1 Describing people

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Describing people
Diyorbek’s Speaking Marathon

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Points to consider
To describe physical appearance, you should give details of the person’s height/build, age, facial 
features, hair clothing, etc moving from the most general to the most specific details.
- Bill, who is in his early twenties, is quite tall and well-built, with thick black hair and piercing blue eyes. 
He is usually dressed in jeans and T-shirt.
To describe personality and behavior, yo can support your description with examples of manner and 
mannerism.
- Mark is rather unsociable, usually sitting silently in a corner observing others from a distance. 
To describe life, lifestyle, and beliefs, you should talk about the person’s habits, interests, profession, 
daily routine, opinions, etc. 
- Being both a university student and a part-time assistant in a supermarket, Janet has little free time to 
go out in the evenings.

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Describe a person you know well
When I began working at Hillcrest Nursery School three years ago, I was introduced to Sharon Dunn, the school's 
headmistress.
Her smart appearance and warm, friendly expression made me like her immediately. She is a small-boned, smiling woman 
in her early fifties, with twinkling blue eyes and soft, silver curls. Although she dresses simply she always manages to look 
elegant. She is a very fair-minded person who treats everyone at the school with equal respect. Despite clasping her hands 
nervously when she is upset, she is actually very calm, which is shown by her ability to keep her temper in the most difficult 
situations. Her quiet voice and gentle, caring manner make her popular with the children.
Ms Dunn has no children of her own; however, she says that she feels like a mother to all of the children in her school. In 
fact, she has no time for family life, since she dedicates her life to her job. Besides taking care of various administrative 
tasks every day, she always takes time to talk to the teachers and parents. In addition, she often holds meetings with the 
school's Board of Directors, as well as with staff and parents.
To my mind, Sharon Dunn is a dedicated professional who is a wonderful role model, not only for the children but for the 
teachers, as well.

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Physical appearance
A description of a person’s appearance could include such aspects as 
height/build, age, facial features/expression, hair, clothes, etc.
You may describe visual details (e.g. a tall, heavy-built man wearing a black leather 
jacket…) and/or use words and phrases which describe the general impression 
created by the person’s appearance (e.g. Donna’s slender, youthful build makes her 
look younger than she is, while her face, with its bright smile and friendly expressions, 
is very attractive).

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Physical appearance

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Linking words and structures
1 Grace Kelly, who reached Hollywood stardom in the 1950s, was famous not only 
for her delicate features, but also for marrying a prince.
2 The postman, who has thick black hair with only a few touches of grey, is 56 
years old, but his skin is smooth, which makes him look younger than he is.
3 The policeman’s build was so muscular that he filed his large uniform, while his 
high, broad forehead and strong, square jaw gave him an air of authority. 

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Personality and behavior
In descriptions of people we can include a clear description of a person’s personality and 
behavior with a variety of character words, which should be justified in an explanation or