Writing a RECOUNT

When writing a RECOUNT, you are advised to use Past Tense forms for verbs to refer to the passed events. Here is a sample of a composition on recount. All bolded words are written in past tense forms.

A Trip to the National Park

            Recent school holidays, the Environment Club of my school had organized a trip to the National Park in Pahang. There were forty students joined the three-day trip and they were chaperoned by six teachers.

            We assembled (gathered) at school as early as 6.30 in the morning and left for Pahang a few minutes after a short briefing by the teacher in-charge. We chartered a bus from Ipoh to Pahang and we reached the National Park exactly at noon. Once we reached the reserved forest (National Park), we checked in our chalets and unpacked our stuff. We had a short rest and shower before lunch.

            Right after lunch, we went to the Orang Asli settlement which was located nearby. We took a ride on a big boat and it took us about twenty minutes to get to (reach) the village (settlement). The ride was quite alarming (worrying) for the current was wavy and wild. Luckily, we reached the village safe and sound although parts of our attire were soaked. We were warmly welcomed by the Chief and we enjoyed the three-hour visit personally. We were amazed by the Orang Asli’s authentic culture. We returned to our chalet before twilight (dusk) and cleaned up ourselves before we had our dinner around 9.

            On the following (next) day, we started our next expedition to a limestone cave which was located only a stone throw away from our chalet. We departed (left) as early as 7 o’clock and we were guided by two forest rangers. We learnt about the ecosystem of the cave and there were lots of information we gained (got) from the sightseeing (exploration) as well as the briefing given by the rangers. We spent about three hours in the cave and it was almost noon when we came out of it.

            It was amazing to witness such a beauty in the virgin forest especially when there was a cool and refreshing waterfall beside the cave. We had our lunch cum (together with) picnic over there. We swam happily like there would be no tomorrow although the water was quite freezing. Exactly at 2 o’clock in the afternoon, we began our jungle trekking activity. Guided by again, the dedicated rangers, this adventurous activity really taught us abundance of lessons. We not only learnt about the species of rare wildlife but we also learnt about survival skills in the forest. We were grateful to have such a forest that was rich with unique and rare species of flora and fauna.

            There were lots of information and experience gained through this activity. It was funny to know that there were many things that I had ignored and cared less about. This expedition had taught us that there were many more things that we know less about, as the saying goes ‘the more you learn, the more you don’t know’.

            This adventurous activity however ended before dusk. It was pretty tiring but it was absolutely a tremendous activity we had ever had. At night, we threw a barbeque dinner and had a wonderful moment. On the third day right after breakfast, we packed our stuff and cleaned up the chalet before we left home. Before leaving, the rangers gave some souvenirs to be taken home. The three-day stay at the National Park really left a memorable moment in our hearts.



The Simple Past Tense
The simple past tense is used to talk about past actions or events. It is used in active voice; where the SUBJECT / DOER is at the beginning of the sentence.

Here are some examples extracted from the above recount:

We assembled at school as early as 6.30 in the morning.

• We is the subject/doer of the sentence. "We" does the action 'assembled'. Certainly, there should be no other verbs between we and assembled.

Once we reached the National Park, we checked in our chalets and unpacked our stuff.

• The word once is an adverbial (decoration), not a subject. It does not affect the subject/doer at all.
• We is the subject/doer of the sentence. 'We' does the action 'reached', 'checked in' and 'unpacked' as for 'once', it does nothing but to make the sentence longer.

Right after lunch, we went to the Orang Asli settlement which was located nearby.

• The phrase 'right after lunch' is an adverbial (decoration), not a subject. It is functioning to refer to time.
• We is the subject/doer of the sentence. 'We' does the action 'went'.

On the following (next) day, we started our next expedition to a limestone cave which was located only a stone throw away from our chalet.

• The phrase 'on the following day' is an adverbial (decoration), not a subject. It does not affect the subject/doer at all.
• We is the subject/doer of the sentence. ''We' does the action 'started'.

The Past Perfect Tense
The past perfect tense is used to refer to actions or events that have been completed in the past. The formula is had + past participle. Here are some examples extracted from the above recount:


Recent school holidays, the Environment Club of my school had organized a trip to the National Park in Pahang.

• 
  The phrase had organized in this sentence shows that the action (of the trip) has been completed.
• If the word 'had' is not put, the sentence is still meaningful but lack of compassion.

The expedition had taught us .......

• The phrase had taught in this sentence shows that the action (of teaching) has been completed.
• If the word 'had' is not put, the sentence is still meaningful but it is very plain.

The Passive Voice
The passive voice is referring to the sentence in which, the doer is put at the end of the sentence or maybe the doer is not mentioned at all in the sentence. The formula to form passive voice correctly is by putting was + past participle or were + past participle before the doer (if any). Here are some examples extracted from the above recount and two other sentences:

There were forty students joined the three-day trip and they were chaperoned by six teachers.

• In this sentence, six teachers are supposed to do the action 'chaperoned', not the students. But since 'six teachers' are put at the end of the sentence, it seems like the teachers are no longer the subject.
• It is true BUT still, the teachers are actually doing the action in the sentence. Hence, auxiliary verb 'were' must be put before the verb 'chaperoned' to show that 'they' in the sentence is only an object, not the subject.

Right after lunch, we went to the Orang Asli settlement was located nearby.

• In active voice, the above sentence should be written as "There was an Orang Asli Settlement nearby. We went there right after lunch."
• But the active voice suggested is quite nerdy.
• Anyhow, passive voice really puts some colours into your writing. 

The girls were kidnapped on their way home.

• In the above sentence, somebody kidnaps the girls but that 'somebody' is not mentioned in the sentence.
• From the sentence, we know that the girls do not kidnap but they are the victims of the kidnapper.

Surya's brother was caught by the police for shoplifting.

• Clearly the sentence is passive because the word 'by' is the clue.
• In the sentence above, the police caught Surya's brother for shoplifting. But Surya's brother was put at the beginning at the sentence although he is not the doer.
• The doer in this sentence is the police but is put after the verb was mentioned.