Teacher Notes
Objectives & Sequence: This lesson is intended to be used as a review of Grammar 10-1.
The following vocabulary words are used in this activity:
Part One
Listen to the people speaking to each other. In the conversations, one person is describing something to the other person. How do the people ask for descriptions? What words do they use to describe these objects?
Conversation #1
A: Have you seen my bag anywhere?
B: I’m not sure. What does it look like?
A: It’s a small, leather shoulder bag.
B: Is that it?
A: No, that one is big.
B: What colour is it?
A: It’s kind of grey. It has a blue strap.
B: Oh, it is that one over there? Under the desk?
A: Oh, yeah, that’s it. Thanks.
Conversation #2
A: I’ve got my eye on a new phone.
B: Oh yeah? Why? Is yours broken?
A: No, I just really want this one.
B: Why? What’s so special about it?
A: Oh, I don’t know. It’s sort of gold and it’s really thin.
B: That’s it? Is it light? Fast?
A: Yes, it is. Also, the screen is big and beautiful.
B: It sounds awesome. How expensive is it?
A: It's not so bad.
B: Wow. You should buy it right away.
Part Two
Giving a Description
When we need to describe things for people, we usually use adjectives to describe size, shape, feeling or colour. Here are common words that we use to describe objects:
Size
- big
- short
- heavy
- wide
- small
- long
- light
- thin
Shape
- round
- square
- straight
- curved
- flat
How Something Feels
- hard
- soft
- sharp
- smooth
- rough
How Something Tastes
- good / delicious
- bad / terrible
- sour
- salty
- sweet
- bitter
- spicy / hot
- bland
- juicy
- dry
When we are describing something, we often use words before adjectives. Here are some words we use with adjectives to describe things:
| It's He's She's etc. |
kind of sort of a little a bit quite pretty so very really |
blue. round. old. rough. young. tall. |
| It's He's She's etc. |
not that not very not so not really not too |
big. long. expensive. |
Example #1 Example #2 Example #3
What color is it?
It's kind of blue.
What does his car look like?
Um, it's blue and a little old.
How big is your new phone?
Oh, I don’t know. It’s not too big.
It Looks Like...
We can also use like in our descriptions to mean similar to. We use nouns after like:
- That cloud looks like a bear.
- This meat tastes like chicken.
- That sounds like a bird.
- Her perfume smells like flowers.
- Rice in Korea is like Japanese rice.
Practice
With a partner, take turns describing objects. Do not tell your partner what the thing is, just describe it so he/she can guess:
Part Three
Asking for a Description
When you want someone to describe something for you, there are many questions you can ask. Here are some possible questions:
| What | does it (he, she, etc.) |
look taste smell feel sound |
like? |
| How | does it (he, she, etc.) |
look? taste? smell? feel? sound? |
| How | big small expensive tall young |
is it? (he, she, etc.) |
| What | is it | made of? used for? like? |
| What | colour | is it? |
What...Like? / How...?
These two kinds of questions are commonly used to ask for descriptions, but their answers are a little different:
What...Like?
This question asks for a description with details:
What does your new Smart car look like?
It looks awesome. It's like a compact but smaller. It's kind of fun to drive.
How...?
This question asks for a reaction. We do not use like with how. We usually answer with adjectives:
How does your new Smart car look like?
It's awesome!
Practice
Work with a partner. Together, think of ways we can answer the questions in each of the tabs. When you are finished, discuss your answers as a class.
Example
How does your new truck drive?
The truck handles well.
Really? No way! I think trucks are difficult to control.
What does your new truck drive like?
The truck handles well, but it is difficult to park.
It's usually not fast but not too slow. The ride is a little high.
- How does a new car smell?
- What does a new car smell like?
- How does a McDonald's hamburger taste?
- What does a McDonald's hamburger taste like?
- What is a McDonald's hamburger made of?
- How does rap music sound?
- What does rap music sound like?
- What is a computer mouse used for?
- What does a computer mouse look like?
- What's the weather like today?
- How warm is it?