Descriptive Essay

This type of essay is represented by a written task describing the case to the reader
so that it becomes clear to them. The case of the essay can be a place, a person, a
famous building or any generic object.

Description of People
Essay containing description of a person or people has to be structure as follows:
1. The introduction must include general facts about a person being described and
provide the details circumstances of your encounter.
2. The main body consists of the description of your subjects physical appearance and
personality qualities as well as interests and other unique features. Each topic should be
summarized in a separate paragraph.
3. The concluding phase is a paragraph in which you describe your personal standing in
regards to a specific person.
One should use present tenses while describing people well known or often seen by the
writer. If you are writing about someone who has passed away, or a person you have
known in the past you have to narrate in the past tense.
When describing a persons physical appearance one needs to start with the general
features and continue with more specific details such as nose, hair color and eyes etc.
Adding the description of persons apparel and general style will also result in a fuller
picture of the character.
The description of someones personal qualities requires explanation based on certain
examples taken from real life in order to provide a vivid picture to the reader. You may
also illustrate someones character through the description of the way they speak, their
gestures, and unique habits they might have.

Description of Places/Buildings
When writing a descriptive essay about a building or a facility you should refer to the
following tips:
1. The introduction should explain your reason for choosing a certain place/building for
the description as well as mention its name and location.
2. The main body is used for description of the major features of a building or a place in
details. For instance while narrating about a building you need to mention what other

places you can see from it and what you can do there, also its exterior and interior. If
known the history of the building/place you should include it in your description as well.
3. In the concluding paragraph you can include your feelings, attitudes and other
comments on the building/place being described.
Descriptions of various places and/or buildings can be located in tourist magazines,
travel brochures, and other literature. The style used in the essay will depend on the
reader audience and the intention of the description. In a magazine article you can use a
semi-formal style with a courteous tone. Most likely you will use present tenses when
writing about buildings/places still existing. Past tenses should be used when you mention
some historical facts.

Description of Objects
Great examples of description of objects can be found in great quantities in catalogues,
advertisements, and special magazines.
When describing an object(s) you should give a precise picture of it, thus including
information about size, weight, pattern, shape or any decorative specifications such as
color, origin and material used to make it.
A lot of adjectives should be used in description of an object. It is better to name
opinion adjectives first and then include fact adjectives. They are listed in such order:
weight, size, age, shape or pattern, color, material used and its origin. Naming all of those
one after another will sound unnatural, thus try to diversify your writing.

Description of Events
There are a few components in the essay describing event(s).
1. The introduction presents the name, place, time, and reasons of a particular event
being celebrated.
2. The main body consists of the description the arrangements leading to the event and
the actual event in individual paragraphs. The writer has to use present tense depicting
annual events and festivals and past tense for illustration of an attended outing in the
past.
3. The conclusion as usual will consist of feelings, thoughts and views on the attended
event.
Using as many colorful adjectives as your essay allows will make it more life-like and
appealing to the readers imagination. In case the activity of the event is more significant
than the agent you can use the passive.
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Newspapers, travel brochures, and popular magazines are loaded with the description
of different festivals, contests, celebrations, etc. Depending on your reader and intended
effect of your writing choose the best suited style for your essay.

Describing People
1. If you explore all avenues, you try out every possibility in order to
obtain a result or find a solution.
2. If you go all out to achieve or obtain something, you make a great
effort, using all possible strength and resources.
3. Someone who hitches their wagon to a star has great ambitions
and is very determined to reach their goal.
4. If you stand your ground, you maintain your position and refuse to yield
or give way.
5. A person who calls a spade a spade speaks openly and truthfully
about something, especially difficult matters.
6. To say that someone does not have a hair out of place means that
their appearance is perfect.
7.A social butterfly refers to a person who has a lot of friends and acquaintances and
likes to flit from one social event to another.
8. If someone catches your eye, you find them attractive.
9. To say that someone has eyes in the back of their head means
that they are very observant and notice everything happening around them.
10. A person who thinks on their feet is capable of making good decisions
without previous thinking or planning.

Describing Events
1. The life and soul of the party is the most lively and amusing person presented at an
event.
2. If you have the time of your life, you enjoy yourself immensely.
3. If something causes a stir, it creates an atmosphere of excitement
or great interest.
4. If you look/feel like a million dollars, you look/feel extremely good.
5. A person who is on cloud nine is very happy because something
wonderful has happened.

Describing Jobs/Activities
1. A project or action which involves blood, sweat and tears requires
a lot of effort and hard work.
2. When trying to achieve something, if you go to great lengths,
you do everything that is possible in order to succeed.
3. A person who keeps their nose to the grindstone is someone who
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concentrates on working hard at his job.

4. Someone who has their heart set on something wants it very much.
5. If you sink your teeth into something, you do it with a lot of energy and
enthusiasm.
6. If you are full of the joys of spring, you are happy, enthusiastic
and full of energy.
7. When you come into your own, you receive the credit or recognition
you deserve.
8. To say that someone has come up trumps means that they have achieved
unexpectedly good results.
9. If somebody has to sink or swim, they have to do something alone,
and their success or failure depends entirely on their own efforts.
10. A person who steals the show gets more attention or praise than
the other participants.

Describing Places
Size

Natural sights

Buildings

vast:
extremely large in area, size,
amount, etc.
syn: huge
ex a vast area of forest.
immeasurable:
(formal) to large, great etc. to
be measured
ex to cause immeasurable harm
immense:
extremely large or great
syn: enormous
ex there is still an immense
amount of work to be done
undersized:
not as big as normal
tiny:
very small in size or amount
ex only tiny minorities hold
such extreme views.
massive:
1_very large, heavy and solid
ex the massive walls of the
castle
2_extremely large or serious
ex the explosion made a
massive hole in the ground

marvelous:
extremely good, wonderful
syn: fantastic
ex this will be a marvelous
opportunity for her
picturesque:
(of a place, building, scene)
pretty, especially in a way that
looks old-fashioned
syn quaint
ex a picturesque cottage,
village
this inn is picturesquely
situated on the banks of the
river
exuberant:
1_full of energy, excitement
and happiness
ex she gave an exuberant
performance
2_(of plants) strong and
healthy; growing quickly and
well.
immaculate:
1_extremely clean and tidy
syn: spotless
ex an immaculated uniform,

posh:
elegant and expensive
ex a posh hotel/ you look very
posh in your new suit
luxurious:
very comfortable; containing
expensive and enjoyable things
syn: sumptuous
ex a luxurious hotel
spartan:
(of conditions) simple or
severe; lacking anything that
make life easier or more
pleasant.
eclectic:
not following one style or set
of ideas but choosing from or
using a wide variety
ex she has a very eclectic
taste in literature
derelict:
(especially of lands or
buildings) not used or cared
for and in bad condition
ex derelict land/ buildings/
sites
dilapidated:

room
2_containing no mistakes
syn: perfect
an immaculate performance
palatial:
(of a room or building) very
large and impressive; like a
palace
crowded:
1_having a lot of people or too
many people
ex in spring the place is
crowded with skiers
2_full of something
ex a room crowded with books
modern:
1_of the present time or
recent times
syn: contemporary
ex the modern industrial world
magnificent:
extremely attractive and
impressive; deserving praise
syn: splendid
ex she looked magnificent in
her wedding dress/you`ve all
done a magnificent job
stunning:
1_extremely attractive or
impressive
syn: beautiful
ex a stunning view of the lake
2_extremely surprising or
shocking
ex he suffered a stunning
defeat in the election
sandy:
covered with or containing
sand
ex a sandy beach /sandy soil

Describing places and buildings

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(of furniture and buildings) old

and in very bad conditions
syn: ramshackle

shabby:
1_(of buildings, clothes,
objects, etc.) in poor
conditions because they have
been used a lot
syn: scruffy
ex she wore shabby old jeans
and a t-shirt
2_(of a person) badly dressed
in clothes that have been worn
a lot
ex the old man was shabby and
unkempt
3_(of behavior) unfair or
unreasonable
syn: shoddy
ex she tried to make up for
her shabby treatment of him

Read this model text, mark the topic sentences, and write the topics of each
paragraph into the circles:
Set in the heart of southern England, London is one of the
biggest and busiest cities in Europe. A truly international
city, London attracts millions of visitors every year from all
over the world, yet never loses its own unique charm.
London has many impressive sights to see, ranging from the
historical beauty of St. Pauls Cathedral and Big Ben to
Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament. In this city
of contrasts, you can be walking along one of the busiest
streets, yet still be less than a mile from one of the many
huge, peaceful parks. London is a great cultural centre, too;
the National Gallery contains one of the finest collections of
classical paintings in the world.
London is also well known for other things apart from its
monuments and art galleries. Shoppers will enjoy visiting the
department stores on Oxford Street or they could try
Harrods, the most exclusive shop in London. For evening
entertainment, the choice of theatres is enormous. From the
famous Southbank Theatre complex to the smaller theatre
on Covent Garden, there is no end of plays to see. Soho and
its pavement cafs are also worth visiting.
London is an exceptional place, a truly modern city that has
managed to keep its traditional style and sense of history.
You may get exhausted in London, but one thing is certain;
you will never get bored, as Dr. Johnson once said, When a
man is tired of London, he is tired of life.

COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES WITH THE CORRECT ADJECTIVES.

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crowded

historic

cosmopolitan

touristy

industrial

deserted

1. There are people from all over the world in London, it's a very ___________city.
2. In December, the streets were ____________ with hundreds of people doing their
Christmas shopping.
3. That area's always ____________ at night. It's a bit scary to walk by yourself.
4. I live in a very ___________ part of town, with lots of factories.
5. Bath is a very ______________area. A lot of students come here to do summer
courses.
6. Cambridge is a _____________ city. The university buildings are very old.

Vocabulary: Describing places

Adjectives
describing

Nouns
describing

Types of
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Facilities

Prepositions of
location

places

isolated
rural
urban
agricultural
commercial
industrial
residential
sprawling
secluded

places

village
housing estate
port
resort
metropolis
coast
shore
confluence
junction
cove

houses/
rooms
detached
semi-detached
terraced
bungalow
cottage
apartment
(block)
flat
attic
loft
basement
cellar
utility room
porch
landing
patio / terrace
balcony

places of
entertainment
variety show
museum
luxury hotels
bed and
breakfast
refreshments
deck chairs
cliff (path)
scenery

in the (north) of
/ -(north) of
on the coast
of / off the
coast of
on the shore of
at the
junction /
confluence of
at the mouth of
on the edge of
on the way /
road to