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Joy English

A2 Writing

A2Descriptions20 min

Describing a person

Describe someone you know: what they look like, what they are like and why they are important to you.

When you describe a person, you help the reader to see them and know them. A good description usually has three parts: who the person is and how you know them, their appearance (what they look like), and their personality (what they are like). You can finish with a short example or say why the person is important to you.

Model text

My neighbour, Mrs Okafor

Mrs Okafor is my neighbour and I've known her since I was a child. She is about seventy, quite short and slim, with short grey hair and bright brown eyes. She usually wears colourful dresses and big round glasses.

She is very kind and patient, and she has a great sense of humour. She is also very hard-working: she gets up early every day to look after her garden. When I was younger, she taught me how to grow tomatoes.

I really like her because she always has time to talk.

Useful language

TopicQuestionUseful language
Height and bodyWhat does she look like?She's tall / short / of medium height. He's slim / well-built.
Hair and eyesWhat does he look like?He has short curly hair. She has long straight black hair and green eyes.
AgeHow old is she?She's in her twenties. / He's about fifty.
ClothesWhat does she usually wear?She usually wears jeans and a T-shirt.
PersonalityWhat is he like?He's friendly / shy / funny / generous / hard-working.
ExamplesCan you give an example?For example, she always helps me with my homework.

Exercise 1 of 2

Appearance or personality?

Choose the best answer.

  1. A: What is your sister like? B: _____

  2. A: What does Ravi look like? B: _____

  3. She has _____ hair.

  4. My uncle always gives presents to everyone. He's very _____.

  5. Aiko doesn't talk much when she meets new people. She's a bit _____.

  6. He usually _____ glasses and a blue jacket.

  7. My grandmother is _____ her eighties.

0 of 7 answered

Exercise 2 of 2

Complete the description

Type the missing word. Use the word in brackets when there is one.

  1. My best friend Tomás is tall and slim, short dark hair.

  2. He a small beard and brown eyes.

  3. He is very funny. example, he can tell a joke about anything.

  4. A: What he like? B: He's kind and patient.

  5. A: What does she look ? B: She's quite short, with red hair.

  6. I like him he always listens to me.

  7. She usually (wear) jeans and trainers.

0 of 7 answered

Your turn

Writing task

Write a description of a person you know well, for example a friend, a teacher or a family member. Say who the person is and how you know them. Describe their appearance and their personality, give an example, and say why they are important to you.

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Sample answer

My cousin Ines is one of my best friends. She is twenty-two and she lives in the same town as me, so we see each other almost every weekend.

Ines is quite tall, with long curly brown hair and dark eyes. She usually wears jeans and a big yellow jumper.

She is very clever and organised, and she is also really generous. For example, last year she lent me her laptop for a whole month when mine broke.

I love spending time with her because she always makes me laugh.

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Source

Original lesson by Joy English.

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