💋 Sometimes, you just need a hero. (Or a mate with a fake emergency).
Welcome to Module 2! You've successfully pulled, but what happens when you turn up to the pub and realize your date is an absolute nightmare? You need an escape plan. To tell the epic story of your survival the next morning, you must master Narrative Tenses. Because a simple Past Simple just isn't dramatic enough when you are describing how you bailed on a catfish.
- To bail (verb): To leave a place or abandon a situation abruptly, usually because it's terrible.
- Catfish (noun): Someone who uses fake photos or a fake persona on a dating app.
1. The Cheeky Dictionary: 8 Words for a Tragic Date
Practice: drag a word, or select it and choose a gap.
1. He told me he lived with his ex-wife. That was a massive for me.
2. I felt completely in the booth while he talked about his crypto investments for an hour.
3. Text me at 9 PM with a fake emergency so I have an to leave.
4. The date was such a that I climbed out the bathroom window to him.
5. If he makes you uncomfortable, I will and pretend to be your angry boyfriend.
Choose a word, then choose a gap.
2. Grammar Mechanics: Setting the Scene
To tell a brilliant story, you need to mix your tenses. If you only use the Past Simple, you sound like a robot reading a shopping list.
| Tense | The Job | Cheeky Example |
|---|---|---|
| Past Continuous (was/were + -ing) |
Sets the background scene. The action was already in progress when the main event happened. | "He was talking about his mother when..." |
| Past Simple (Verb + -ed) |
The main actions. The interruptions. The fast-paced events. | "...my phone rang. I grabbed my coat and bailed." |
| Past Perfect (had + V3) |
The backstory. An action that happened before the rest of the story even started. | "I had told my mate to call me with a fake emergency." |
3. Reading: Operation "Sick Cat"
Notice how Sophie and Mark combine the three tenses to debrief the rescue mission!
4. Interactive Practice: Crafting the Escape
Exercise A: Choose the right tense
1. We home when it suddenly started pouring with rain.
2. I couldn't pay for the drinks because I my wallet at the flat.
3. While he was paying the bill, I out the back door.
Exercise B: Complete the Drama
Type the correct form of the verb in brackets: Past Simple, Past Continuous, or Past Perfect.
1. (Past Continuous) She (cry) about her ex when I finally bailed.
2. (Past Perfect) Before the date even started, I (warn) my wingman to stay close.
5. Speaking Practice: Spilling the Tea ☕
- What is the most creative alibi you have ever used to ditch a bad date? (Use all three narrative tenses to tell the story!)
- What is your biggest dating red flag?
- Have you ever had to swoop in and rescue a friend who looked trapped?
- Have you ever been on a date with a catfish? What were you doing when you realized they lied?
- Do you think it's better to use a fake emergency, or just be honest and bail?