Scribd
Upload
33 views

Describe A Picture Steps

This is a picture of a family enjoying a day at the beach. In the foreground is the ocean with small waves washing up onto the sand. In the background, the six family members are spending time happily together. The older brother and sister are playing a game with a ball and two rackets.

Uploaded by

kyungnamteacher
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
33 views

Describe A Picture Steps

This is a picture of a family enjoying a day at the beach. In the foreground is the ocean with small waves washing up onto the sand. In the background, the six family members are spending time happily together. The older brother and sister are playing a game with a ball and two rackets.

Uploaded by

kyungnamteacher
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

DESCRIBING A PICTURE

1) Establish the Context:


Introduce the photograph using a one sentence description that provides the
general context and answers the questions: Who, What, and Where?

Example: "In this picture I see a couple (who) ordering food (what) in a
restaurant (where)."

1a) Use prepositions to describe the arrangement of things:


Use prepositions of place (on, next to, under, behind, etc.) to describe the
placement of different people and objects in the photo. Use phrases to direct the
listener’s attention to different parts of the photo like: “in the background”, “in the
foreground”, “on the left/right”, “in the bottom right corner”, “in the center”, etc.

Examples: "On the table in the foreground there are empty dishes and coffee cups.
In the background of the picture I can see other customers eating and conversing at
their tables and behind them there is a garden or green area with trees and
bushes."

2) Describe the Foreground and Background:


Every picture has a foreground and background. Make sure to describe them both.

Example: “There is a kitchen in the background. You can see the sink, the stove,
and the counter. There is a plant in the corner. The object in the foreground is a
teapot.”
3) Describe the Focal Point:
Describe in detail the main focus of the picture including what the people are doing,
what they look like, their clothing, and their emotional state (if appropriate).

Example: "A waitress is taking a man’s order while his partner is reading the menu.
The waitress is wearing a white dress and an apron. She is taking notes on a small
pad. The man is wearing a formal long sleeve shirt and the other person at the
table has glasses and is wearing a sweater."

3a) Use present continuous tense when describing actions and


appearances.
Example: “The man is wearing a suit. He is running to catch the bus.”

4) Use Speculative Language:


Add detail to your description by making intelligent guesses when you are not
completely sure about something. Use speculative language like: may, might,
could, perhaps, it seems, etc.

You can speculate about the relationship between the people, what they are talking
about, what they are doing, what they might have done just before the photo was
taken, or what they might do next. Be sure to provide evidence for your
speculations, though.

Use phrases like: “For that reason, I think...”, “This makes me think...”, “Which is
why I think...”

Example: "It looks like they are in an outdoor patio section of the restaurant. It is
quite sunny and there are coffee cups on the table. This makes me think that it
might be breakfast time. Perhaps this is a hotel restaurant and the diners are guests
staying there."
Use these common phrases:

This is a picture of a/an . . .

This picture shows . . .

In this picture there is/are . . .

There is / There are . . .

On the left side of the picture/ on the right side of the picture /in the middle of
the picture . . .

In the background /In the foreground . . .

On the left/ On the right/ In the center . . .

A man has/ A woman has . . .

A man is _______ing/ A woman is _______ing . . .

It looks like . . .

I can see . . .

I think/ I suppose . . .

They/He/She may be . . .

They/He She might be . . .

They/He/She seem to be . . .
STEP 1: _______________________________________ of a family
Establish the enjoying a day at the beach.
Context

STEP 2: _________________________________, _______________


Describe the the ocean with small waves washing up _______ the sand.
Foreground &
Background _________________________________, _______________
the six family members___________ time happily together
The older brother and sister are ___________ a game with a
STEP3:
ball and two rackets.
Describe the
Focal Point
They ___________ to be having a good time.

____________________ of the picture, the mother and


father are ___________ a sandcastle with the other two
children.

They are ___________ a plastic bucket and shovels to dig in


the sand.

Everyone in the family is ___________ shorts and t-shirts.


The weather ___________ to be warm and sunny.
STEP 4:
Use Speculative ___________________________ the family is on holiday.
Language
______________________ they are happy to spend time
together.

You might also like