Welcome to Lesson 67 — past experiences! In this short lesson you'll hear natural phrases people use to tell stories about their lives. Have fun and try repeating each line out loud.
Level B1: In this lesson you'll practice 13 useful phrases for talking about past experiences, habits, surprises, and the first time something happened. These frames help you tell short stories, ask about other people's experiences, and sum up how events felt. (CEFR-aligned, practical speaking practice.)
After this lesson you'll be able to:
Use B1 frames to describe past habits, first experiences, and surprises.
Ask and answer simple questions about whether someone has had an experience.
Sequence short past stories and say when events happened (e.g., 'A few years ago...').
Ready? Let's go!
When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.
1. Reading + Listening Practice
Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.
I used to ___ when I was younger.
Talk about a past habit or repeated experience
Meaning: Talk about a past habit or repeated experience.
When to use: Use this to describe something you did regularly in the past but no longer do.
Tip: Don't use 'used to' for a single event; it's for habits or repeated actions.
I used to play soccer when I was younger.
I used to play soccer when I was younger.
I used to eat breakfast at my desk when I worked there.
I used to eat breakfast at my desk when I worked there.
I’ve been to ___ before.
Say whether you have had an experience before
Meaning: Say whether you have had an experience before.
When to use: Use this present-perfect frame to talk about travel or life experiences up to now.
Tip: Avoid 'I was to' — say 'I’ve been to' or 'I went to' depending on context.
I’ve been to Paris before.
I’ve been to Paris before.
I’ve been to that museum before, so I knew what to expect.
I’ve been to that museum before, so I knew what to expect.
Have you ever ___?
Ask someone if they have had a past experience
Meaning: Ask someone if they have had a past experience.
When to use: Use this question to invite someone to talk about their experiences.
Have you ever tried sushi?
Have you ever tried sushi?
Have you ever studied abroad?
Have you ever studied abroad?
That happened when I was ___.
Locate a past event in time
Meaning: Locate a past event in time.
When to use: Use this to say when something happened in your life (age or period).
That happened when I was a student.
That happened when I was a student.
That happened when I was twenty.
That happened when I was twenty.
The first time I ___ was ___.
Introduce the first occurrence of an experience
Meaning: Introduce the first occurrence of an experience.
When to use: Use this to tell the listener about your very first time doing something.
The first time I skied was when I was twelve.
The first time I skied was when I was twelve.
The first time I met her was at university.
The first time I met her was at university.
I had never ___ before.
Say something was new before a past event
Meaning: Say something was new before a past event.
When to use: Use this to explain that you had no previous experience before a particular event.
Tip: Remember to use 'had' + past participle for past-before-past (past perfect).
I had never flown alone before that trip.
I had never flown alone before that trip.
I had never cooked for so many people before the party.
I had never cooked for so many people before the party.
I didn’t expect to ___.
Describe an unexpected result in a past story
Meaning: Describe an unexpected result in a past story.
When to use: Use this to add surprise or evaluation to what happened.
I didn’t expect to like the course so much.
I didn’t expect to like the course so much.
I didn’t expect to see my old teacher at the supermarket.
I didn’t expect to see my old teacher at the supermarket.
After that, I ___.
Continue a story by describing what happened next
Meaning: Continue a story by describing what happened next.
When to use: Use this to connect one event to the next in a past narrative.
After that, I moved to a new city.
After that, I moved to a new city.
After that, I called my sister.
After that, I called my sister.
I remember ___.
Recall a personal memory
Meaning: Recall a personal memory.
When to use: Use this to introduce a specific memory before you describe details.
I remember walking home in the rain.
I remember walking home in the rain.
I remember the smell of my grandmother's soup.
I remember the smell of my grandmother's soup.
It was one of the best ___ I’ve ever had.
Summarize the emotional value of a past experience
Meaning: Summarize the emotional value of a past experience.
When to use: Use this to show that an experience was very positive and memorable.
It was one of the best vacations I’ve ever had.
It was one of the best vacations I’ve ever had.
It was one of the best meals I’ve ever had.
It was one of the best meals I’ve ever had.
A few years ago, I ___.
Introduce a past experience in a simple narrative
Meaning: Introduce a past experience in a simple narrative.
When to use: Use this to start telling a past story and place it in time.
A few years ago, I changed jobs.
A few years ago, I changed jobs.
A few years ago, I learned to surf.
A few years ago, I learned to surf.
I once ___.
Mention a single past experience
Meaning: Mention a single past experience.
When to use: Use this to bring up a single notable event.
I once missed a train and found a new café.
I once missed a train and found a new café.
I once met a famous actor at a bookstore.
I once met a famous actor at a bookstore.
I ended up ___.
Describe an unexpected result in a story
Meaning: Describe an unexpected result in a story.
When to use: Use this to explain how a situation finished differently than you expected.
I ended up staying longer than I planned.
I ended up staying longer than I planned.
I ended up borrowing my neighbor’s car.
I ended up borrowing my neighbor’s car.
2. Conversational Listening Practice
Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.
Two friends talk about travel and a surprising memory.
What experience does David describe remembering?
Anna
Have you ever been to Japan?
Have you ever been to Japan?
David
I’ve been to Japan before. The first time I went was for work.
I’ve been to Japan before. The first time I went was for work.
Anna
What happened there?
What happened there?
David
I had never eaten that style of ramen before. I didn’t expect to love it.
I had never eaten that style of ramen before. I didn’t expect to love it.
Anna
I remember your story about that meal. After that, you tried every ramen shop!
I remember your story about that meal. After that, you tried every ramen shop!
David
Yes — it was one of the best food experiences I’ve ever had.
Yes — it was one of the best food experiences I’ve ever had.
3. Guided Practice
Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.
Which sentence asks someone if they have had a past experience?
Which sentence is best to introduce the time a past event happened?
Which sentence expresses that something was new to you before a past event?
Which sentence best summarizes a very positive past experience?
When Shirin tells us about childhood football she says, 'I used to play football when I was younger.'
When Shirin tells us about childhood football she says, '______'.
At the reunion, Mark said, 'That happened when I was eighteen,' to tell us when the incident happened.
At the reunion, Mark said, '______', to tell us when the incident happened.
After her first day traveling alone she told us, 'I had never flown on a plane by myself before.'
After her first day traveling alone she told us, '______'.
Match the core phrases
Match the extra phrases
4. Speaking Practice
Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).
Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.
Say this phrase out loud:
I used to ___ when I was younger.
Talk about a past habit or repeated experience.
Say this phrase out loud:
I’ve been to ___ before.
Say whether you have had an experience before.
Say this phrase out loud:
Have you ever ___?
Ask someone if they have had a past experience.
Say this phrase out loud:
That happened when I was ___.
Locate a past event in time.
Say this phrase out loud:
The first time I ___ was ___.
Introduce the first occurrence of an experience.
Say this phrase out loud:
I had never ___ before.
Say something was new before a past event.
Say this phrase out loud:
I didn’t expect to ___.
Describe an unexpected result in a past story.
Say this phrase out loud:
After that, I ___.
Continue a story by describing what happened next.
Say this phrase out loud:
I remember ___.
Recall a personal memory.
Say this phrase out loud:
It was one of the best ___ I’ve ever had.
Summarize the emotional value of a past experience.
Say this phrase out loud:
A few years ago, I ___.
Introduce a past experience in a simple narrative.
