DESCRIPTIVE TEXT
What is a descriptive text?
◦Descriptive text is a text that explains and
describes a person, place, or thing. It uses
adjectives and adverbs. It aims to describe a
person, place or thing. It consists of the
identification of a person, place or thing and
their description.
Social Function
Giving information about a particular object by
describing its features and special characteristic.
Giving information about a particular object by
describing its physical attributes, behaviour,
functions, etc.
◦
Generic Structures
Identification/ Introduction/ Classification
a. Identification introduces and identifies specific objects (a person, thing, place, animal or
event) intended to be described. It is used give a general idea about the object we want to
describe.
b. What specific topic, person, idea, or thing is being described or explained.
c. How is topic being described or explained?
Description
a. Description describes the intended objects using descriptive details or information about the
objects, characteristics, appearance, personality, habits or qualities.
b. What features or characteristics (physical appearance, qualities, habitual behaviour.
Significant attributes) are important to remember or understand about the topic being
described.
Language features
Focus on specific characteristics or
features
Use simple present tense
Use noun phrases.
◦
◦
Simple Present
Formula :
Tense
Subject + V1 + O
Subject (I, You, We, They) + V1 Subject (He, She, It) + V1S
Examples : Examples :
a) I go to school a) He goes to school
b) You write a letter b) He writes a letter
c) We eat banana c) It eats banana
d) You visit the museum d) The dog bites him
e) They learn English e) Andrew visits the museum
The examples above are in form affirmative sentences. To change the
sentences in negative form you can use auxiliary verb. “do not” or
“does not”
a) I do not go to school a) He does not go to school
b) You do not write a letter b) He does not write a letter
c) We do not eat banana c) It does not eat banana
d) You do not visit the museum d) The dog does not bite him
Formula :
Subject + To be ( is, am, are) + O
Subject (I) + am + Subject (You, We, Subject (He, She, It) +
O They) + are is
a) I am a teacher a) You are beautiful a) He is my friend
b) I am handsome b) We are family b) She is smart
c) I am tall c) They are smart c) It is a big wall
people
The examples above are in form of affirmative sentences. To
change the sentences in negative form you just put not after to
be : “am not”, “are not” or “is not”.
DESCRIBING PEOPLE OR SOMEONE
◦We describe people all the time. For example you might tell your
friends what your boss is like. You might tell you sister that cute guy
saw looks like. Even outside of everyday conversation, its very useful
to know how to describe people. Description are used a lot in books, in
articles and other kinds of communication in English. Reading or
hearing a description of someone can give you better idea of what they
look like or act like. Description are also useful in the business world,
often crucial to conversations and presentations at work.
What are the different ways to describe people?
◦Let’s say you want to describe a friend, a family member or a boss.
You will probably use a few kinds of information.
a) Appearance is what someone looks like on the outside
b) Mannerisms are the ways that someone acts or behaves
c) Character traits are the little things make someone who they are. In
other words, they make up someone’s personality
d) Emotions are what someone feels at a certain time.
How to describe people in English ?
◦4 ways :
a) Describing someone’s appearance
b) Describing someone’s mannerisms
c) Describing someone’s characters
d) Describing someone’s feelings
Word that describe physical appearance
Height Short, average height, tall (He/She is…, I am …)
Age Around 15…, in his/her 20s (he/she…, you are …)
Hair Short, long, straight, wavy, curly, a ponytail, White, grey,
black, dark/light brown, blonde, faor, red ( he has got …
I/You/They?we have got …)
Bald ( He is bald)
Beard, moustache ( He has got …)
Face Square, round, wide, plain ( He/She has got … I/You/They/We
have got …)
Complexion Light, dark (He/She has got … I/You/They/We Have got …)
Eyes Green , Blue, Brown
Beautiful, big (He/She has got … I.You/They/We have got …)
Other Beautiful, pretty, handsome, cute, good looking, young, old,
over weight … (He/She has got … I/You/They/We have got …)
Clothes and He/she is wearing … (a blue T-shirt and black jeans.
Accessories
