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Lesson 121 of 240

New here? This is lesson 121 of a free 240-lesson English course.

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When it happened in English

Dee asks Ana when she first walked into the Blue Plate. Ana names the time and the weather that day.

Murray nods along, then loses the thread over his coffee.

By the end, you'll say when something first happened, how it felt, and how it went.

You'll also say you came back often after that first time.

By the end of this lesson

Say when something happened in the past and how it went.

  • The first time I ___ was ___.Say when you did this for the first time.
  • A few years ago, I came here.I was in this place some years before now.
  • I remember it was really hot.That day stays in my mind because of the heat.
  • I didn't expect it to be fun.I thought it would not be enjoyable.
  • After that, I went often.Then I started going many times.
  • It went pretty well.The experience was mostly good.

Scene — Dee asks when

Same afternoon at the Blue Plate. Ana sits at the counter with a coffee. Dee holds the pot and asks about Ana's first visit.

Murray sits on two stools at the end, with eggs and a coffee he still has not finished. The jukebox by the door stays quiet.

Ana sits with coffee at the counter while Dee holds the pot and Murray occupies two stools at the end.

Learn — when and how it went

Six short lines help you say when something first happened and how it went.

You'll name the time, the weather, and whether it went well.

  1. Ana looks up from her coffee as she recalls her first visit.

    The first time I ___ was ___.

    Say when you did this for the first time.

    When to use it: Say this to name the first time you did something.

    Fill the first blank with the action and the second blank with the time.

  2. Ana turns on her stool and gestures toward the diner as she recalls coming last summer.

    A few years ago, I came here.

    I was in this place some years before now.

    When to use it: Use this to say you were here some years before now.

    Came is the past tense of come in this line.

  3. Ana pauses by her cup as bright window light brings back the heat of that day.

    I remember it was really hot.

    That day stays in my mind because of the heat.

    When to use it: Use this when a hot day stays in your mind.

    Was is the past tense of is here.

  4. Ana gives Dee a small shrug as she recalls expecting the visit not to be enjoyable.

    I didn't expect it to be fun.

    I thought it would not be enjoyable.

    When to use it: Use this when it was better than you thought.

    Didn't is did not said as one piece.

    Say it: To can sound like tuh in this line.

  5. Ana arrives through the diner doorway as Dee watches from the counter with the pot.

    After that, I went often.

    Then I started going many times.

    When to use it: Use this to say you started going many times after.

    Went is the past tense of go after that first visit.

    Say it: Went ends with a clear t.

  6. Murray gives a small nod beside his eggs and unfinished coffee, recalling that his experience was mostly good.

    It went pretty well.

    The experience was mostly good.

    When to use it: Use this to say the experience was mostly good.

    Pretty well means mostly good, not beautiful.

    Say it: Pretty has stress on the first part.

Story — last summer

Watch Ana tell Dee when she first came in, and how that day went.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

  1. Afternoon light hits the counter. Dee holds the coffee pot.
  2. DeeWhen was that, hon? Your first time in here.She asks the time of Ana's first visit.
  3. AnaThe first time I came in was last summer.She says her first visit was last summer.
  4. DeeLast summer. What was it like?She checks the time, then asks how that day felt.
  5. AnaI remember it was really hot.That day stays in her mind because of the heat.
  6. Ana looks at her cup, then at Dee.
  7. DeeDid you think you would like it?She asks if Ana thought the visit would be enjoyable.
  8. AnaI didn't expect it to be fun.She thought it would not be enjoyable.
  9. DeeSo it was a nice surprise, hon.She says the visit was better than Ana thought.
  10. AnaAfter that, I went often.Then she started going many times.
  11. Murray nods, then stares at his unfinished coffee.
  12. MurrayA few years ago, I came here.He was in this place some years before now.
  13. DeeHow did that go, hon?She asks if his first time was good.
  14. MurrayIt went pretty well.The experience was mostly good.
  15. He looks at the pie case and loses the thread.
  16. DeeYou still with us, hon?She checks that Murray is listening.
  17. MurrayWell, is it almost ready?He asks if the food is almost done.

Practice — name the time

Ten quick exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, match, fill a gap, and build a line.

They stay short, so you can move fast.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    English

    A few years ago, I came here.Drop the Simple English here
    I remember it was really hot.Drop the Simple English here
    After that, I went often.Drop the Simple English here
    It went pretty well.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?

    Dee asks when you first walked into the diner. Name that first time.

  4. What does it mean?

    I remember it was really hot.

  5. True or false?

    In this line, often is the word that means many times.

  6. Build the line

    I thought it would not be enjoyable.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Pick the reply

    Dee says:

    How did that go?

    Ask how this event or task turned out.

    And you reply with:

  8. Swap the word

    You are naming the first time you did something, not the last time.

    The ____ time I ___ was ___.

  9. What do you say?

    Murray is telling a story, but he has not named the time. You want the time.

  10. Pick the reply

    Murray says:

    A few years ago, I came here.

    I was in this place some years before now.

    And you reply with:

Say it — your first time

Now you're Ana at the counter. Dee asks about your first visit. 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. DeeWhen was that, hon?At what time did this happen?
  2. Ana (you)Say when you first came in, and name last summer.

    The first time I ___ was ___.

    Say when you did this for the first time.

0 of 5 said

Recap — what you can say now

EnglishSimple English
The first time I ___ was ___.Say when you did this for the first time.
A few years ago, I came here.I was in this place some years before now.
I remember it was really hot.That day stays in my mind because of the heat.
I didn't expect it to be fun.I thought it would not be enjoyable.
After that, I went often.Then I started going many times.
It went pretty well.The experience was mostly good.
Next: lesson 122Trip stories

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