Describing Your Life
2022-04-01
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1Imagine you want to talk about your life.
2Perhaps you are talking to a friend, presenting to an English class, or writing about your childhood.
3You might start with where your life began - in other words, where and when you were born.
4In today's Everyday Grammar, we will explore how one famous writer wrote about the place and time of a birth.
5You will learn about some of the grammar behind the opening lines of one of the 20th century's most famous works of literature: Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie.
6The opening lines from Midnight's Children set up an important idea that runs through the book: that is, the words link the life and times of the main character to the history of India.
7Notice how the sentences jump between past and present - a clear suggestion that the narrator is in the process of writing about his life.
8I was born in the city of Bombay ... once upon a time.
9No, that won't do, there's no getting away from the date: I was born in Doctor Narlikar's Nursing Home on August 15th, 1947.
10Note that the first sentence uses the simple past - "I was."
11The adjective "born" follows the BE verb: "I was born in the city of Bombay...."
12But then there is an expression that ends the sentence.
13It is "once upon a time."
14This is a common structure used in fairy tales or folk tales.
15The next sentence introduces the present tense, suggesting the narrator is talking to himself.
16Then it switches back to a more exact time during the past.
17No, that won't do, there's no getting away from the date: I was born in Doctor Narlikar's Nursing Home on August 15th, 1947.
18Having described where he was born, the narrator then describes when he was born.
19And the time?
20The time matters, too.
21Well then: at night.
22No, it's important to be more ... On the stroke of midnight, as a matter of fact.
23Note that Rushdie used some incomplete sentences - sentences without a verb.
24Examples include "And the time?", "Well then: at night," and "On the stroke of midnight, as a matter of fact."
25All of these statements bring an everyday, conversational quality to the story.
26But then Rushdie presents a beautiful image to the reader - one that changes back to the simple past.
27Clock-hands joined palms in respectful greeting as I came.
28Oh, spell it out, spell it out: at the precise instant of India's arrival at independence, I tumbled forth into the world.
29The verb tumble means to move in a fast, confused, or uncontrolled way.
30It is often followed by an adverb, in this case forth, which means out into notice or view.
31"I tumbled forth into the world" is a poetic way of saying "I was born."
32Notice that Rushdie's opening lines follow a very clear structure.
33These lines start with a general statement and then get increasingly specific.
34The very general statement is: I was born in the city of Bombay.
35The more specific statement is: I was born in Doctor Narlikar's Nursing Home on August 15th, 1947.
36You can use the idea of moving from general information to specific information in almost any situation - describing an event, writing a story, giving a presentation, and so on.
37Let's end this report with a homework assignment.
38In 5-8 sentences, write about the place or time of a birth.
39It can be either true or fictional.
40Try to use ideas that you have learned about in today's report.
41Send your writing to our email address: learningenglish@voanews.com
42We will select one piece of writing and provide feedback and suggestions on next week's report.
43I'm John Russell.
1Imagine you want to talk about your life. Perhaps you are talking to a friend, presenting to an English class, or writing about your childhood. 2You might start with where your life began - in other words, where and when you were born. 3In today's Everyday Grammar, we will explore how one famous writer wrote about the place and time of a birth. 4You will learn about some of the grammar behind the opening lines of one of the 20th century's most famous works of literature: Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie. 5Opening lines 6The opening lines from Midnight's Children set up an important idea that runs through the book: that is, the words link the life and times of the main character to the history of India. 7Notice how the sentences jump between past and present - a clear suggestion that the narrator is in the process of writing about his life. 8I was born in the city of Bombay ... once upon a time. No, that won't do, there's no getting away from the date: I was born in Doctor Narlikar's Nursing Home on August 15th, 1947. 9Note that the first sentence uses the simple past - "I was." The adjective "born" follows the BE verb: "I was born in the city of Bombay...." 10But then there is an expression that ends the sentence. It is "once upon a time." This is a common structure used in fairy tales or folk tales. 11The next sentence introduces the present tense, suggesting the narrator is talking to himself. Then it switches back to a more exact time during the past. 12No, that won't do, there's no getting away from the date: I was born in Doctor Narlikar's Nursing Home on August 15th, 1947. 13Having described where he was born, the narrator then describes when he was born. 14And the time? The time matters, too. Well then: at night. No, it's important to be more ... On the stroke of midnight, as a matter of fact. 15Note that Rushdie used some incomplete sentences - sentences without a verb. Examples include "And the time?", "Well then: at night," and "On the stroke of midnight, as a matter of fact." 16All of these statements bring an everyday, conversational quality to the story. 17But then Rushdie presents a beautiful image to the reader - one that changes back to the simple past. 18Clock-hands joined palms in respectful greeting as I came. Oh, spell it out, spell it out: at the precise instant of India's arrival at independence, I tumbled forth into the world. 19The verb tumble means to move in a fast, confused, or uncontrolled way. It is often followed by an adverb, in this case forth, which means out into notice or view. 20"I tumbled forth into the world" is a poetic way of saying "I was born." 21General to specific 22Notice that Rushdie's opening lines follow a very clear structure. These lines start with a general statement and then get increasingly specific. 23The very general statement is: I was born in the city of Bombay. 24The more specific statement is: I was born in Doctor Narlikar's Nursing Home on August 15th, 1947. 25You can use the idea of moving from general information to specific information in almost any situation - describing an event, writing a story, giving a presentation, and so on. 26Homework 27Let's end this report with a homework assignment. In 5-8 sentences, write about the place or time of a birth. It can be either true or fictional. Try to use ideas that you have learned about in today's report. 28Send your writing to our email address: learningenglish@voanews.com 29We will select one piece of writing and provide feedback and suggestions on next week's report. 30I'm John Russell. 31John Russell wrote this lesson for VOA Learning English. 32__________________________________________________________________ 33Words in This Story 34character - n. a person who appears in a story, book, play, movie, or television show 35narrator - n. the person who describes what is being seen 36on the stroke of - expression exactly at a specific time (often on the hour) 37palm - n. the inside part of the hand between the wrist and the fingers 38specific - adj. precise or exact