The tense you didn't know existed | Canguro English

Telling stories is an essential part of using a language. A majority of our conversations involve telling people about things that were said or done in the past. But did you know that there is a strange English verbal tense that can make your stories more exciting and engaging? In this class you will learn about the historical present and how it can transform your storytelling. See you in class!
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Big shout out to Ms Schiffrin for her amazing work:
Tense Variation in Narrative
Deborah Schiffrin
Language
Vol. 57, No. 1 (Mar., 1981), pp. 45-62
Published by: Linguistic Society of America
DOI: 10.2307/414286

[@karolcisowski3292]

I'm polish native speaker and I speak spanish fluently as well. I've never noticed it but in these two languages exists a historical present too. So, it's easy to me understand and feel these types of expresions! It's great

[@heribertussetyo5127]

I am Indonesian. I just start to learn English. You are a great theacher. I can understand your explanations clearly. I like your English class. Thank you Christian. What a nice job.

[@maryamfalih4225]

Yes, it is interesting! I notice the historical present when I read novels. That's great of you to explain it to us.

[@Canguroenglish]

As I said, you're a great student! Very observant!

[@victorr5113]

I think you are the best teacher I had never had

[@Lu-rt6bp]

You're the best teacher!

[@Canguroenglish]

Thanks Kisa, that's very kind!

[@FysSessions]

Kisa I agree! 🤗🤗🤗🤗

[@antoyuniarto3793]

👍

[@localteaboy]

Hello Christian. I have been watching your videos now as a native English speaker (a northern Brit) to assist me with my TEFL course. Until this video, I had never known that this was a grammar tense, but as soon as you explained what the tense was, it made perfect sense. I use it all the time without realising it, which has caused a slight mind melt to happen within my head. Thank you very much for pointing out (yet again) more details of English language that my course has not covered. (no complaints on the course, but being dyslexic myself I find a good old video lesson such as the ones you create help to cement all the written information my brain is attempting to absorb) Also, I loved the snail joke, I'm going to have to kindly "borrow" it and use it on my mates as I know it will either get a groan out of them or a reaction similar to "not another one of those dad style joke please god no!" Keep up the awesome work, I find your videos very inspiring, motivational for what a good English teacher should aspire too, and they're entertaining as well without being forced. Peas chips and gravy ole bean! (peace) *is suddenly aware this post may have grammatical mistakes....has a re-read....thinks it is safe so will post...*

[@sabinepiter5470]

Three years later... How did the TEFL course go? I'm too preparing for it (less than two weeks whoooo) and these videos are great to give me A: the understanding of the tenses and B: a vision of how I want to be as a teacher later on.

[@user-gz1ro4ig9g]

Thank you Christian. I start to understand your lessons. It's so important for me

[@sameehmadania2886]

It's a good way to attract the attention while we're speaking and to make an impact on the other feeling. Thank you .

[@Canguroenglish]

Yes, it's a great little technique!

[@asder2mars]

Briliant!..no comment! ..just brilliant!

[@Argottardi]

Thank you Chris for this short class. Watching your vídeos I am getting to build my English skill. Step by step I get to improve my English.

[@elcalvo46]

Christian, you have improved my hearing understanding, thanks a lot!!!

[@KatiSvaby]

The joke with the little snail was very sweet and humorous. The explanation of historical present was very clear.Thanks for it. Of course, we use it in my mother tongue also, but I'm sure that after this lesson I will use it in English as well. Recently happened something similar with me. I will write it on Fb.

[@Canguroenglish]

Hi Kati! I can't wait to read your story on FB! I don't like the joke very much, but it was the perfect story to showcase the historical present!

[@KatiSvaby]

I am about to write it immediately. I told my husband the snail-joke and I didn't take the point out of a joke he was laughing a big one. Anyway I am not a good joke-teller.

[@KatiSvaby]

I've finished my story but I think I could put on Fb. after your class.

[@DiplomaAcademy]

Your guarantee is 100% right and I have seen the particular clip more than 3 times.

[@nadeskabenitez]

This is a fantastic class!, I admit I am loving the English language, and you make me feel motivated. Thank you. Have a great week. Greetings from Venezuela.

[@Canguroenglish]

Hi Nadeska! I'm glad you love the language! That's the most important first step to finding success in learning a language! Big hugs from Spain!

[@jasonbolster3211]

This explained the historical present so much better than any other teacher I’ve heard before.

[@Canguroenglish]

Thanks Jason. I tried my best!

[@mariamkinen8036]

Thanks. Great class.

[@AnnaAnna-bg6ku]

BRILIANT video!!! Telling stories about past is my Achilles' heel. I was never sure which tenses are appropriate. But your video makes it clear!! By the way I love all your splendid videos, which are substantive and extremely interesting at the same time. I like: -"little stories" before you start explaining the subject, - inviting your students (this helps me memorize subjects better) - the way you explain (makes really difficult questions easy to understand) Thank you for all. You are really best teacher ever!!!

[@Canguroenglish]

Hi Anna! Thanks so much for your kind words! I try my best to make the best classes possible. See you again soon!

[@furkatjon]

I love the way you talk, it is so soft and pleasnt to listen

[@Canguroenglish]

Well, that's good because soon I will be making podcasts!

[@luisarevalo6610]

You're an exelent teacher, thank you

[@franperez6388]

I love this lesson!

[@aburaihan-py4vi]

Excellent!

[@mariluzojuara2854]

Good class 👏🏽👏🏽 From Brazil 🇧🇷

[@fabioaguiarBR]

TKS for your videos. They are helping me a lot.

[@juliakravchenko174]

Christian! ALL your lessons are really interesting and useful! You’re inspiring me to learn more and more everyday! 😁Thank you so much! Keep moving! U really have a gift to teaching 🤩👍🏻🔥

[@Canguroenglish]

Thanks so much for your kind words, I really appreciate it!

[@HANGNGUYEN-iv9vi]

Thank you for your clear explanation about this tense, I was often confused by the stories that native English speakers wrote me in such a way, now I do understand. Many thanks, great teacher.

[@Canguroenglish]

Excellent! I'm glad this class helped you!

[@catatalsempena5727]

I love your videos. Thanks from Portugal.

[@Canguroenglish]

My pleasure Catatal! Big hugs from Spain!

[@Gustavo-lz5mi]

Thanks for this amazing lesson! you are the best!

[@Canguroenglish]

My pleasure Gustavo! Thanks for your kind words!

[@sergeyleshchinskii8860]

Thank you Cristian you are really good with your awesome vlog.

[@redmano666]

Brilliant! I subscribed immediately.

[@jorgebrignol6164]

What awesome class! Thanks Christian!

[@Canguroenglish]

Thanks Jorge, I'm glad you liked it!

[@hanna2259]

i told my friend " i watch Canguro Englisgh. It's intereting and fun packed class"

[@angeldaconte7021]

Thanks! you are great and funny teacher. thanks so much!!!!

[@mythienpham1216]

youre a super funny teacher.i like the way you teach.thanks so much.cheer!

[@letslearn4039]

Thank you Christian, Thank you so much .It really was a good video.

[@amolgawali5090]

So good and so nice

[@user-qd1kz9sp1k]

Regards from Ukraine. You are highly interesting person. I am watching your lessons rather lectures with bated breath.

[@elissonsilvasantos9716]

Very good, now I can tell better stories in any language I acquire ("Is a snail")

[@nabiljalaly8082]

That's fantastic !

[@ximenagarzia]

Thank you Christian!!

[@Butterflyneverlands]

I knew if its existence but I didn't know why we use it. Great info.

[@atefalrafou6996]

Thanks you very much

[@arianasamaung5406]

Thank you.

[@josuemayorga7629]

It was a very important class.

[@everydayenglishaimanno4312]

Thank you for your efforts.

[@Canguroenglish]

My pleasure Aimanno!

[@lilianagallo8771]

Thank you Christian, it is important to know about historical present!. I think it is used the same in Spanish.

[@ycecegroj9524]

Excelente.

[@user-um5ul7yw7u]

Thank you so much

[@pasqualecangiano4679]

Hi Christian! Excellent video. Thanks a lot.

[@Canguroenglish]

Thanks Pasquale!

[@DanDownunda8888]

Christian, at first I wondered why you were talking so slowly and it was a bit annoying, but after a while I realised that you were just making sure to pronounce each and every syllable. A great idea that I've never seen/heard any language teacher use before. Just brilliant!

[@Canguroenglish]

I speak this way because I teach English as a foreign language and I need my students to focus on the content of what I'm teaching more than the delivery. But now it's a habit and all of my family make fun of me for speaking to them like they're idiots!

[@DanDownunda8888]

hahaha

[@elenasavin1289]

Thank you

[@arbolyfloresbirds6324]

thank you !!!

[@chandrathapa9964]

Awesome

[@hemis.k3193]

Loved this! I have a question for you, how do I use the historical present to point to a time further in the past, for example, "One day my son comes up to me and asks me to buy the car that I HAD PROMISED him " or that I promised him".

[@jacquisrandrianjatovo7474]

I really love your english!!

[@Canguroenglish]

Thanks Jacquis, I appreciate that!

[@TeacherRosaBBCschool]

I watched three video s verbal phrases helped to make difference between up out.... I understand the meaning 🔝I can now use any without hesitating if it s the right one to choose. best teacher 🎩

[@heloisaduarte4745]

At the end of the video, I had to come back and listen to the joke. No one had taught about this historical present tense to me before. Tks.

[@alwaysdreaming9604]

For russians: there is the historical present too in russian and it is used in the same way. For example: "Вчера случилось что-то странное со мной: зашёл я в автобус и вдруг понимаю (настоящее время. Пик истории), что в другом городе! ..." (Yesterday, something weird happened to me: I jumped in a bus and then I realize (the present simple or the historical tense. The emphasis is something weird happened) I'm in another city ...)

[@kyanbaghdasaryan1332]

Amazing👌

[@Canguroenglish]

Thanks Karen!

[@kipyoson7359]

You are a magic English teacher! Your pronunciation, gestures, expressions, contents, and even your yellowish teeth are attractive. Thank you~~~

[@13Frajola]

This also happens in Portuguese, teacher. Historical present makes stories significant, vivid...it's a powerful tool indeed.

[@Canguroenglish]

Yes, it does. But as I said in the video, use it sparingly! Some people find it VERY irritating if you use it too much!

[@davidfernandofloreslujan4332]

Thank you Christian.

[@susannagiacoppo7338]

Hello Christian and many thanks for your excellent way of speaking and teaching. My question is about your words in this video. You say "we're going to be talking about...". Maybe I've missed some lessons (for sure...) but what kind of conjugation is "to be talking"? It looks like a passive. Thx in advance. Ciao. Susanna from Bergamo (Italy)

[@AlexFromTheWoods]

Hello Christian and thank you for another interesting video. I actually didn't even realize that I've used it from time to time, because in my mother tongue it's used in the same way as well, so I didn't even think about it. Anyway, great explanation! Best wishes from Germany.

[@Canguroenglish]

Hi Alexander! Yes, for me it's also a totally subconscious thing to do. But maybe it's something that you DO need to think about using in English. Don't be afraid to experiment!

[@nguyenadam3804]

good job my teacher

[@Canguroenglish]

Thanks Nguyen!

[@AMIR-yc1pc]

I have to say you teach very well.

[@Canguroenglish]

Thanks Amir, I appreciate that!

[@mariaelenafrousosgrieco5626]

learning with you is so funny

[@maryamfalih4225]

I payed attention from the beginning because your were speaking in the present tense about past events 😊

[@Canguroenglish]

Ooooooh, so you caught me! It's interesting that you noticed it! You're a great student!

[@erikabalogh2461]

And yes, you were right! I listened to the joke again!

[@EyadNSEyadNS]

You have channel marvellous. Fantastic. Really i can't expressions .and you teacher awesome. And creative....my name is EYAD. Im from in Iraq. I love this channel. ..

[@Canguroenglish]

Hi Eyad and thanks for your kind words! I try my best! See you again soon!

[@PauloEAG]

Great video as always Chris. Thanks o lot mate. Just a crazy thought I had... "PUT the milk back!" hehe As 'Put' is the same form both in the present and in the past we will never know in which tense it was used hahahaha Just kinding :P All the best everyone!

[@user-xf2bh4hx8h]

in fact I have problems with creamer since I am in school and I hated. but in this video I change my mind.and I understand about 98%.thank you so much for helping us.

[@Canguroenglish]

Excellent, that makes me really happy! Keep going!

[@plerpplerp5599]

Historical present exists in other languages also.

[@7ndooda436]

Thanks Australia!

[@Canguroenglish]

Our pleasure!

[@giovanijesusberrospiaquino7722]

I asked my english teacher about the historical present and she didn't know about it. Well i think that only native speakers know about this tense. The english teachears who are not native speakers only can teach the narrative tenses.

[@marcossilva-saberfazer889]

Hi, do you can suggest books to improve my understand and develop my abilities in english?

[@verysimple493]

Omg 😮u r amazing I love it 😍

[@Canguroenglish]

Thanks Adbul, that's very kind!

[@lucianamm]

Yes, I went back and listened to the snail joke again :-)

[@globuspallidus2457]

He's very clever

[@hissendaud653]

Yeah This Good Story

[@alexinfo100]

A story that happened with me a week ago. I was sleeping in my bed and had and interesting dream where I was like the Indiana Jones, I walked through the jungle when suddenly a big fat snake fell on me from a tree (as I was sleeping on my right hand it got numb), I woke up and started screaming : "Oh man, what is that laying on my belly, is that a snake! And what a f#*k was happened with my arm, I can't feel it, jesuschrist!!". After a minute of fighting with "hand-snake" my arm started return into normal condition and I sighed with relief. That was one of embarassing things that happened with me while sleeping.

[@nicfarrow]

Excellent explanation! But I have something here... "So, this guy walks into a bar and says to the bartender...." Now this is also a genre of joke-telling. Not sure that is quite the same and I am unsure of the purpose, unless it is to orientate the listener to the fact that a joke is about to be told. Any insight as to why we would use "This guy..." or even, "Some guy....?" They seem to function quite differently from standard English use, but are common in such 'folk' situations.

[@jean-pierredelorraine6161]

Perhaps setting the scene using past simple would be the ultra correct way of applying the historical present, but you really don't have to. In colloquial speech many do the entire narrative in present simple:" So the other day I'm at this bar, and I order a glass of white wine. I give the bartender a 5€ bill, but the bar was so full that he gets confused. He tells his female colleague to give me my change as he continues to pour drinks as the bar was so full. The girl goes to the cash register, and gets the change, and hands me the exact 5€ bill I had wanted to pay with plus 20 cents, so I got a free drink." In this case I do use some past tenses to add contrast :-) !!!

[@guillermocorrea5874]

Hi teacher Christian , good evening!!!! In spanish a stories have basically threes moments, introduction : Here we present , site , time and characters , continues second parts ; the complications , has the problems that make interesting a storie , and finnally the outcome that explain the form in that problems have solution. I thing that structure are similar. Or I did not understand anything??? And about your stories if was in Argentina finished this : The guy turn in the line and said,"- hey brother I not have money ,you can paid my milk ? - Of course - Thanks, tomorrow I back your money. End of story!! . Thanks a lot.

[@Canguroenglish]

Hi Guillermo! Of course, there are a million ways to tell a story, and I used the story template that is considered 'standard' by people who study the art of telling stories. Yours follows the same template except you don't have the 'abstract' part at the start. I think the same thing would happen here in Galicia: someone would pay for the milk!

[@fwwryh7862]

There is a future present as well I think. ''I am so watching that film tonight.''

[@user-cb5fh9yy7g]

You made up a good scheme in "historical present". If had happened several events in different "historical ....", could I have used this "formula"?

[@Canguroenglish]

You can use the historical present when you're telling any story in the past. The best way to learn it is to notice and copy the way that natives use it. Find pretty much any video on KZbin where someone is telling a story and you'll hear it!

[@user-cb5fh9yy7g]

Thank you!

[@vinicius82thiago]

Monster!

[@Canguroenglish]

I know right?

[@peterfoxts]

I think the "historical present" is common in many languages, ie Italian.

[@noorfarah1873]

❤❤

[@Canguroenglish]

Thanks Rasha!

[@sunnyday1977]

👍🏻

[@lamissmaher6547]

Can we use it in formal writing?

[@Canguroenglish]

Absolutely. Charles Dickens and John Updike used it. Enough said!

[@lamissmaher6547]

thank you!

[@tyfysl8614]

you teach very clear and in a simple way. but on background hides very good philosophy and knowledge

[@7ndooda436]

Stupid language is an answer provided by my English teachers when they haven’t respond to my questions about a lot of exceptions in Grammar; however, this kind of lesson approve that each exception has a logical reason behind it.

[@Canguroenglish]

Any teacher that says a language is 'stupid' is simply reflecting their attitude back at themselves. Language is not always logical, but it is NEVER stupid!

[@7ndooda436]

Canguro English I don’t think so. Their English teaching skills, knowledge and experience are being at low level comparing to Cangure English stuff.

[@Canguroenglish]

I understand, but better to say "I don't know" than say "It's stupid"!

[@suaptoest]

Historical present exists in my native language also.

[@divocean4085]

Didn't know about that. We do the same thing in Russian though

[@Canguroenglish]

It seems to be used in a lot of languages!

[@MsAlan1979]

вот все понятно объяснил, на улитка то зачем приходила?

[@victorr5113]

The blackboard have a reflection

[@kirillsleptsov1680]

the same in Russian, i didnt know English had a name for it, interesting

[@jessicamiroortiz7917]

Yes the historical present help you to immerse better in the story isn't it?

[@Canguroenglish]

Yes, that's the theory! It's one of many tools you can use to engage your audience!

[@karolcisowski3292]

By the way, your pronounciation is easy to understand. I practise my listening skills looking your videos, because it's my weakness.

[@user-ux8pz2in6v]

Это не хисторикал презент, это рассказ о прошлом с использованием любого времени, хоть будущего. Вчера я шёл и вижу, что буду покупать хлеб. В английском только 3 времени + разные типы действий = 12 конструкций.

[@redrickschuhart4065]

Че ты споришь? Например, в русском 6 падежей по школьной программе, а на самом деле больше. Тут используется настоящее время для описания прошлого - придумали новое название для таких случаев. То же самое, что и с падежами у нас. Нюанс. Грамматически от настоящего ничем не отличается. Тут тебе рассказали о том, как можно интересно подать историю. Не цепляйся к словам