Describing a Photo

Describing a Photo

DESCRIBING OBJECTS

DESCRIBING OBJECTS

DESCRIBING A PICTURE. PET SPEAKING TEST

DESCRIBING A PICTURE. PET SPEAKING TEST

 

GIVE A GENERAL INTRODUCTION

 This picture shows ….

 In this picture I can see

 This is a picture of …..In the picture/photo I can see…

 The photo/ picture shows…

 It was taken in / by…

 It’s a black-and-white /coloured photo. In the  background you can see…

 In the background there is…

 In the middle / centre there is…

 At the top / at the bottom there is…

 On the left / on the right there is…

 Behind / in front of … you can see …

 Between … there is

 

Description of the photo

 

Here you should describe the person / people in the picture (what they look like, what are they wearing, what feelings do you think they experience at the moment) and what is going on in the moment. Use Present Continuous for it.

YOU CAN SEE A MAN WHO IS DRINKING…..

 

TALK ABOUT PLACES

  They’re driving in the country/in a city/in

the mountains

  She’s sitting inside/outside a cafè

 I can see a street market/old building/square/

street/restaurant/beach ….

 

 DESCRIBE PEOPLE’S AGE

•  He’s about 50 years old.

•  They’re in their twenties

•  She’s a teenager/a young child/a middleaged

woman

DESCRIBE PEOPLE’S CLOTHES

•  She’s wearing a pair of shorts and a red Tshirt

•  They’re wearing quite casual/smart clothes

•  He’s wearing a uniform

DESCRIBE PEOPLE’S ACTIONS

•  He’s sitting at a desk

•  She’s standing in a queue

•  They’re having a meal

•  Some people are sunbathing and others are

swimming in the sea

DESCRIBE PEOPLE’S ROLES IN A PICTURE

•  He’s probably a shop assistant and she’s a

customer

•  This person on the left seems to be a

tourist guide – he’s pointing to a building

•  The man serving the drinks is a waiter

 

And finally, you must give your personal opinion :

 

I think / presume…

It seems as if…

I (don’t) like the picture because…

It makes me feel…

It makes me think of…

The atmosphere of the picture is peaceful / depressing…

The picture reminds me of…

….•  You can tell they are enjoying themselves

because they are smiling

•  He seems a bit frightened. Maybe this is

the first time he’s tried this

•  She looks very interested in this activity –

MAKE GUESSES

·  It might be summer because some people

are wearing sunglasses

·  It’s probably in the country, because …

·  This picture could be in Northern Europe

because of the buildings

Describing pictures in English

Describing pictures in English

1. Introduction

·         The photo/picture shows ...

·         It was taken by/in ...

·         It's a black-and-white/coloured photo.

2. What is where?

·         In the foreground/background you can see ...

·         In the foreground/background there is ...

·         In the middle/centre there are ...

·         At the top/At the bottom there is ...

·         On the left/right there are ...

·         Behind/In front of ... you can see ...

·         Between ... there is ...

3. Who is doing what?

Here you decribe the persons in the picture or you say what is happening just now. Use the Present Progressive.

4. What I think about the picture

·         It seems as if ...

·         The lady seems to ...

·         Maybe ...

·         I think ...

·         ... might be a symbol of ...

·         The atmosphere is peaceful/depressing ...

·         I (don't) like the picture because ...

·         It makes me think

 

 

Present Progressive

1. Use of the Present Progressive

1.1. actions happening at the moment of speaking

Peter is reading a book now.

1.2. fixed plan in the near future

We are going to Basel on Saturday.

1.3. temporary actions

I am working in Rome this month.

1.4. actions happening around the moment of speaking (longer actions)

My friend is preparing for his exams.

1.5. trends

More and more people are using their computers to listen to music.

1.6. repeated actions which are irritating to the speaker (with always, constantly, forever)

Andrew is always coming late.

2. Signal words

·         now

·         at the moment

·         Look!

·         Listen!

3. Form

to be (am, are, is) + Infinitiv + -ing

4. Examples

4.1. Affirmative sentences in the Present Progressive

Long forms	Contracted forms
I am playing football.	I'm playing football.
You are playing football.	You're playing football.
He is playing football.	He's playing football.

4.2. Negative sentences in the Present Progressive

Long forms	Contracted forms
I am not playing football.	I'm not playing football.
You are not playing football.	You're not playing football.
	You aren't playing football.
He is not playing football.	He's not playing football.
	He aren't playing football.

4.3. Questions in the Present Progressive

Long forms	Contracted forms
Am I playing football?	not possible
Are you playing football?
Is he playing football?