Make sure you are familiar with the language used to describe where something is in a picture. Do you know how to use the phrases in the boxes below?
- IN THE TOP LEFT (-HAND) CORNER
- AT THE TOP
- IN THE TOP RIGHT (-HAND) CORNER
- ON THE LEFT (-HAND) SIDE
- ON THE RIGHT (-HAND) SIDE
- IN THE MIDDLE
- AT THE BOTTOM
- IN THE BOTTOM LEFT (-HAND) CORNER
- IN THE BOTTOM RIGHT (-HAND) CORNER
- IN THE BACKGROUND
- IN THE FOREGROUND
'In the middle of the picture there is a family ...'
'In the background there are some white cupboards'
Don ́t be afraid to interrupt and ask if you don ́t understand what you are being told to do. Ask for clarification or repetition by using the following expressions.
- 'I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch the last part…'
- I’m sorry, didn’t quite catch what you said.
- Could you repeat that?
- Do you mind repeating that?
INTRODUCING THE DESCRIPTION
- Shall I start?
- It’s a picture of…
- This is a picture of…
- The picture shows…
- It’s a scene of...
DESCRIBING THE PICTURE
- Use 'There is/ There are…’
- In this picture, the character is (Verb)-ing ...../ the characters are (Verb)-.ing ..
- Mention something about the place.(The picture was taken in/at/near ... (place). /The photo was taken in/at/during….(time)"The scene takes place in/at…"
- Describe what is happening.(Use the Present Continuous)
- Talk about people ́s appearance, clothes, relationship, emotional state. How old are they?/What are they wearing? How are they related?
- Give some extra information about the scene (What do you think will happen next? What is the weather like?/ Would you like to be in that situation?
- Talk about your feelings. "This picture makes me feel…"
- Give reasons.
- Talk about the advantages and disadvantages of that situation.
SPECULATING
Sometimes you cannot be sure what is happening in a photo or picture. Use appropriate language to show that you are guessing. The examples below show different degrees of certainty.
- I think / guess/suppose it is...
- I ́m not quite sure, but they could be...
- Maybe / Perhaps they are...
- He/ She/They seem (s) to be…
- It ́s not very clear but, probably...
- I can ́t quite make it out but, perhaps....
- He/She looks + ADJ
- He/She looks like+ NOUN
- He/ She/ They look as though/as if + VERB PHRASE
- He/She seems to…
- He/ She must be…
- He/She can’t be…
- He/ she may/might/ could be…
- He/She is probably…
- It seems that…
- I have the impression that…
- It’s obvious that…
EXPRESSING YOUR OPINION
- In my opinion,…
- I reckon…
- I guess,…
- To my mind…
- In my view…
- I suppose…
- I believe…
GIVING YOUR TIME TO THINK/ USING HESITATION WORDS
- Well,...
- Er...,
- Let me see...,
- Mmm..., ,
- I mean...,
- You know,…
PARAPHRASING IF YOU DON’T KNOW THE WORD
Don ́t worry if you don ́t know the precise words for what you can see; use alternative sentences as shown below.
- It ́s used to open... / It ́s used for opening... / You use it to open... It ́s what you do when you..(if you don ́t know the verb)
- I don ́t know what you call it, but. it’s a thing/ a stuff we use to…
- I don ́t know what it is called, but…
- It’s a kind of…
FINISHING THE DESCRIPTION
- To conclude / as a conclusion....
- I (don't) like this picture because...
- If I were in that situation, I would…
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