PEOPLEPEOPLE

DISCRIBING PEOPLEDISCRIBING PEOPLE

DESCRIBING PEOPLEDESCRIBING PEOPLE

PHYSICAL APPEARANCEPHYSICAL APPEARANCE

CHARACTER (PERSONALITY CHARACTER (PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS)CHARACTERISTICS)

DESCRIBING PEOPLEDESCRIBING PEOPLE

When describing people your composition needs to be well When describing people your composition needs to be well organised. organised.

The composition should have an The composition should have an introductory paragraph introductory paragraph where where you briefly set the scene ( name, time / place where you met / saw you briefly set the scene ( name, time / place where you met / saw him or her…) , a him or her…) , a main body main body consisting of two or more paragraphs consisting of two or more paragraphs describing physical appearance, personality characteristics and describing physical appearance, personality characteristics and hobbies / interests /everyday activities and a hobbies / interests /everyday activities and a final paragraph final paragraph which which summarizes your feelings about the person described. summarizes your feelings about the person described.

Each paragraph starts a new topic. Each paragraph starts a new topic. Paragraphs should be well developed and linked together with a Paragraphs should be well developed and linked together with a

variety of linking words.variety of linking words.

Physical appearancePhysical appearance When describing physical appearance When describing physical appearance

you should give details in the following you should give details in the following order: order:

a. a. height / build / age height / build / age

b. b. facial features facial features

c. c. hair hair

d. d. clothesclothes

one should move from the most one should move from the most general general adjectives to the most adjectives to the most specificspecific ones. ones.

E.g. E.g. Angelina Jolie is a tall slim woman. She has got a square face, blue eyes and an upturned nose. She wears her long black hair loose. In every day life she is often casually dressed in a blouse or T-shirt and jeans.

a. height / build /agea. height / build /age When referring to one’s height people may beWhen referring to one’s height people may be

short, medium height ,tall, small (if it refers to children)short, medium height ,tall, small (if it refers to children)

When referring to one’s build people may be:When referring to one’s build people may be:

thin, slim, well-built (muscular), plump, overweight thin, slim, well-built (muscular), plump, overweight

When speaking of physical appearance according to age people When speaking of physical appearance according to age people may fall under the following headings:may fall under the following headings:

young ( child, teenager), middle – aged, oldyoung ( child, teenager), middle – aged, old

b. facial featuresb. facial features

These kind of features refer to:These kind of features refer to:

- the shape of the: face (round, oval, square…)- the shape of the: face (round, oval, square…)

eyes (slanting, almond – shaped) eyes (slanting, almond – shaped)

nose (crooked, upturned, curved)nose (crooked, upturned, curved)

lips (thin, full)lips (thin, full)

- complexion: tanned ,pale, - complexion: tanned ,pale,

wrinkled, freckled,wrinkled, freckled,

- special features: beard, moustache- special features: beard, moustache

Types of facesTypes of faces There are seven basic face There are seven basic face

shapes: round, oval, oblong, shapes: round, oval, oblong, base-down triangle, base-up base-down triangle, base-up triangle, diamond and square. triangle, diamond and square.

RoundRoundA round face has curvilinear A round face has curvilinear lines with the width and length lines with the width and length in the same proportions and no in the same proportions and no angleangle

OvalOvalThe oval face is considered to The oval face is considered to be the ideal shape because of be the ideal shape because of its balanced proportions. its balanced proportions.

Oblong, base-up triangle & base-down Oblong, base-up triangle & base-down triangletriangle

OblongOblongThe oblong face is longer than The oblong face is longer than it is wide and has a long it is wide and has a long straight cheek line and straight cheek line and sometimes a longish nose. sometimes a longish nose.

Base-Down TriangleBase-Down TriangleThe triangular face has a The triangular face has a narrow forehead that widens at narrow forehead that widens at the cheek and chin areas. the cheek and chin areas.

Base-Up TriangleBase-Up TriangleThis face has a very wide top This face has a very wide top third and small bottom third third and small bottom third

diamond&squarediamond&square

DiamondDiamondDiamond-shaped faces are Diamond-shaped faces are narrow at the eye line and narrow at the eye line and jawline, and cheekbones are jawline, and cheekbones are often high and dramatic. This often high and dramatic. This is the rarest face shape. is the rarest face shape.

SquareSquareA square face has a strong jaw A square face has a strong jaw line and a broad forehead, plus line and a broad forehead, plus the width and length are in the the width and length are in the same proportions. same proportions.

c.hairc.hair

Short curly brown hair straight long blond hairShort curly brown hair straight long blond hair

When referring to someone’s hair the adjectives describing it should When referring to someone’s hair the adjectives describing it should be placed in the following order:be placed in the following order:

dimension, aspect, colourdimension, aspect, colour

haircuts and styleshaircuts and styles

Depending on the haircuts and Depending on the haircuts and styling people might choose to styling people might choose to wear their hair:wear their hair:

-parting-parting -in a ponytail-in a ponytail

-spikey-spikey

-bobbed-bobbed

d. clothes &special featuresd. clothes &special features

When speaking of somebody’s When speaking of somebody’s clothes one may find in clothes one may find in appropriate to place the person’s appropriate to place the person’s clothes under the name of a clothes under the name of a certain style, such as:certain style, such as:

-elegant-elegant

-formal-formal

- casual- casual Regarding the special features of Regarding the special features of

a person one might notice:a person one might notice:

- tatoos- tatoos

- moles- moles

-physical disabilities-physical disabilities

Character (personality)Character (personality)

When describing character and behaviour, support your When describing character and behaviour, support your description with examples:description with examples:

e.g. e.g. Tom is very reserved. He never talks about hisTom is very reserved. He never talks about his

feelings.feelings. If you want to describe negative qualities is advisable to If you want to describe negative qualities is advisable to

use mild language:use mild language:

e.g. ”e.g. ”He can be aggressive at timesHe can be aggressive at times.” is better than .” is better than

saying “saying “He is aggressiveHe is aggressive””

NoteNote

When you describe someone for official When you describe someone for official purposes (e.g. a police report) you purposes (e.g. a police report) you emphasize the physical features and try to emphasize the physical features and try to give the most accurate description give the most accurate description possible.possible.

When you write a letter to recommend When you write a letter to recommend someone for a job you only write about his someone for a job you only write about his / her personality characteristics./ her personality characteristics.