Descriptions of places can be found in travel brochures, letters, articles and stories.

They can be written in formal or informal style. It depends on whom we address it to

and how we want to present the description.

Formal style is impersonal. We frequently use passive voice, Informal style is personal. We use colloquial language, idioms,
particles, and complex sentences. We don’t describe our short forms. We can write about our feelings and emotions.
feelings and emotions. We don’t use sort forms of verbs.
Notice the use of tenses in both descriptions.
Compare two descriptions of Angel Falls.

Sometimes when we wander around the

If you fancy an adventurous holiday with world we find places that we can’t forget. So get
a mixture of romance and mystery you should
up from your comfortable armchair and travel
visit Angel Falls, the tallest waterfall in the
world. Angel Falls is located in the Guyana
with me to a beautiful place called Angel Falls.
highlands, one of five topographical regions of - you give brief I have just arrived in a small South American
Venezuela. information about the village. It took me only ten minutes to get
name and location of the everything organized and I am already sitting in a
The falls are named after Jimmy Angel, an
place or building and you
adventurous bush pilot from Missouri, however
give reasons for choosing
van that will take us to our desired destination.
the Natives in Venezuela had known about the The nature passing behind the windows is unique
to describe it.
"Salto Angel" since the beginning of time. and breathtaking. I can feel the fresh air in my
Being one of Venezuela's top tourist
hair and the local scents are playing with my
attractions, Angel Falls ,even today are
complicated to reach. In order to visit the falls
senses.
adventurous tourists must begin their travels - you give general and I know right away we have reached our
from one of the small villages surrounding the specific information destination. The roar of water is coming from
falls. Of these the ones most used for about the place/building behind the trees. I am walking with expectations.
expeditions to the falls are Canaima, Kavak and Decibels are increasing. I am slowly cutting away
You should proceed from
Kamarata. Even with these villages being the from the path and I am holding my breath.
general to specific
closest to the falls and the National Park it is Finally the forest is opening and I am standing in
information.
still a few days trek to Angel Falls.
front of one of the cascades. The water is hurling
If you decide to visit this unique and
breathtaking place, you should book your
down with an incredible speed. I am walking up
holiday from June to December, when the and up and always new cascades are appearing in
rivers are deep enough for the wooden boats - you express your front of me.
used by guides. feelings , about described The whole waterfall is created from tenths
place/building or your of smaller waterfalls, from small streams to great
Each aspect of the description recommendation. drifts, all ending in a foamy river. I can’t hear a
should be presented in word. The feeling of amazement and awe is
a separate paragraph overwhelming. Glittering drops are covering my
skin.Time has stopped and I don’t want to leave.
When we write about a building, the main body of the work should The whirl of water is hypnotizing.
include: It is time to leave. Everyday life is waiting. I
 a paragraph on historical facts using past tense (when was it build,
why, who build it)
will never forget this little adventure of mine.
 a paragraph on the exterior using present tense (grounds, gardens)
 a paragraph on the interior using present tense (furniture, rooms)

To give a vivid picture of described place and create a mood and an Narrative techniques can be used to
atmosphere we can use all our senses (sight, smell, hearing, taste and describe place or building. We can use:
touch). - our senses to describe surroundings
 When you can almost taste the salt in the air, then you know you are close to - ask rhetorical questions
the beach. - use direct speech
 In the morning you can watch the sunrise straight from your hotel room. - use quotation
 The sound of waves is calming and relaxing. - create mystery, suspense, anticipation
 When walking down the streets in this old town you can smell the - address the reader
mixture of morning coffee with freshly baked bread.
 The texture of the sand is so smooth, that our beaches are
 the most favourite in the whole region.
To join sentences we can use various different structures. We can use w-words
and participles.
Present tense is used to describe a  The Tower is the oldest building in the city. TheTower is on the south coast.
place for tourist brochures or a Situated on the south coast, The Tower is the oldest building in the city.
magazine. Past tense is used to  The old part of town is full of small restaurants. You have to go and see it.
describe a visit to a place/building . You have to go and see the old part of town, which is full of small restaurants.
We give factual information about  The wax museum is the most visited place of this town. You can get t small
places/buildings using present miniatures of famous peoplethere.
tense. The wax museum, where you can get miniatures of famous people, is the most visited place
of this town.
E.g. I visited Croatia last year.
 The National Gallery has the most unique and valuable paintings.
Croatia is situated by
It very popular place for tourists.
Mediterranean Sea. With its unique and valuable paintings, The National Gallery is a very popular
place for tourists.