Tell a short story in time order
IntroducedA useful situation
- Your goal: Recount events and distinguish sequence from cause.
- Before you start, recall the words you already know. New words below are here to help, not a list you must master before continuing.
Words you will use
- first先 xiān — first. I / me我first先to go去school学校。
- then然后 ránhòu — then. then然后to go去library图书馆。
- finally最后 zuìhòu — finally. finally最后to return home回家。
- again, repeated event又 yòu — again, repeated event. he / him他again, repeated event又to arrive late迟到(completed / change)了。
- again, subsequent action再 zài — again, subsequent action. to ask请to say again再说first一次。
Match each word with its meaning in this unit.
Use the example sentences to check each word’s meaning in context.
Build the meaning
- first先……then然后……finally最后…… makes an event sequence clear. It does not by itself explain why one event caused another.
- again, repeated event又 often refers to a repeated event that has occurred; again, subsequent action再 can refer to doing something again afterwards. Compare he / him他again, repeated event又to come来(completed / change)了 and to ask请again, subsequent action再to come来first一次.
Sequence alone does not prove causation. Keep again, repeated event又 and again, subsequent action再 tied to the event’s timing and meaning.
Complete the final step marker: 先去学校，然后去图书馆，____回家。
最后 marks the last event.
Listen for a fresh detail
- Listen before revealing the script.
- Replay if you need to. This is practice: if playback is unavailable, use the script as reading and return to listening on a device with Mandarin playback.
Show the listening script and meaning
yesterday昨天I / me我first先to go去library图书馆，then然后to go去school学校，finally最后to return home回家。tomorrow明天I / me我want / think / miss想again, subsequent action再to go去library图书馆。
Yesterday I first went to the library, then school, then home. Tomorrow I want to go to the library again.
Where did the speaker go first?
先去图书馆 establishes the first event in this recording.
Read a different account
yesterday昨天Wang Li (1900-1986), one of…王力first先to go去school学校，then然后to go去library图书馆，finally最后to return home回家。he / him他at / in在library图书馆again, repeated event又to see见到(completed / change)了林安。today今天林安想again, subsequent action再to go去first一次。
- The reading and listening have different details. Use the material for the question you are answering.
- Read once for the situation, then again for the relevant detail. Reveal help when needed.
Show the reading meaning
Yesterday Wang Li first goes to school, then the library, and finally home. He meets Lin An again at the library. Today she wants to go once more.
What does 林安想再去一次 describe?
想再去 describes an intended subsequent visit.
Speak, write, and review
- Tell a partner a three-event day. They retell it in the same order and ask about one detail.
- Record yourself privately or work with a partner. First try without the model, then compare the meaning and structure; a text checker cannot assess your pronunciation.
I / me我first先to go去school学校，then然后to read看书，finally最后to return home回家。you你first先to make做what什么？
- Write a three-event story, then a sentence about a planned repeat.
- Tomorrow, recall two words and repeat the task with one detail changed. Revisit it after a few days; return sooner to the part that felt difficult.
Recount events and distinguish sequence from cause. Use the examples as support, then try a fresh version. Completing these exercises records practice, not a guarantee of mastery.
Practise this unit’s words and skills · Choose the next guided unit
Write a three-event story, then a sentence about a planned repeat.
Compare the meaning and structure with the checklist. Your own response may differ from the model.