Describing places

1. DESCRIBING PLACES
2. QUESTIONS WHICH CITY/TOWN/VILLAGE IS IT? WHERE IS IT? WHAT IS
THERE TO SEE AND DO? WHAT IS THE CITY LIKE? ITS FAMOUS FOR WHY
IS IT MEANINGFUL TO YOU? HOW ARE THE PEOPLE? WHATS THE WEATHER
LIKE? HOW IS THE FOOD?
3. USEFUL EXPRESSIONS It offers Its well known for The views are Its possible
to You shouldnt miss Its got... The atmosphere is You can see Its located in
Its close to Its far away from What I dont like about it is The good thing about
this place is A popular tourist attraction is Its popular with tourists because
4. LOCATION BY THE SEA ON THE COAST IN THE COUNTRY IN THE
NORTH/SOUTH/WEST /EAST OF ON THE RIVER (NAME) IN A VALLEY ON A
PLAIN IN THE MOUNTAINS NEAR A FOREST/DESERT
5. ATMOSPHERE/ADJECTIVES PEACEFUL/QUIET: not busy, calm, free from activities
ANCIENT: with a long history BEAUTIFUL: very pleasing on the eye
CHARMING/PICTURESQUE: nice, very pleasant in a unique way COSMOPOLITAN: with a
varied mix of cultures and languages BORING: dull, uninteresting BUSTLING: a crowded,
busy place COMPACT: not very big, within a small area NOISY: full of noise, busy
UNSPOILT: having an unaltered character, pure, immaculate STUNNING: very attractive,
impressive, astonishing
6. ATMOSPHERE/ADJECTIVE S LIVELY: with lots of things going on FASCINATING:
very interesting HUGE: very big, enormous POLLUTED: dirty, contaminated
TOURISTIC/TOURISTY: visited by lots of tourists EXCITING: thrilling, with lots of
enjoyable things to do POPULAR: liked by a lot of people CROWDED: very full of people
CONTEMPORARY: modern, very up to date EXPENSIVE: costing a lot of money
HOSPITABLE: welcoming to guests or strangers HISTORIC: with a lot of ancient buildings
7. ACTIVITIES LOTS OF NIGHTLIFE SPECTACULAR VIEWS GOOD
SHOPS/TRANSPORT GO SIGHTSEEING/SHOPPING/HIKING VISIT MUSEUMS/ART
GALLERIES TAKE LOTS OF PHOTOS GO TO CONCERTS/THE
THEATRE/EXHIBITIONS DO BUSINESS PRACTISE A SPORT: horse-riding,
windsurfing, paragliding, cycling, mountain biking, snowboarding MEET PEOPLE RELAX
ON THE WONDERFUL BEACHES WANDER ROUND THE TOWN/SHOPS GO FOR A
BOAT RIDE ON THE LAKE/RIVER GET ON THE TOURIST BUS
8. AREAS IN TOWN Downtown: the central or lower part of a city, esp the main commercial
area Outskirts: bordering areas or districts of a city Suburbs: a residential district situated on

the outskirts of a city or town Industrial zone: an area for the purpose of industrial
development Residential area: suitable for residence
9. BUILDINGS CATHEDRAL CHURCH SHOPPING CENTRE DEPARTMENT STORE
LIBRARY CHAPEL SWIMMING POOL SUPERMARKET THEATRE/CINEMAS
CASTLE SPORTS CENTRE HOTEL/MOTEL/INN/HOSTEL MUSEUM ART
GALLERY HOSPITAL UNIVERSITY BANK SKYSCRAPER POLICE STATION
10. PLACES IN TOWN BUS/TRAIN/ STATION AMUSEMENT PARK ZOO
PARK COUNTRYSIDE PIER: EMBARCADERO, MUELLE HARBOUR: PUERTO
PORT: PUERTO PARA BARCOS AIRPORT PETROL STATION
11. SHOPS BOOKSHOP OPTICIANS BUTCHERS SHOE SHOP BAKERS
BOUTIQUE CHEMISTS IRONMONGERS FISHMONGERS GREENGROCERS
STATIONERS OFF LICENCE KIOSK/TUCK SHOP JEWELLERS SWEETS SHOP
FURNITURE SHOP FLORISTS GROCERS LAUNDERETTE DRY-CLEANERS
TOBACCONISTS NEWSAGENTS
12. Types of houses DETACHED HOUSE SEMI-DETACHED HOUSES TERRACED
HOUSES
13. Types of houses LIGHTHOUSE VILLA BEAMED HOUSE
14. Types of houses BUNGALOW COTTAGE WINDMILL
15. A COASTAL CITY
16. A MOUNTAINOUS PLACE
17. VENICE
18. A BIG CITY
19. A POLLUTED CITY
20. A CROWDED STREET
21. A CONTEMPORARY CITY