English Short Stories Free

1 | English Short Stories for Beginners, www-really-learn-english.
com
English Short Stories
Table of Contents
Surprise! .................................................................................................. 1
Oh, the Horror…..................................................................................... 12
The following chapters are not included in this free version:

Tomorrow, My Dear… .............................................................................. 5
An Unexpected Hitchhiker ....................................................................... 7
The Free Gift ............................................................................................ 9
Royalty Food .......................................................................................... 12
A Very Special Gift Card ......................................................................... 16
The Wedding.......................................................................................... 19
The (Dead) Washing Machine ................................................................ 23
A Special Family Meeting ....................................................................... 27
Copyright © 2011 Ola Zur | www-really-learn-english.com

English Short Stories for Beginners | 1
Story 1
Surprise!
Emma and Jerry are husband and wife. It is summer and Jerry's birthday
approaches. Emma wants to give him a present for his birthday, but she
wants it to be a surprise, so she must keep everything a secret.
Now, her big problem is: if Jerry cannot know about this, then how does
she find out what to get him for his birthday?
She decides to use a secret technique. For a whole week, while she
pretends to be doing other things, she actually keeps her ears wide open
for clues.
However, Jerry doesn't really talk on this subject. A whole week passes
with no mention of something he actually wants or needs!
"That's it!" Emma thinks to herself, "Jerry's birthday is tomorrow! I'm

taking off the gloves!"
She calls her sister in law Mary and they make a secret plan.
Mary will call Jerry, ask him what he would like to receive for his birthday,
and Emma will listen to the conversation (without Jerry knowing it).
The scheme starts out as planned. Marry calls Jerry and they have a nice
chat about his upcoming birthday. Emma listens carefully from the other
room.
Finally, she hears what he wants – a pair of sneakers!
"Alright!" she thinks to herself.
Full of excitement she storms out of the room. It was not so quite, but
who can blame her?
She rushes off to the shop and buys a pair of shining sneakers, exactly at
Jerry's size. She is very happy. She will get him the present he wants, and
it will be a complete surprise!

2 | English Short Stories for Beginners
Today is Jerry's birthday. Emma waits until their special dinner at night.
Finally, the moment arrives. It's time for Jerry's present!
Emma brings in the box of sneakers, wrapped in a colorful paper.
"Wow!" Jerry says with a big smile, "I wonder what it can be…"
"Open it and see for yourself!" Emma replies happily.
He tears up the colorful paper, and takes out the box. He opens the box.
"Oh, it's a… pair of sneakers! What a lovely… surprise…"
Emma notices that something is wrong. "What's the matter? You don't
seem so happy. Don't you need a pair of sneakers?"
"Hmm…" Jerry takes a look at each shoe.
"Well, didn't you tell Mary that you wanted a pair of sneakers?" Emma
asks him.
"A pair of sneakers?" Jerry starts to laugh. "I said a pair of speakers!
You seem surprised. Well, I guess I could use a pair of sneakers too…"

Story 1 – Surprise!
Exercises
Vocabulary
This is a copy of the original story. Go over it and fill in the blanks with the right
words from the box below.
Technique, carefully, birthday, shining, yourself, sneakers, Today, gloves,

problem, wonder, tomorrow, complete, However, pair, plan, laugh, subject,
matter, in law, receive, wife, scheme, thinks, clues, present, wrapped, until, tears,
conversation, secret, notices, what, wanted, Finally, each, pretends, excitement
Emma and Jerry are husband and ________. It is summer and Jerry's ________
approaches. Emma wants to give him a ________ for his birthday, but she wants it
to be a surprise, so she must keep everything a ________.
Now, her big ________ is: if Jerry cannot know about this, then how does she find
out ________ to get him for his birthday?
She decides to use a secret ________. For a whole week, while she ________ to be
doing other things, she actually keeps her ears wide open for ________.
________, Jerry doesn't really talk on this ________. A whole week passes with no
mention of something he actually wants or needs!
"That's it!" Emma thinks to herself, "Jerry's birthday is ________! I'm taking off the
________!"
She calls her sister ________ Mary and they make a secret ________.
Mary will call Jerry, ask him what he would like to ________ for his birthday, and
Emma will listen to the ________ (without Jerry knowing it).
The ________ starts out as planned. Marry calls Jerry and they have a nice chat
about his upcoming birthday. Emma listens ________ from the other room.

Finally, she hears what he wants – a ________ of sneakers!
"Alright!" she ________ to herself.
Full of ________ she storms out of the room. It was not so quite, but who can blame
her?
She rushes off to the shop and buys a pair of ________ sneakers, exactly at Jerry's
size. She is very happy. She will get him the present he wants, and it will be a
________ surprise!
________ is Jerry's birthday. Emma waits ________ their special dinner at night.
________, the moment arrives. It's time for Jerry's present!
Emma brings in the box of sneakers, ________ in a colorful paper.
"Wow!" Jerry says with a big smile, "I ________ what it can be…"
"Open it and see for ________!" Emma replies happily.
He ________ up the colorful paper, and takes out the box. He opens the box.
"Oh, it's a… pair of ________! What a lovely… surprise…"
Emma ________ that something is wrong. "What's the ________? You don't seem
so happy. Don't you need a pair of sneakers?"
"Hmm…" Jerry takes a look at ________ shoe.
"Well, didn't you tell Mary that you ________ a pair of sneakers?" Emma asks him.
"A pair of sneakers?" Jerry starts to ________. "I said a pair of speakers!
You seem surprised. Well, I guess I could use a pair of sneakers too…"

Grammar – Sentence Structure

The following sentences are all mixed up. Put the words on each line in the correct
order to receive a logical sentence.
1. are wife Emma Jerry and husband and.
_________________________________________________________________
2. everything keep Emma must secret a.
_________________________________________________________________
3. "open" keeps For week she ears her wide for clues a whole.
_________________________________________________________________
4. in law Mary make plan She her calls sister they a secret and.
_________________________________________________________________
5. birthday his calls about and have a chat Jerry upcoming they Marry.
_________________________________________________________________
6. shining buys sneakers She to shop and a pair of at the rushes Jerry's size off.
_________________________________________________________________
7. birthday Jerry's Today is.
_________________________________________________________________
8. dinner waits special at their Emma night until.
_________________________________________________________________
9. be I can what it wonder…
_________________________________________________________________
10. I too of guess pair use I a sneakers could Well.
_________________________________________________________________

Grammar – Questions, Negative Sentences

and Positive Sentences
Remember:
A positive sentence: Jerry and Emma are husband and wife.
A negative sentence: Jerry and Emma are not husband and wife.
A question: Are Jerry and Emma husband and wife?
A positive sentence: Emma listens carefully.

A negative sentence: Emma does not listen carefully.
A question: Does Emma listen carefully?
A positive sentence: She should keep it a secret.

A negative sentence: She should not keep it a secret.
A question: Should she keep it a secret?
Turn the following sentences into questions.
1. Jerry has a birthday.
_________________________________________________________________
2. Emma wants to buy Jerry a present.
_________________________________________________________________
3. Emma can listen to their conversation.
_________________________________________________________________
4. Jerry needs speakers.
_________________________________________________________________
5. Emma is surprised.
_________________________________________________________________

Turn the following sentences into negative sentences.
1. Marry has a birthday.
_________________________________________________________________
2. Does Jerry want sneakers?
_________________________________________________________________
3. Emma should tell the truth.
_________________________________________________________________
4. Are they very surprised?
_________________________________________________________________
5. Jerry wonders what is inside the box.
_________________________________________________________________
Turn the following sentences into positive sentences.
1. Emma doesn't have a birthday.
_________________________________________________________________
2. Jerry doesn't know about Emma's plan.
_________________________________________________________________
3. Does Marry help Emma?
_________________________________________________________________
4. Emma doesn't buy flowers.
_________________________________________________________________
5. Do Marry and Jerry talk?
_________________________________________________________________

Comprehension
Answer the following questions.
1. Why doesn't Emma ask Jerry what he wants for his birthday?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
2. Who is Marry?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
3. What secret plan do Emma and Marry make?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
4. Does Jerry really need a pair of sneakers?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

Essay Writing
Answer the following questions. Write a short essay for each.
1. What would you do in Emma's place? How would you decide which present to
buy?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
2. What would you do if you were in Jerry place? How would you respond to the
unneeded present?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

Story 2
Oh, the Horror…
Emma and Jerry like to watch movies. No, actually, Emma and Jerry love to
watch movies. They only have one tiny problem. They never like the same
movies…
Emma likes horror movies. She likes the fear and the blood.
Jerry, on the other hand, hates horror movies. He hates the fear and the
blood. He likes love stories. He likes romantic couples and happy endings.
Emma hates romantic movies. She thinks they are silly and boring.
At first, they don't know they have such different tastes in movies.
Emma comes home. "Oh my god!" she calls, "Jerry! You have to come with
me to the movies. There is this amazing new movie! I must watch it."
"Which one is it?" he asks.
"The Bloody Ax," she answers.
Jerry thinks about it for a second, "Hmm… doesn't it sound a bit weird?"
"Of course not, silly! It seems like an amazing movie. We must watch it,"
Emma laughs at him.
"Well, if you say so. Let's go for it."
2 hours later, Jerry is sitting in the movie theater, screaming. 5 minutes

later he is running to the bathroom to throw up.
"Oh my god, Emma… I didn't know this is what you meant when you said
'amazing!' I don't think I can watch a movie like this again."
"It's ok, Jerry," she says. "I guess you don't like horror movies as much as I
do."
A few days later, Jerry comes home.

"Emma!" he calls, "Listen! You have to come with me to the movies. There
is this fantastic new movie! We must watch it."
"Which one is it?" she asks.
"The Sun in Your Eyes," he answers.
Emma thinks about it for a second, "Hmm… doesn't it sound a bit silly?"
"Of course not, Emma! It seems like a fantastic movie. We must watch it,"
Jerry laughs at her.
"Well, if you say so. Let's go for it," Emma agrees.
2 hours later, Emma is sitting in the movie theater, completely stiff. 5

minutes later she is running away in terror.
"Oh my god, Jerry… I didn't know this is what you meant when you said
'fantastic!' I don't think I can watch a movie like this again."
Jerry looks at her and says "Well, I guess you don't like romantic movies as
much as I do."
"That's right," Emma agrees. "What are we going to do? Will we ever go to
the movies together again?"
Jerry thinks about it for a moment and then answers: "I guess we would
have to wait for a "horror love story." You know, a boy meets a girl, they
fall in love, and then she eats him…"

Story 2 – Oh, the Horror…

Exercises
Vocabulary
This is a copy of the original story. Go over it and fill in the blanks with the right
words from the box below.
again, looks, Of course, couples, There, laughs, amazing, later, god,

throw up, agrees, stiff, terror, so, meant, never, can, wait, know,
seems, guess, together, fantastic, theater, tastes, fear,
answers, going, weird, silly, Ax, movies, a bit, horror
Emma and Jerry like to watch ________. No, actually, Emma and Jerry love to watch
movies. They only have one tiny problem. They ________ like the same movies…
Emma likes ________ movies. She likes the fear and the blood.
Jerry, on the other hand, hates horror movies. He hates the ________ and the
blood. He likes love stories. He likes romantic ________ and happy endings.
Emma hates romantic movies. She thinks they are ________ and boring.
At first, they don't know they have such different ________ in movies.
Emma comes home. "Oh my ________!" she calls, "Jerry! You have to come with me
to the movies. There is this ________ new movie! I must watch it."
"Which one is it?" he asks.
"The Bloody ________," she answers.
Jerry thinks about it for a second, "Hmm… doesn't it sound a bit ________?"
"Of course not, silly! It ________ like an amazing movie. We must watch it," Emma
________ at him.
"Well, if you say ________. Let's go for it."

2 hours later, Jerry is sitting in the movie ________, screaming. 5 minutes later he is
running to the bathroom to ________.
"Oh my god, Emma… I didn't know this is what you ________ when you said
'amazing!' I don't think I can watch a movie like this ________."
"It's ok, Jerry," she says. "I ________ you don't like horror movies as much as I do."
A few days ________, Jerry comes home.
"Emma!" he calls, "Listen! You have to come with me to the movies. ________ is this
________ new movie! We must watch it."
"Which one is it?" she asks.
"The Sun in Your Eyes," he ________.
Emma thinks about it for a second, "Hmm… doesn't it sound ________ silly?"
"________ not, Emma! It seems like a fantastic movie. We must watch it," Jerry
laughs at her.
"Well, if you say so. Let's go for it," Emma ________.
2 hours later, Emma is sitting in the movie theater, completely ________. 5 minutes
later she is running away in ________.
"Oh my god, Jerry… I didn't ________ this is what you meant when you said
'fantastic!' I don't think I ________ watch a movie like this again."
Jerry ________ at her and says "Well, I guess you don't like romantic movies as
much as I do."
"That's right," Emma agrees. "What are we ________ to do? Will we ever go to the
movies ________ again?"
Jerry thinks about it for a moment and then answers: "I guess we would have to
________ for a "horror love story." You know, a boy meets a girl, they fall in love,
and then she eats him…"

Grammar – Sentence Structure

The following sentences are all mixed up. Put the words on each line in the correct
order to receive a logical sentence.
1. movies Emma watch and like to Jerry.
_________________________________________________________________
2. never movies They the same like.
_________________________________________________________________
3. the blood Emma the fear and likes.
_________________________________________________________________
4. on couples other endings likes romantic Jerry hand and happy the.
_________________________________________________________________
5. to You come to me the have with movies.
_________________________________________________________________
6. second about a He it for thinks.
_________________________________________________________________
7. up 5 later to he bathroom running to the minutes is throw.
_________________________________________________________________
8. as I you do much movies like horror don't guess as I.
_________________________________________________________________
9. do we going are to What?
_________________________________________________________________
10. know a eats You a girl they love in boy and meets then she him fall…
_________________________________________________________________

Grammar – Questions, Negative Sentences

and Positive Sentences
Remember:
A positive sentence: Jerry and Emma were husband and wife.
A negative sentence: Jerry and Emma were not husband and wife.
A question: Were Jerry and Emma husband and wife?
A positive sentence: She was happy to see him.

A negative sentence: She was not happy to see him.
A question: Was she happy to see him?
A positive sentence: Emma listened carefully.

A negative sentence: Emma did not listen carefully.
A question: Did Emma listen carefully?
Turn the following sentences into questions.
1. Emma liked horror movies.
_________________________________________________________________
2. Jerry liked happy endings.
_________________________________________________________________
3. Emma and Jerry couldn't watch movies together.
_________________________________________________________________
4. Jerry was very excited about the new movie.
_________________________________________________________________
5. They were confused.
_________________________________________________________________

Turn the following sentences into negative sentences.
1. Emma was very bored.
_________________________________________________________________
2. Did Jerry buy the tickets?
_________________________________________________________________
3. They were surprised.
_________________________________________________________________
4. Did they go to the movie theater?
_________________________________________________________________
5. Emma decided not to watch these movies again.
_________________________________________________________________
Turn the following sentences into positive sentences.
1. Jerry didn't want to go.
_________________________________________________________________
2. The movie was not very long.
_________________________________________________________________
3. Did Emma go home?
_________________________________________________________________
4. They didn't watch the movie at home.
_________________________________________________________________
5. Did Jerry run to the bathroom?
_________________________________________________________________

Comprehension
Answer the following questions.
1. What kind of movies does Emma like? Why?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
2. What kind of movies does Jerry like? Why?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
3. What happens to Jerry when he watches the horror movie?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
4. What is the solution Jerry suggests?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

Essay Writing
Answer the following questions. Write a short essay for each.
1. What kind of movies do you like? How do you feel about watching movies you
don't like?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
2. In your opinion, what is the best way to solve the problem that Emma and
Jerry have regarding watching movies together? What would you do?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________

There are many more stories and
exercises in the full version
of this booklet.
Click here to get it now:
MORE STORIES & EXERCISES
English Short Stories
"Emma & Jerry"

Free Version
By
Ola Zur
www.really-learn-english.com
Copyright © 2011 Ola Zur
All rights reserved.
IMPORTANT: You do NOT have rights to edit, resell, copy
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Feel free to put this booklet on your site or blog,

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1 | English Short Stories for Beginners, www-really-learn-english.

Oh, the Horror…..................................................................................... 12

The following chapters are not included in this free version:

An Unexpected Hitchhiker ....................................................................... 7

The Free Gift ............................................................................................ 9

Royalty Food .......................................................................................... 12

A Very Special Gift Card ......................................................................... 16

The (Dead) Washing Machine ................................................................ 23

A Special Family Meeting ....................................................................... 27

Copyright © 2011 Ola Zur | www-really-learn-english.com

"That's it!" Emma thinks to herself, "Jerry's birthday is tomorrow! I'm

Finally, she hears what he wants – a pair of sneakers!

"Alright!" she thinks to herself.

Copyright © 2011 Ola Zur | www-really-learn-english.com

Finally, the moment arrives. It's time for Jerry's present!

Emma brings in the box of sneakers, wrapped in a colorful paper.

"Open it and see for yourself!" Emma replies happily.

"Oh, it's a… pair of sneakers! What a lovely… surprise…"

"Hmm…" Jerry takes a look at each shoe.

Copyright © 2011 Ola Zur | www-really-learn-english.com

Technique, carefully, birthday, shining, yourself, sneakers, Today, gloves,

Copyright © 2011 Ola Zur | www-really-learn-english.com

Finally, she hears what he wants – a ________ of sneakers!

"Alright!" she ________ to herself.

________, the moment arrives. It's time for Jerry's present!

Emma brings in the box of sneakers, ________ in a colorful paper.

"Open it and see for ________!" Emma replies happily.

"Oh, it's a… pair of ________! What a lovely… surprise…"

"Hmm…" Jerry takes a look at ________ shoe.

Copyright © 2011 Ola Zur | www-really-learn-english.com

Grammar – Sentence Structure

1. are wife Emma Jerry and husband and.

2. everything keep Emma must secret a.

7. birthday Jerry's Today is.

8. dinner waits special at their Emma night until.

9. be I can what it wonder…

10. I too of guess pair use I a sneakers could Well.

Copyright © 2011 Ola Zur | www-really-learn-english.com

Grammar – Questions, Negative Sentences

A positive sentence: Emma listens carefully.

A positive sentence: She should keep it a secret.

Turn the following sentences into questions.

1. Jerry has a birthday.

2. Emma wants to buy Jerry a present.

3. Emma can listen to their conversation.

4. Jerry needs speakers.

Copyright © 2011 Ola Zur | www-really-learn-english.com

Turn the following sentences into negative sentences.

1. Marry has a birthday.

2. Does Jerry want sneakers?

3. Emma should tell the truth.

4. Are they very surprised?

5. Jerry wonders what is inside the box.

Turn the following sentences into positive sentences.

1. Emma doesn't have a birthday.

2. Jerry doesn't know about Emma's plan.