Telling a Short Story
About this practice test
Practise A2 Use of English through sentence building. Build accuracy with past narrative and subordinate clauses.
What you’ll practice
Grammar and vocabulary
Choose forms and words that work together.
Meaning in context
Follow meaning across sentences and texts.
Accurate expression
Use natural phrases and sentence patterns.
What to expect:
10 questions with explanations to review after submission.
Study the questions and tasks
Work through the material below, or start the interactive practice above to complete an attempt. Try the exercises before opening any answer or transcript sections, then use them to review your work.
- Practice level
- A2. Try this level if you can follow the instructions and understand most of the language; choose an earlier level if you need more support.
- Question formats
- Sentence reordering
How to approach this practice
Read the complete context. Check both the meaning and the grammar, including word forms, collocations and links between sentences.
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Question 1 · Sentence reordering
Arrange these parts into the correct sentence.
Put the chunks in order to make one complete sentence. Keep the capitalised opening first and the punctuated ending last.
Sentence parts
- I
- I saw the accident.
- home
- was walking
- when
Check answers and explanations
- Correct order
- I was walking home when I saw the accident.
Past continuous gives the background; when introduces the event.
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Question 2 · Sentence reordering
Arrange these parts into the correct sentence.
Put the chunks in order to make one complete sentence. Keep the capitalised opening first and the punctuated ending last.
Sentence parts
- We
- because
- missed
- the bus
- we left late.
Check answers and explanations
- Correct order
- We missed the bus because we left late.
Because introduces the reason for the completed past event.
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Question 3 · Sentence reordering
Arrange these parts into the correct sentence.
Put the chunks in order to make one complete sentence. Keep the capitalised opening first and the punctuated ending last.
Sentence parts
- After
- to the park.
- we
- we finished lunch,
- went
Check answers and explanations
- Correct order
- After we finished lunch, we went to the park.
The comma closes the opening time clause before the main clause.
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Question 4 · Sentence reordering
Arrange these parts into the correct sentence.
Put the chunks in order to make one complete sentence. Keep the capitalised opening first and the punctuated ending last.
Sentence parts
- She
- dropped
- her phone
- she was running.
- while
Check answers and explanations
- Correct order
- She dropped her phone while she was running.
While introduces the simultaneous background action.
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Question 5 · Sentence reordering
Arrange these parts into the correct sentence.
Put the chunks in order to make one complete sentence. Keep the capitalised opening first and the punctuated ending last.
Sentence parts
- The shop
- already closed
- had
- we arrived.
- when
Check answers and explanations
- Correct order
- The shop had already closed when we arrived.
Had already closed precedes the later when-clause.
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Question 6 · Sentence reordering
Arrange these parts into the correct sentence.
Put the chunks in order to make one complete sentence. Keep the capitalised opening first and the punctuated ending last.
Sentence parts
- Before
- I
- I left the house,
- checked
- my bag.
Check answers and explanations
- Correct order
- Before I left the house, I checked my bag.
The initial before-clause ends at the comma.
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Question 7 · Sentence reordering
Arrange these parts into the correct sentence.
Put the chunks in order to make one complete sentence. Keep the capitalised opening first and the punctuated ending last.
Sentence parts
- It
- so
- started
- to rain,
- we went inside.
Check answers and explanations
- Correct order
- It started to rain, so we went inside.
Start takes to rain; so introduces the result.
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Question 8 · Sentence reordering
Arrange these parts into the correct sentence.
Put the chunks in order to make one complete sentence. Keep the capitalised opening first and the punctuated ending last.
Sentence parts
- He
- I had a new haircut.
- because
- didn't
- recognise me
Check answers and explanations
- Correct order
- He didn't recognise me because I had a new haircut.
Didn't takes recognise; because introduces the explanation.
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Question 9 · Sentence reordering
Arrange these parts into the correct sentence.
Put the chunks in order to make one complete sentence. Keep the capitalised opening first and the punctuated ending last.
Sentence parts
- When
- down.
- everyone
- sat
- the music stopped,
Check answers and explanations
- Correct order
- When the music stopped, everyone sat down.
When introduces the opening time clause; sat down is the main action.
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Question 10 · Sentence reordering
Arrange these parts into the correct sentence.
Put the chunks in order to make one complete sentence. Keep the capitalised opening first and the punctuated ending last.
Sentence parts
- We
- although
- enjoyed
- it was very long.
- the film
Check answers and explanations
- Correct order
- We enjoyed the film although it was very long.
Although introduces the concession after the main clause.
What to review next
Explain why each answer fits the meaning and structure. Record useful phrases and write a new example using each pattern you found difficult.
A focused practice result shows how you did on these tasks. Use several activities across skills to decide what to study next; one practice score does not certify an overall CEFR level.