Grade 7 English SCIENCE AND HEALTH EDUCATION – LISTENING AND SPEAKING:ORAL NARRATIVES Notes
English — Science & Health Education
SUBTOPIC: LISTENING AND SPEAKING — ORAL NARRATIVES (Grammar focus)
Age: 12 (Upper primary / Kenya). These notes focus on the grammar you need when you tell short oral stories about science or health situations (for example: illness, hygiene, a clinic visit, a health campaign). Keep examples simple and related to Kenyan life.
Learning objectives
- Use the correct past tenses to tell what happened in a health story.
- Link events with sequence words (first, then, after that, finally).
- Report what someone said (direct and reported speech) in a narrative.
- Choose correct pronouns and verb agreement in stories.
1. Narrative tenses — when to use them
Past Simple — for finished actions or events in sequence.
Past Continuous — for an action that was happening when another action occurred.
Past Perfect — to show an action that happened before another past action.
Example: "We washed our hands and walked to the clinic." (Both actions are finished.)
Past Continuous — for an action that was happening when another action occurred.
Example: "I was carrying water when I saw the injured boy."
Past Perfect — to show an action that happened before another past action.
Example: "By the time the nurse arrived, we had already cleaned the wound."
2. Sequence words (connectors)
Use these to order events in your story:
- First, then, after that, next, finally
- Before and after to show time order
3. Pronouns and reference
- Use clear pronouns so listeners know who you mean (he, she, they, we).
- Repeat a name if it becomes unclear: "James carried the bucket. He then told the nurse…" If many people are involved, say the name again.
- Repeat a name if it becomes unclear: "James carried the bucket. He then told the nurse…" If many people are involved, say the name again.
4. Direct and reported speech (important when telling what others said)
Direct speech — exact words in quotation marks.
Reported speech — we change the tense and remove quotation marks.
When reporting past statements change the tense back one step:
She said, "Wash your hands before eating."
Reported speech — we change the tense and remove quotation marks.
She told us to wash our hands before eating. (The tense remains present instruction → to + base verb)
When reporting past statements change the tense back one step:
- Direct: "I feel better," he said. → Reported: He said (that) he felt better.
- Direct: "I am sick," she said. → Reported: She said (that) she was sick.
5. Adverbs and adjectives in narratives
- Use adjectives to describe people or places: "a sick child", "a busy clinic".
- Use adverbs to show how an action happened: "quickly", "carefully", "quietly".
Example: "The nurse quickly cleaned the cut and gently bandaged it."
- Use adverbs to show how an action happened: "quickly", "carefully", "quietly".
Example: "The nurse quickly cleaned the cut and gently bandaged it."
6. Modal verbs for advice and obligation
Use modals to tell what should be done in health stories:
- should / ought to — advice: "You should wash hands."
- must — strong obligation: "You must finish your medicine."
- can / could — ability or polite suggestion: "You can rest at home."
Examples (Science & Health contexts)
Short narrative (with grammar notes):
"First, my sister felt feverish and complained of a headache. (past simple) I was boiling water when she called me. (past continuous)
We had already packed a small bag when our mother decided to take her to the clinic. (past perfect + past simple)
The nurse said the child should drink plenty of water and rest. (reported speech; modal for advice)"
Practice exercises
-
Fill the gaps with the correct past tense (past simple / past continuous / past perfect):
A. I (walk) __________ to school when I (see) __________ the dirty water near the road.
B. By the time the health team (arrive) __________, we (already/clean) __________ the area. -
Change the direct speech to reported speech:
A. Mother said, "Wash your hands before you eat."
B. The teacher said, "We must wear shoes to the clinic." -
Join the sentences using a sequence connector (first, then, after that, finally):
A. We checked the wounds. We took the injured child to the nurse.
-
Choose the correct modal for advice in a health story (must / should / can):
A. If you are vomiting, you __________ see a doctor quickly.
Answers
1A I was walking to school when I saw the dirty water near the road.
1B By the time the health team arrived, we had already cleaned the area.
2A Mother told us to wash our hands before we ate.
2B The teacher said that we must wear shoes to the clinic. (or The teacher told us we must wear shoes to the clinic.)
3A First, we checked the wounds; then we took the injured child to the nurse. (or "We checked the wounds and then took the injured child to the nurse.")
4A should / must — Both are possible. For urgent action use must: "You must see a doctor quickly."
1B By the time the health team arrived, we had already cleaned the area.
2A Mother told us to wash our hands before we ate.
2B The teacher said that we must wear shoes to the clinic. (or The teacher told us we must wear shoes to the clinic.)
3A First, we checked the wounds; then we took the injured child to the nurse. (or "We checked the wounds and then took the injured child to the nurse.")
4A should / must — Both are possible. For urgent action use must: "You must see a doctor quickly."
Short oral practice (class activity)
- Prepare a 3–5 sentence health story about handwashing or a visit to a clinic. Use past tenses and at least one connector (first/then/finally).
- Include one reported sentence (say what someone told you).
- Keep sentences simple and clear. Remember pronouns and verb forms agree.
- Include one reported sentence (say what someone told you).
- Keep sentences simple and clear. Remember pronouns and verb forms agree.
Tip: When you tell the story aloud, use sequence words to help listeners follow events. For grammar accuracy, decide which past tense each sentence needs before you speak.
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