Wsheet 1 - Describe People
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IC10Wsheet 1 - Describe People
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IC10ENGLISH WORKSHEET / YEAR 10
TOPIC: DESCRIBING PEOPLE DATE:
1. Look at the people in the photographs and talk them in terms of appearance,
personality and life/lifestyle.
Appearance: How would you describe their appearance? Which features are most
noticeable?
Personality: What do you imagine they are like?
Life & Lifestyle: What else do you imagine about them? (interests, beliefs, … )
2. Read the following text.
2.1. Box the words/phrases describing appearance and circle the ones describing
personality and behaviour.
2.2. Explain the way the text is organised.
2.3. Identify the topic sentences in each paragraph. Are they good topic
sentences?
2.4. Highlight the linking words used in the text.
Jason and Jonathan are identical twin brothers, who are in the same year at school as I
am. Physically, they are indistinguishable; they are like two “peas in a pod”, as the saying
goes. They have the same short blond hair and fine features, and they tend to dress in the
same casual style. When you get to know them, however, it soon becomes clear that their
personalities are completely different.
Jason is very outgoing, assertive and ambitious – the sort of person who might run a
large corporation. An example of this is the fact that he is already the president of the
school debating society. Although people tend to find him rather pompous and conceited,
to me he simply seems full of confidence. For instance, he is much more likely to say “I
can do it” than “I’m the best”. It is true that he comes across as stubborn, though, due to
his habit of refusing to admit he is wrong in any disagreement.
Jonathan, on the other hand, is more of an introvert. He very rarely socialises, preferring
to spend his time on his own. He is a dreamer who can spend hours looking at the clouds.
As a result, he sometimes gives the impression of being lazy, while a few people even
regard him as slow-witted. On better acquaintance, however, he turns out to be not only
enthusiastic and energetic, but also caring which is shown by his tireless work on behalf of
charities.
Points to consider
• To describe appearance, you should give details of the person’s height/build,
age, facial features, hair, clothing, etc moving from the most general aspects to
the most specific details: e.g. Bill, who is in his early twenties, is quite tall and well-
built, with thick black hair and piercing blue eyes. He is usually dressed in jeans and a
T-shirt.
• To describe personality and behaviour, you can support your description with
examples of manner and mannerism: e.g. Mark is rather unsociable, usually sitting
silently in a corner observing others from a distance.
• To describe life, lifestyle and beliefs, you should talk about the person’s habits,
interests, profession, daily routine, opinions, etc. e.g. Being both a university student
and a part-time assistant in a supermarket, Janet has little free time to go out in the
evenings
• The use of descriptive vocabulary, e.g. stunning, slender, etc. and a variety of
linking words and structures will make your writing more interesting.
Some useful Linking Words
With – She’s tall and slender, with long blonde hair.
Relative clauses – He is a scruffy child whose clothes are torn and dirty
He has a broken nose, which makes him look like a boxer.
Result – She is such a famous person, that everybody greets her in the streets. so
Addition – She has deep wrinkles, as well as thin grey hair. but also/in addition
to
Contrast – In spite of being very tall and heavy, he’s very gentle. however/although /
yet
3. Use the adjectives listed below to complete the sentences. Then choose from the
second list the adjective which has a meaning almost the same as the word you have
just used Write each adjective next to its synonym.
Example: Maria is a friendly/sociable girl who loves meeting people and gets on well with
everyone.
childis cruel dishone friendl lazy mean moody rude shy stubbo tactles
h st y rn s
blunt deceitf idle immatu insole miserl obstina timid sociab spitef Temperame
ul re nt y te le ul ntal
a. A good example of Roger’s _____________ / _____________ behaviour was the time that
he refused to finish a game of chess he was losing.
b. Andrew is so _____________ / _____________ that he does nothing all day except watch
TV.
c. Sandra is a rather _____________ / _____________ girl who enjoys upsetting people and
getting them into trouble.
d. Gerald tends to be a(n) _____________ / _____________ person: it’s difficult to believe
what he says or to trust him.
e. Speaking to strangers is terrifying for Elaine because she is so _____________ /
_____________.
f. Melissa tends to be _____________ / _____________ and often upsets people by saying
what she thinks without considering their feelings.
g. My brother is very _____________ / _____________; he can suddenly change from being
perfectly charming to angry or miserable.
h. Mr Purvis is a rather _____________ / _____________ old man who refuses to change his
mind once he has reached a decision about something.
i. The way that he shouts at his teachers is just an example of his _____________ /
_____________ behaviour.
j. I think Carol is _____________ / _____________ because she only spends money when
she absolutely has to.
2. 1. In English we avoid saying a negative quality because it is considered rude. We say
‘not very’ + the opposite adjective, instead. How could you tactfully describe
someone who is:
cruel _____________ mean _____________ rude _____________
stupid _____________ boring _____________ unreliable _____________
4. Participles. In formal writing, present and past participles can be used to replace
clauses. See the example:
She is so rich that she can buy anything she wants. Being so rich, she can buy anything
she wants
She was so rich that she could buy anything she wanted. Having been so rich, she
could buy anything…
Rewrite the following sentences using participles:
a. Oliver, who was covered in dust, climbed down the ladder.
b. Veronica, who was tired out, could not go on with the journey.
c. Richard is so rude that he has no friends.
d. Frank is so absent-minded that he always forgets his car keys
e. Paul, who was walking on crutches, left the room slowly.
