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Descriptive Writing

Places & buildings

A descriptive essay about a place or building should consist of:

In which you give the name & location of the place/ building and the
reason for choosing it. You can use the following phrases: is situated/
located, in (the) west/south-east of, on the north/west coast of.., in the
centre/ middle/heart ofetc.

In which you describe the main aspects of the place or building in detail.
A place: describe what you can see & do there (shopping, sight-seeing,
nightlife, restaurants, etc.) You can use phrases like: The most fascinating
part of the city is the open-air market. / The most famous attraction is the
botanical gardens./ There are plenty of places to go shopping in Cairo./
The area is also well-known for..
A building: describe the exterior & interior & give historical facts about it.
Historical facts: when & why it was built?
The exterior: what it is made of, appearance, ground/gardens, etc. (using
the present simple)

Which includes your comments/ feelings & recommendations


London is a city that has something to offer everyone. Its the ideal choice
for a few days from..
Places you can describe:
Public places: museums, open-air markets, zoos, art galleries, shopping
centres.etc
Tourist attractions: ancient theatres, bazaars, temples, souvenir shops,
monuments, statuesetc

Services: subways, sky trains, dance clubs, restaurants, cafs, fun fairs, multiscreen cinemasetc
Natural places: botanical gardens, natural parks etc
Others (buildings): palaces, schools, houses, hospitalsetc

Dont forget to use plenty of adjectives:


Alive, amazing, beautiful, bright, calm, colourful, creepy, crowded, deserted,
different, dry, enchanted, fresh, hot, incredible , interesting, magnificent,
modern, mysterious, natural, noisy, perfect, pleasant, quiet, remarkable,
shiny, silent, stormy, strange, terrific, ugly, unique, unusual, warm, wild,
windy, tranquil, peaceful, traditional, tropical, harmonious, fresh, sensational,
romantic, magical, fairytale like, calming.......
Dont forget to use sensory details:
To give the reader a more vivid picture of the place you are describing, you
can refer to the senses.
Sight: deep blue of the ocean
Smell: vanilla-scented candles
Sound: the chirping of the birds
Touch: burning sand
Taste: scrumptious chocolate ice-cream
Examples:
Visitors can dine watching the moon rise over the mountains.
I remember the Far East with its aromas of exotic herbs and spices.
Dont forget to include colours:
Snowy / milky / marble / cream / ivory / oyster / pearl: white
Jet / ebony / licorice / inky / pitch: black
Lavender / lilac / plum / fuchsia / mauve / maroon: purple
Salmon / tomato / crimson / blood / vermillion / ruby / scarlet: red

Apricot / peach / tangerine / topaz / ochre / pumpkin: Orange


Silver / platinum / dove / steel / ashen: Grey
Chestnut / chocolate / coffee / tan / hazel / dirt: Brown
Grass / forest / olive / khaki / mint / emerald: Green
Mustard / golden / butter / lemon / canary: Yellow
Royal / sapphire / aquamarine / sky / baby / navy: Blue

Exercise
Read this descriptive essay about London and fill in the blanks
using the words given in the word bank.
Exhausted
Cathedral
biggest
unique
heart
cultural
shoppers
truly
enormous
impressive
traditional
palace
worth
exclusive
huge
peaceful
classical
visitors
busiest
exceptional
finest
Set in the _________________ of southern England, London is one of the
______________ and ___________________ cities in Europe. A _________________
international city, London attracts millions of _______________ every year from
all over the world, yet never loses its own ____________ charm.
London has many _______________ sights to see, ranging from the
historical beauty of St. Pauls _______________ and Big Ben to Buckingham
________________ 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 ________________, _______________ parks. London is a
great ______________ centre, too; the National Gallery contains one of the
_________________ collections of ___________________ paintings in the world.
London is also well-known for other things apart from its monuments and
art galleries. ________________ will enjoy visiting the department stores on
Oxford Street or they could try Harrods, the most _______________ shop in
London. For evening entertainment, the choice of theatres is ________________.
From the famous Southbank Theatre Complex to the smaller theatres on
Covent Garden, there is no end of plays to see. Soho and its pavement cafs
are also ________________ visiting.

London is an ________________ place, a truly modern city that has


managed to keep its _______________________ style and sense of history. You
may get ________________ 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.

State the topics discussed in each paragraph.


First paragraph:
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
Second paragraph:
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
Third paragraph:
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
Fourth paragraph:
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
Exercise 2:
Two sentences can be joined together by using past participles.
Instead of writing:
The village is surrounded by mountains. The village has a special
atmosphere.
You can write:
Rewrite the sentences beginning each one with past participles.
1. Paris is dominated by the Eiffel Tower. Paris is well known for its architecture.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

2. The swimming pool is located near the city centre. The swimming pool is
very popular with city residents.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. The hotel is sheltered by trees on either side. The hotel is a favourite with
people who want a quiet holiday.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
4. The town is hidden beyond a range of mountains. The town is best known
for its wine industry.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Exercise
Identify each sense used for the following list of phrases.
Crowded streets, glossy green peppers, freshly baked bread, burning sand, icy
cold air, colourful shop signs, snow-covered mountains, whistle of cold wind,
crystal-clear water, tall buildings, car horns beeping, fresh scent of pines,
special spices, swaying palm trees, acrid smell of old tomatoes, hurrying
passers-by, spectacular stalls, exotic plants, towering peaks, mouthwatering
meals, shrill cries of tropical birds, soft snow, cheerfully shouting stallholders,
salty sea smell, the hustle and bustle of the people
SIGHT
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
HEARING
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________

TOUCH
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
SMELL
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________

TASTE
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
_______________________________

Sample Essay
Welcome to Bohol, Philippines!

Have you ever been to Bohol? Let me tell you about this place which attracts many tourists. It is
an island located in the south near the province of Cebu. If you come from Manila, you can either
take a plane or a cruise liner to get there.
Aside from its pristine white-sand beaches and the Chocolate Hills, Bohol's tourism assets also
include centuries-old churches and towers. You can find there magnificent scuba diving havens,
majestic falls and caves and historical landmarks, yet the primitive and exotic flora and fauna is
something you dont want to miss.
There are many things you can do there to make your holiday enjoyable. For example, you can take
a boat to bring you to one to these islands where you could buy fresh seafood or eat in a floating
restaurant. You can also take a dive or have a swim in the clear blue sea with the amazing
shorelines. In addition, the local people are very warm and friendly, so they will be happy to take
you to various interesting places.
In short, if you are looking for the perfect vacation to relax and enjoy yourself, this is the place
for you.

Writing Assignment:
Describe the house of your dreams. Dont forget to include the
following:
Location: ____________________________________________________________________
Outside:_____________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_
Inside:_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________

Exercise 4:
Read the model below and correct the mistakes. Write S for spelling, WO for
word order, G for grammar, P for punctuation or WW for wrong word.
A Visit to a Museum
Standing outside of the British Museum last week, I had ignored the
pouring rain as I gazed up at the marble tall columns, unprepared for the
dignified beauty of the famous building. Ms. Green, our teacher, she hurried us
inside, impatient to show to us all the artefacts of the ancient greek and
egyptian civilizations which we had studying in our history class.
Inside, the museum was quiet impressive. The gentle hum of voices
echoed through huge walls with polished marble floors and sweeping
staircases as we were followed Ms. Green on tiptoe to the section with the
Greek exhibits.
We in admiration gasped at the beautiful sculptures displayed there. The
delicate features and graceful bodies of the figures were such lifelike that they

looked more as actual people turned to stone than carvings from thousands of
years before.
The Egyptian display was even more breathtaking. Huge statues towered
above us, gleaming with gold, and beautiful jewellry filled the display cases.
It was like waking from a lovely dream when Ms. Green whispered that it
was time for us to go. I saw a long, final look, reluctant to live these magical
rooms, before I had followed my classmates to the bus waiting and the real
world outside.

Exercise 5:
Write a magazine article describing Cairo.

You must include the following:


Catchy title; you might use alliteration
Variable sentence beginnings
Imagery
Powerful verbs and adjectives
Advanced punctuation
Topic sentence at the beginning of each paragraph (stating what the
paragraph is about)

Useful phrases and powerful verbs and adjectives


Experience the mystery of / Experience a fabulous
Truly remarkable/outstanding/superb/spectacular city of cultural diversity

Intense, rewarding experience


Sight, sound and colour of this spectacular city capture your heart and
imagination
Famous ethnic souks or markets
Immensely skilled craftsmen create intricate artifacts / leatherware
Ethnic alley ways are teeming with life: coffee shops serving / street

vendors selling.
Take time to wander around the exotic / the world renowned
Now say hello to.
Slip off to visit the museum of antiquities
Recharge your batteries by.
Watch the sun go down in a Nile cruise: a truly remarkable view.
Rejoice in the tranquility of the Nile.
A paradise of peaceful serenity

Exercise
Read this descriptive essay about London and fill in the blanks using the words in the word
bank.
Exhausted
Cathedral
biggest
unique
heart
cultural
shoppers
palace
visitors

truly
worth

enormous
exclusive
busiest

impressive
huge

exceptional

traditional

peaceful

classical

finest

Set in the _________________ of southern England, London is one of the


________________ and ___________________ cities in Europe. A _________________
international city, London attracts millions of _______________ every year from all over the
world, yet never loses its own ____________ charm.
London has many _______________ sights to see, ranging from the historical beauty of
St. Pauls _______________ and Big Ben to Buckingham ________________ 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 ________________, _______________ parks. London
is a great ______________ centre, too; the National Gallery contains one of the
_________________ collections of ___________________ paintings in the world.
London is also well-known for other things apart from its monuments and art galleries.
________________ will enjoy visiting the department stores on Oxford Street or they could try
Harrods, the most _______________ shop in London. For evening entertainment, the choice of
theatres is ________________. From the famous Southbank Theatre Complex to the smaller

theatres on Covent Garden, there is no end of plays to see. Soho and its pavement cafs are also
________________ visiting.
London is an ________________ place, a truly modern city that has managed to keep its
_______________________ style and sense of history. You may get ________________ 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.
Alternative words
Famous: renowned, distinguished, world-famous, notable
Enjoy: rejoice in, indulge in, relish, revel in, delight in, luxuriate in
Delicious: scrumptious, luscious, delectable, succulent, appetizing, mouth-watering
Enchant: enthrall, captivate, enrapture, hypnotize
Good people: kind-hearted, warm-hearted, hospitable, compassionate
Eat: devour, gobble, nibble, dine, feast on, pig out
Surprised: dazzled, mesmerized, makes your jaw drop, leaves you with wide open eyes.
Alternative Phrases:
Make you happy: recharge your batteries, uplift your spirit, boost your energy.
Nice experience: rewarding, truly remarkable, intense, capture your heart and imagination.

Snowy / milky / marble / cream / ivory / oyster / pearl: white


Jet / ebony / licorice / inky / pitch: black
Lavender / lilac / plum / fuchsia / mauve / maroon: purple
Salmon / tomato / crimson / blood / vermillion / ruby / scarlet: red
Apricot / peach / tangerine / topaz / ochre / pumpkin: Orange
Silver / platinum / dove / steel / ashen: Grey
Chestnut / chocolate / coffee / tan / hazel / dirt: Brown
Grass / forest / olive / khaki / mint / emerald: Green
Mustard / golden / butter / lemon / canary: Yellow
Royal / sapphire / aquamarine / sky / baby / navy: Blue

Quiz
Specify the shade of the underlined colours.
1.
2.
3.
4.

All the walls in the palace were painted in white.


The black dress she wore to the event showed how sad and lonely she was feeling.
His purple-coloured suit looked so funny on him!
Red, in all its shades: _______________, __________________, _________________and

___________________ is the color of fire and blood, so it is associated with energy & war.
5. I cant believe she dyed her hair orange.
6. I couldnt resist her beautiful, grey eyes.
7. Weve decided to change all the furniture we have; were going to get new brown furniture.
8. I cant tell whether this is teal or green.
9. His yellow shirt caught my eye as soon as he entered the room.
10. Blue comes in many shades including: ____________ , _____________ , _______________
and ______________.

Specify the shade of the underlined colours.


1.
2.
3.
4.

All the walls in the palace were painted in white.


The black dress she wore to the event showed how sad and lonely she was feeling.
His purple-coloured suit looked so funny on him!
Red, in all its shades: _______________, __________________, _________________and

___________________ is the color of fire and blood, so it is associated with energy & war.
5. I cant believe she dyed her hair orange.

6. I couldnt resist her beautiful, grey eyes.


7. Weve decided to change all the furniture we have; were going to get new brown furniture.
8. I cant tell whether this is teal or green.
9. His yellow shirt caught my eye as soon as he entered the room.
10. Blue comes in many shades including: ____________ , _____________ , _______________
and ______________.

Informal Letters
Descriptive Narrative
The occasions you may be asked to write about may include any of the
following:
A
A
A
A
A
Plot:

celebration
school show
sports day
festival or carnival
holiday

Introduction:
The Four Essential Features:
1) Weather: a) good b) bad
2) People: a) attitude b) Clothing c)habits d) how many?
3) Atmosphere: a)sight b)smell c) taste d) sound
4) Individual Incidents: coffee split, someone tripped over, a precious
vase knocked outetc
Conclusion:
Introduction:
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________

The Four Essential Features:


1) Weather: a) good b) bad
Good Weather

Bad Weather

____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________

Rain:
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________

2) People: a) attitude b) Clothing c)habits d) how many?

_____________Habits______________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
__________________________________
_
___________Number____________
________________________________
________________________________
________________________________
________________________________
________________________________

3) Atmosphere: a)sight b)smell c) taste d) sound

SIGHT
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________
____________________________

SMELL
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________

HEARING
____________________________
____________________________
TASTE
____________________________
_________________________________
____________________________
_________________________________
____________________________
_________________________________
____________________________
_________________________________
____________________________
_________________________________
_________________________________
4) Individual Incidents
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________

Conclusion:
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________

N.B. Dont forget to personalize your writing.


_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
Alternative words
Famous: renowned, distinguished, world-famous, notable
Enjoy: rejoice in, indulge in, relish, revel in, delight in, luxuriate in
Delicious: scrumptious, luscious, delectable, succulent, appetizing, mouthwatering
Enchant: enthrall, captivate, enrapture, hypnotize
Good people: kind-hearted, warm-hearted, hospitable, compassionate
Eat: devour, gobble, nibble, dine, feast on, pig out
Surprised: dazzled, mesmerized, makes your jaw drop, leaves you with wide
open eyes.
Alternative Phrases:
Make you happy: recharge your batteries, uplift your spirit, boost your
energy.

Nice experience: rewarding, truly remarkable, intense, capture your heart


and imagination.

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