RECOUNT TEXT
Recount text is a type of writing that enables
people to recount past occurrences or express
their own experiences. You can use recount text
to convey firsthand experiences, report news, or
describe historical events.
Recount text retells past events or experiences in chronological
order. It aims to entertain or inform readers. A recount text
typically includes an orientation providing background on who,
where, and when, a series of events in order, and a re-
orientation with a concluding comment.
The purpose of recount text is to tell the readers what happen in
the past through a sequence of events.
Generic Structure of Recount Text
Orientation
The opening section provides the background information, such as the setting and introduces
the participants in the recounted event. It answers the questions of who, what, when, and
where.
Events
It is the main body of the text where the writer narrates the series of events chronologically.
The events are typically presented logically to maintain coherence and clarity.
Reorientation (optional)
Some recount texts may include a closing section summarizing or reflecting on the events. It
is not always present in all recount texts but may be included to provide closure or offer
insights gained from the experience.
It summarizes the story by summarizing the results or outcomes, assessing the topic’s
importance, or providing individual commentary or ideas. It may project into destiny by
predicting what will occur next.
Linguistics Features of Recount Text
Past Tense: Recount texts are predominantly written in the past tense
since they describe events already occurring.
First-Person Pronouns: Recounts often use first-person pronouns (I,
we) since the writer typically recounts their own experiences or
observations.
Time Connectives: Words and phrases that indicate the sequence of
events are commonly used, such as “first,” “next,” “then,” “after,”
and so on.
Conjunctions: Connectives and conjunctions link ideas and events
within the text. Examples include “and,” “but,” “so,” and so on.
Last holiday, I decided to spend my holiday in Kendari, a picturesque city in Southeast
Sulawesi. On a bright Sunday morning, I embarked on my journey at 8:00 AM and
arrived at my aunt’s home around 11:00 AM. The warmth of the welcoming sun and
the anticipation of meeting my relatives made the journey even more delightful. As I
entered my aunt’s house, I was greeted by the familiar faces of my family members,
including my cousin, whom I had not seen in quite some time. (Orientation)
During my stay, I immersed myself in various activities that made my holiday truly
memorable. One day, we visited another family home in Kendari, where I had the
pleasure of reconnecting with relatives I had not seen in years. The air was filled with
laughter and joy as we exchanged stories and shared moments of our lives. Another
trip highlight was the movie night with my cousin and niece. We decided to watch a
film at the local cinema. One evening, we gathered as a family to enjoy a traditional
Sulawesi dish called ‘kapurung.’ The aroma of ‘Kapurung’ filled the air as we sat
together, sharing not just a meal but also stories and laughter. (Events)
The laughter echoing through the family home, the heartwarming reunions with
relatives, and the shared experiences over a bowl of ‘kapurung’ created a tapestry of
memories I will cherish forever. (Re-Orientation)
Last month, I visited my childhood friend’s house on Depok. His Name is Juniar. There
were many activities I did there. In the morning, Juniar and I had breakfast. We had
nasi uduk that we enjoyed when we were kids. I liked it very much. After breakfast, he
took me to our old school and retell the story about what we had when we were in
elementary school. The school looks better than 13 years ago. There is a big bench in
the school garden. There were 3 sports fields for students. After visiting the school,
Juniar and I went to the market to buy some food and snacks. We bought kue ape, kue
pukis, kue cucur, kue mangkok, and nasi padang. We had lunch together at his house
and had a small chit chat. It was so much fun. I really enjoyed my time with Juniar.
After enjoying three days together, I went home after being picked up by my father.
1. The text above tells the readers about ...
a. A holiday at a friend's place.
b. A picture school backyard.
c. A big school
d. A big sport field.
2. Who is Juniar for the writers?
a. Niece
b. Pen pal
c. Childhood friend
d. Sibling
3. How much is the sports field in the writer's old school?
a. Two
b. Three
c. four
d. Five
Simple Past, Past Continuous and Past Perfect
Simple Past Tense:
• Describes completed actions or events in the past.
• Indicates a specific point in time when the action occurred.
• Uses the past tense form of the verb.
• Example:
• "I finished my work yesterday.“
Past Continuous Tense:
• Describes ongoing actions or events in the past.
• Indicates an action that was in progress at a specific time in the past.
• Uses the past tense form of "be" (was/were) + present participle (-ing form) of the
main verb.
• Example:
• "She was studying when I called her."
Past Perfect Tense:
•Describes an action that was completed before another past action or a
specific point in the past.
•Indicates the earlier action or event.
•Uses "had" + past participle form of the main verb.
•Example:
• "They had already left when I arrived."
Simple Past: Describes completed actions in the past.
Past Continuous: Describes ongoing actions in the past.
Past Perfect: Describes completed actions before another past action.
1. You ________ basketball when I _______ you.
played - was seeing
was playing - saw
were playing - saw
2. My brother ________ at the bus stop when I ________ him this morning.
was waiting - saw
were waiting - saw
waited - was seeing
3. My friends _______ math when I ________ yesterday.
studied - was coming
was studying - came
were studying – came
4. When you _______ me the news, I _______for my exams.
told - were studied
were telling - studied
told - was studying
5. My sister _______ a book when my brother _______ mineral water last night.
was reading - drank
read - was drinking
were reading - drank
6. She ________ television when I ________ shopping.
were watching - went
was watching - went
watched - was going
7. It ________ when we ______ out.
was raining - went
rained - were going
were raining - went
8. The children ________ when you _________ home.
was sleeping - came
sleep - were coming
were sleeping - came
9. What _______ when I _______ you?
were you doing - phoned
did you do - was phoning
was you doing - phoned
10. When they _________, Emily _________ dinner.
came - was cooking
were coming - cooked
come - were cooking
