Describing People

Describing the Physical Appearance of Others

There are many ways in which one can describe others. Let's look at some adjectives that we can use to describe others. Please use the forms below.

"Is he/she...?"


"He/she is..."

"You are..."

"They are..."

HAIR:                                                        

Black
Brown/brunette
Blond (e)/fair
Red/redhead
Grey/salt and pepper
Long/medium length/short/bald
Straight/curly/wavy
Big/small curls
Thick/thin/full head of hair

FACIAL SHAPE:

Long
Thin
Round
Oval

EYES:                                            

Blue/green/brown/dark/black
Big/bulging
Almond-shaped
Round
Deep-set
Close-set
Wide-spaced

NOSE:                                            

Long/pudgy/straight
Pointy/big/sharp/pierced (nose ring)
Thin/wide/broad
Flat/rounded/square

LIPS:                                                           

Thin
Full
Big
Small

EYEBROWS:                                       

Thick
Thin
Unibrow
Penciled/tattooed

BUILD:                                                  

Thin/skinny/slim
Fat/chubby/plump
Muscular/heavy built/well-built
Medium built/average weight/fit
Slightly built
Overweight/slightly overweight
Obese

HEIGHT:                                      

Tall/long (babies)
Average/normal
Height

COMPLEXION:                                   
Dark
Black
White
Pale
freckles
Light
Brown/light-brown
Asian complexion
Tanned

OTHER ADJECTIVES:                          

High cheekbones
large forehead
Beautiful/cute/pretty/handsome
Average looking
Wears glasses/contacts
moustache/beard                                           


Use the dialog below to role play/practice using the adjectives above.

Don arranged a blind date for his friend Matt.

Don: I have known you since kindergarten.  Trust me, you will like her.

Matt:  Last time you set me up on a blind date it did not go so well.  To be honest with you, I am not sure that I do trust you. But I haven't been on a date in a long time and that's why I agreed to go on this date.

Don:  This girl could be the one! I want you to find happiness like I did.  You are 40 and single!

Matt: I am also happy and single!  Who says that I want to get married?

Don:  Don't forget I've known you since kindergarten?!

Matt: Okay, whatever man... At least tell me what she looks like.

Don:  Well, she is about average height; 5 feet 5 inches.  She has brown eyes and short brown hair...

Matt: Is she at least cute?

Don:  I would say that she's pretty?

Matt:  Knowing your taste, that means she is average looking.

Don:  I wouldn't lie to you! She is quite attractive.  Why don't you meet her first before you pass judgement.

Matt: Okay, okay...  So tell me more about her.

Don: She has beautiful almond-shaped eyes and some freckles. 

Matt: Is she thin, fit, average weight?

Don: She is a cross between average weight and fit.

Matt: I think you are being honest.  I am actually looking forward to this date.

Don: I am glad to hear that!

Now you turn!
Use the vocabulary above to role play with a friend until you are comfortable using them.  You can begin by taking turn describing each other and then yourselves.  You can continue role playing by describing someone in your family or someone close to you.

You:  I am short/tall/average height ___________________ (use the adjectives above).
The color of my hair is _______________.  It is long/short/curly...
I have a tan/freckles.


Your friend:  You are pretty/attractive/cute_______________.
You have blue/green/brown/dark eyes.

How to Accept and Refuse an Invitation

It can sometimes be difficult to accept, refuse and extend an invitation. However, for someone who is new to the English as a second language, understanding the custom and finding the right vocabulary can sometimes be a  challenge. Accepting and declining an invitation may vary depending on the occasion. One can extend an invitation formally ( by mail, email) or informally (by mail, email, phone, texting, or face to face, which is done verbally). There are a few forms/phrases one can use when accepting, declining or extending an invitation. 

FORMAL :

Extending an Invitation:

"(Your Name) would like to invite (name of person being invited) to dinner on (date) at (time). R.S.V.P. (respondez s'il vous plait)."

Declining an Invitation:

"(Your name), regretfully decline (name of invitee) invitation to dinner on (date) at (time)."

Accepting an Invitation:

"(Your name) accepts (name of invitee) kind invitation to dinner on (date) at (time)."

INFORMAL:

Invitation (telephone):
"Would you like to come to ________?"

Accepting (telephone):
"Thank you for thinking of me, I would love to come!"

OR

"I would love to come! But let me check my calendar first and get back to you."

Declining:
"I need some time to think about it/check my calendar. I will have to call you back."

OR

"Thanks for thinking of me, but I have (made) other plans."

MAIL/EMAIL/TEXT:

Extending an Invitation (usually a note written in the first person):

"I would like to invite you to (occasion) on (date) at (time). I would love to have you as my guest."

Response:

"I would love to be there!/I would love to come! Thanks for the invite/for thinking of me. (Keep me posted if there are any changes)."

Decline:

"I have (made other) plans. Unfortunately, I won't be able to make it.  Thanks for the invite/invitation."

Dialog:
Use the dialog below to practice the forms above.

Michelle is throwing a Halloween party and has decided to invite her friends by telephone. Michelle is calling the first friend on the list; Jake, to invite him.

Michelle:  Hi Jake! How are you?

Jake: Good! What's up?

Michelle: Well, I have made the final arrangements for the Halloween party I'm throwing this year and I am now calling everyone on my list.

Jake:  That's good to hear.

Michelle:  I would like to invite you to my Halloween party on Halloween, of course. It's at 7pm (in the evening).

Jake:  I would love to come.  Please hold on a minute while I check my calendar. 

Michelle: Sure!

(Jake returns to the phone).

Jake:  I am available, however, I won't be there until 8:30 pm because I have an evening lecture. Thanks for thinking of me!

Michelle: My pleasure! I will see you there.  Call me if there are any changes.

Jake: No problem. 

Michelle: Great! Bye for now.

Jake: Bye.

Now your turn!

Think of an event or occasion and use the forms above to practice/role play with a friend.

You:  Hi (name of friend).  I would like to _________________ (use the form above).

Your friend: _____________________ (Use the form above to accept or decline).



Great job today!

Giving and Responding to Commands

Commands are used to give instructions (when asking someone to do something) or directions (when telling someone how to find a place, or in helping them complete a task).  There are direct and indirect commands, polite and impolite commands, and negative and positive commands.  Below are a few examples of the different ways in which one can give commands and the forms that can be used.

Direct/Impolite:

"Go!"
"Get that for me."
"Stop!"
"Put that away."

Indirect:

"Could you go?"
"Could/would you get that for me?"
"Could you stop that?"
"Could you put that away (for me)?"

Polite/Positive:

"Go, please."
"Get that for me please."
"Stop, please."/"Please, stop."
"Put that away, please."

Negative:

"Don't (do not) go."
"Don't get that."
"Don't/Never say that!"
"Don't put that away."

Use the dialog below to practice the commands above.

Jane and Dexter are making macaroni and cheese dinner.

Jane:  I love macaroni and cheese.

Dexter:  So do I.  You need to add more cheese, it's not yellow or cheesy enough.

Jane: You may be right.  Get the cheese out of the refrigerator for please.

Dexter:  Sure.  Here you go!

Jane: There! That should do it.  Put the cheese away for me please?

Dexter:  Leave it on the counter, I'll get it when I'm done setting the table.

Jane:  I think we make a good team. We should open our own restaurant.

Dexter:  You would have to be the chef, because I can't cook at all.  Ha, ha,  ha!

Jane: You are right! Ha, ha, ha!

Now you turn! 

Create your own dialog using the expressions above.

You:  ____________________________ (Commands above).

Your friend: _______________________ (Respond.  Then use a command above).

You:  ____________________________ (Respond).

Great job today!

Communicating Clearly

It can be frustrating when trying to communicate something and finding that there is a language barrier.  Whether what's being communicated is important or not, it's good to be understood. To clarify or make sure that you are understood one should ask questions or reiterate what you said by enunciating your words. 

Communication breakdown doesn't only happen when one is on the telephone, but also when communicating face-to-face.  Below is an example of how to handle your self in a situation where there is a communication breakdown or when you are trying to be understood.

Mary and Benjamin are at a restaurant and are placing their order for dinner.

Waiter: Monsieur et madame would you like to place your drink order now?

Mary: Yes, we are ready to place both our dinner and drink order.  Thank you.

Benjamin:  I would like the stuffed chicken.

Waiter: That is a great dish! It comes with a dinner roll and steamed vegetables. You have the option of potatoes or 'wild' rice with that. What would you like monsieur.
Benjamin: I thought all rice was 'boiled'?

Waiter: No, monsieur. That's not what I said.  I said, WILD rice not BOILED rice.

Benjamin: Ha, ha, ha! I'm so sorry. I understand. I don't like wild rice, so I will have the mashed potatoes. Thank you for clarifying.

Waiter: No problem. A Medoc wine goes great with that monsieur.

Benjamin: I don't like swine, that's why I ordered chicken.  Is that a Southern dish or something like that?

Waiter: No monsieur.  You misunderstood.  I said MERDOC WINE.  Thank is a brand of FRENCH WINE. It goes really great with chicken dishes. Do you understand?

Benjamin: I do. Great!  I will have a bottle of the Merdoc.  Thank you.

Waiter:  Madame?

Mary: He has a hearing problem.  Ha, ha, ha!  Just kidding.

Can I have the chicken penne?

Waiter: Ha, ha, ha! It's one of our most popular dishes! Garlic bread comes with that madame.

Mary: That sounds great.  I will share the Merdoc with Ben. Thank you.

Waiter.  The wine is coming right up; dinner will be about 8 to 10 minutes.  Thank you both.

Practice the dialog above with a few friends or a friend.  If there isn't enough people then one person can play two characters.

EXERCISE:

1. What were the misunderstandings in the dialog above?

Answer:  _______________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________.
2. What did the waiter do to clarify what he said?

Answer:  _______________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________.
3. Why do you think there was a breakdown in communication?

Answer:  _______________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________.


4.  Describe an experience you've had where there was a breakdown in communication.  Explain what you did to clarify things?

Answer:  _______________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________.

If you would like to share an experience (in question 4) with me or others, please post it in the comments below. This may be a great learning tool for others. Thank you.

Great job today!

Expressing Opinions

There are different ways to express or share one's opinion. Below are some common expressions used when expressing or asking for an opinion on a subject matter.

Expressing/Sharing Opinions:

"I think that...."
"In my opinion...."
"I am of the opinion that..."
"I believe/I strongly believe that..."
"From my point of view..."
"I feel (that)..."
"From my experience..."
"This is what I think..."
"From my perspective..."
"It is my thought that..."

Asking for an Opinion:

"What's your opinion (on/about that)?"
"What's your point of view?"
"Do you have an opinion (on/about that)?"
"What you you think/believe (about that)?"
"What's your perspective on that?"
"How do you feel about that?"
"What do you have to say about that?"

Below is a dialog of how to apply the phrases above in a natural English conversation.  Please use it to role play and practice with  a friend. 

Billy and Lynn are having a discussion about the newly popular children's book "Fancy Nancy."

Billy:  My daughter loves that book, but I am not sure that it's appropriate for girls her age.

Lynn: How old is your daughter again?

Billy:  She is 4 years old. What's your perspective on that?

Lynn:  Well, that's about right.  The book is written for children her age! It's for school age girls, which is around 4 to 7 years of age. My daughter is 5 years old and she loves it too.  I don't see anything wrong with the content.

Billy:  I understand that; however, I think it's a little mature for her. 

Lynn: I am of a different opinion.  From my perspective it's harmless! Girl's your daughter's age and younger start dressing up in their mother's clothes from age two and possibly a bit younger! 

Billy:  Regardless of that fact, I still believe that her outfits are too mature and a little suggestive.

Lynn: Well, that's the idea! That's what happens when little girls dress up in adult clothing. Despite how you feel about the book, there are lots of positive things about the book.  For one, the vocabulary is great and so it the storyline and it teaches young girls how to express themselves and their opinions in a healthy way.

Billy: That might be so, but that is not going to change my opinion of it.

Lynn: I can see that.  However, you are entitled to your opinion.

Billy:  Yes, I am. 

Now your turn!

Share your opinion with a friend about the subject above or come up with you own.

You:  __________ (friend's name), what's your opinion about (the children's book "Fancy Nancy")/ (come up with your own subject).

Your friend:  _____________ (Choose from the expressions above).

You: _________________ (Respond using an opinion phrase above).

Your friend:  __________________ (Use an opinion phrase or just share a fact about the subject matter).

Note: Try to keep the conversation going for as long as your can.  Think of how you would respond in your language to the subject being discussed and use the expressions above to voice your point of view.

Great job today!