Use the storytelling phrases

Use as many of the phrases below as you can to continue the story that your teacher gives you the beginning of (e.g. from an FCE Writing tasks, only speaking for now).

(completely/ somewhat) unexpected(ly)	(dis)appear	(in order) to
(in) the (very) next moment	(it looked/ seemed/ appeared) as if/ as though	(much) earlier
(much/ a little/ a fair while) later (that day/ week/ month)	(right) in the middle of…	previous(ly)
(un)surprisingly	a (little) while later/ after a (little) while	accidental(ly)/ (by) accident
after that/ next/ then	almost/ nearly	reach/ arrive/ arrival
as (he had) expected/ predicted/ promised	as if by magic	as soon as (the words left my mouth)
at (exactly) the same time/ while	at (just) that moment	by (total) coincidence/ coincidentally/ by chance
became/ got	assume/ assumption	because of that/ for that reason
by the time…	consequence/ effect	deliberate(ly)/ (on) purpose
despite his/ her/ my/ our/ their (initial) misgivings	at last/ eventually/ in the end	finally
for (just) a moment/ second	had + been…	found that…
had (already/ just/ nearly) started/ finished(…)	had…	happened
at once/ immediately/ right away/ straight after	in (actual) fact	in the time it took to…

glance (at)/ look at/ stare at	it lasted…	had been + v + ing
it took	turned out	luckily/ by a stroke of (good) luck/ (good) fortune
meanwhile/ in the meantime	lose/ (get) lost	out of the blue
so	should(n’t) have	manage to/ succeed in
so… that…	still	strange(ly)
all of a sudden/ sudden(ly)	to his/ her/ my/ our/ their (complete) surprise	threat(ened)
to his/ her/ my/ our/ their relief	(un)fortunately	until
dread	look forward to	without (any) warning
warn/ warning	was/ were + v + ing	was passing
was wearing	was/ were + PP	without (…) noticing/ realizing
without thinking	the following/ next…	had never
attempt/ try	was/ were (just) about to… (when…)	interrupt/ interruption
suspect/ suspicion/ suspicious	shine	lose
the time of… life	fear/ afraid/ fright(en)	shock
hurry/ rush	relief/ relieved	experience

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Related pages

Storytelling games/ worksheets for EFL learners

Writing stories games/ worksheets for EFL learners