Lengua Inglesa I/Idioma Inglés I/ Prof. Mgter.

Paola Arlotta- 2011

UNIT I
DESCRIBING PEOPLE + EXAMPLE

A descriptive essay about a person should consist of: a) an Introduction in which you
give general information about the person, saying when, where and how you first met
them (if it applies); b) a Main Body in which you describe their physical appearance,
personal qualities and hobbies/interests. You start a new paragraph for each topic if you
have a lot to say about each aspect; c) a Conclusion in which you write your comments
and/or feelings about the person. When describing someone you know well or see often
(i.e a friend, a neighbor, etc), you should use present tenses. When describing someone
who is no longer alive, or someone you knew a long time ago and you do not see any
more, you should use past tenses. Descriptions of people can be found in articles,
letters, narratives, etc. The writing style you use depends on the situation and the
intended reader. For example, if you are writing an article for a magazine, you should
use semi-formal style and a polite, respectful tone.

INTRODUCTION Paragraph: 1 name of the person when, where and how you first
met him/her; MAIN BODY Paragraph 2: physical appearance (facial features &
clothes) Paragraph 3: personal qualities and justification(s)/examples; Paragraph 4:
hobbies/interests; CONCLUSION Paragraph: Comments & feelings about the person.

When you describe someone's physical appearance you start with the general features
(i.e. height, build, age) and move on to the more specific ones, such as hair, eyes, nose
etc. You can also add a description of the clothes the person likes to wear, e.g. Laura is
a tall, slim woman in her early twenties. She has got red hair, green eyes and freckles.
She usually wears smart suits. When you describe someone's personal qualities you
should support your description with examples and/or justifications, e.g. Wayne is very
shy. For example, he finds it difficult to make new friends. You can also describe
someone's personality through their mannerisms by: a) referring to the way they speak,
e.g. He speaks in a soft voice as if he were whispering; b) describing the gestures they
use, e.g. She constantly uses her hands when she speaks; c) mentioning a particular
habit they have, e.g. Jason always bites his nails when he is nervous. Note: When you
mention someone's negative qualities you should use mild language (seems to, can be
rather, etc). For example, instead of saying Paul is lazy, it is better to say Paul can be
lazy at times.
 Lengua Inglesa I/Idioma Inglés I/ Prof. Mgter. Paola Arlotta- 2011

A Close Friend, by Jim White

INTRODUCTION

Jacques has been my close friend for two years. I first met him on a school exchange
trip to Calais, France. I asked him the way to the library and we started talking. We've
been friends ever since. Physical
General comment
features

Jacques is quite good-looking. He's tall and slim, with olive skin and curly dark hair.

style
Dressing
Like many French people, he has a great sense of style, so he always looks well-dressed
MAIN BODY

even in casual clothes. Jacques is very outgoing. He is always friendly and loves to have
fun. He's got a fantastic sense of humour and he always makes me laugh. However, he

personality
and

persoanlity
can be a bit immature at times. For example, when he doesn't get what he wants, he acts
childishly and stamps his feet. Jacques is very keen on water sports. He likes sailing and
he spends a lot of time on his boat. He enjoys scuba diving, too, and loves exploring life
under sea. Hobbies and interests
CONCLUSION

All in all, I'm glad to have Jacques as my friend. It's a pleasure to be with him and I
really enjoy his company. I'm sure we'll always be close friends.

……………………………………………………………………………

Describing a Person: Adding Details

Face Shape

• Square
• Oval
• Round
• Triangular
• Heart-shaped

Skin/Face/Complexion (Complexion is the natural appearance and color of the skin,

especially of the face; e.g. Mary has a soft, creamy complexion.

• Freckled: sprinkled or covered with light brown spots

• Rosy: pink-cheeked; fair complexion that glows with a hint of
pink
• Ruddy: skin that has a healthy reddish tint; may have the
appearance of sunburn
• Tanned: skin with a healthy golden-brown tint
 Lengua Inglesa I/Idioma Inglés I/ Prof. Mgter. Paola Arlotta- 2011

• Wrinkled: full of or covered with lines or loose folds of skin;

often associated with age
• Other skin-related adjectives: pale, spotless, silky, smooth,
creamy, baby-soft, glowing, paper-thin or translucent (as with a very old
person); rough, callused, dry

Eyes

General

• Brown-eyed mother, bright-eyed sister, wide-eyed child

Eye expressions:

• Adj. eyes: piercing, mesmerizing, sad, sorrowful, tear-

filled, gentle, sympathetic, warm, compassionate, expressive,
twinkling, lively, dancing, laughing

Eye Shape and Size

• Large, small, almond-shaped, round, slanted, squinty,

crinkly

Mouth/Lips

• Thin lips, full lips, pouting lips, pursed lips (puckered up,
like when someone is concentrating)
• Laugh, smile, beam, grin, frown, grimace, scowl

Hair

Texture/Appearance

• wavy, curly, straight, spiky, stiff, buzzed, shaved, parted,

neatly-combed, tamed, long, short, cropped

Hair Styles

• braids, ponytail, pigtails, bun, twist, bob, ringlets, flip,

bangs, buzz
• layered, feathered, chopped, gelled, spiked, slicked down

Lots of hair

• thick, full, lustrous, bushy, coarse, wiry (stiff)

Little hair
 Lengua Inglesa I/Idioma Inglés I/ Prof. Mgter. Paola Arlotta- 2011

• thin, scraggly, fine, baby-fine, wispy, limp, flat, balding,

bald, bald spot, receding hairline (gradual loss of hair at the front
of the head)

Treated hair

• permed, dyed, bleached, highlighted, weaved

Hair colors

• black, brunette, brown, chestnut-brown, honey-blond,

blond, golden-blond, ash-blond, auburn, red, strawberry-blond,
gray, silver, white, salt-and-pepper

Facial Hair

• Beard, goatee, mustache, sideburns

• Five o’clock shadow: new beard growth, shadowy in
appearance, that can be seen late in the day on the jaw, chin, or
cheek area (also known as stubble)
• Adjectives: bearded, unshaven, clean-shaven, trimmed,
neatly-trimmed

Clothing

• Fabric: denim, twill, wool, cotton, tweed, polyester,

corduroy, fleece, spandex, leather
• Bottoms: jeans, cargo pants, flat-front pants, pleated pants,
slacks, trousers, overalls, sweatpants, crop pants, capris, skirt,
culottes, shorts, board shorts
• Tops: sport shirt, dress shirt, polo shirt, button-down shirt,
tank top, blouse, long-sleeve, short-sleeve, sleeveless, collared, T-
shirt, sweatshirt, hoodie, pullover, sweater, cardigan
• Other clothing: dress, uniform, costume, pajamas,
bathrobe, robe, vest, jacket, blazer, coat, socks, stockings, gloves,
hat, cap, shoes, boots, slippers, sandals, flip-flops, heels, pumps

Sentence Starters Describing Clothes

• Smartly dressed in (name of garment), she...

• Casually attired in (name of garment), Jolene…
• Simply clad in (name of garment), Mark...
• Dennis sports a (name of garment)…

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