin with the first part of the story. | |
| In fact, it was even simpler than that. | The truth is it was easier than that. | |
| Speaking of which, I never finished the story. | That word makes me remember I left the story open. | |
| Meanwhile, we were still waiting. | At the same time, we had not moved yet. | |
| On top of that, it started to snow. | Also, snow began to fall. | |
| All of that to say, we made it. | The point of the whole story is we arrived. |
Save your progress — it’s free
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