Professional Documents
Culture Documents
eraser
lead
wooden casing
1. When we describe objects we must refer to:
shape
dimensions
property
colour
to be + used to + V to be + used for + V A pencil is used for writing on paper. A pencil is used to write on paper.
ing
B. Components
consists of has is made up of
includes
is composed of
consists of a core called lead and a wooden casing. It also has an eraser, inserted at the top. is made up of is composed of B.2 A pencil includes a core called lead, a wooden casing and an eraser, inserted at the top. B.3 A pencil has three parts: a core called lead, a wooden casing and an eraser, inserted at the top. sections: components:
B.1 A pencil
Connection between Components This refers to the relationship between two things or more. If the object has more than one part, we have to describe them part by part with a connection between them. Verbs that signal the connection are: attach, detach, join, connect, support, fix, fit, lead, link, etc. The head of a hammer is fixed to the handle. The rubber tube is fitted over the glass tube. The glass tube is fitted into the rubber tube. The wire leads from the switch to the bulb. The wire links between the switch and the bulb. The wheels of a car are detached from the body of a car. The wheels of a car are connected by the axles.
Exercise: Make more detailed sentences, as to make up a small paragraph, about the following objects.
Knife:
Bag:
Chair:
C. Characteristics:
stone, metal, plastic, steel, glass, hydrogen, air, water, cotton, fur, cloth, porcelain etc.
A bottle of glass is fragile. The interior of a ping-pong ball is hollow. The edges of a table are straight.
colour:
red, yellow, blue, green, brown, orange, pink, purple, grey, violet etc. (and their shades) The grass is green. Lemons are yellow. My sister's eyes are blue.
Exercise: Choose any object you prefer and write a short description of its characteristics, using the
chart above:
Read the following example of a paragraph describing an object and discuss it with a partner:
The function of the object. Components Shapes and dimensions
Materials
A mixer is used for mixing food. The mixer is made of metal and plastic. It consists of 5 parts: a base, a stand, a motor housing, beaters, and a bowl. The base is rectangular in shape. It is 12 cm wide and 15 cm long. The stand which is supported by the base is 30 cm in height. The motor housing which contains a motor is joined to the stand. The steel beaters are very hard and tough. They are fitted in the gearbox. The glass bowl is hard and brittle. The edge of the bowl is circular. The glass bowl is detached from the base.
Properties
Shape
Read the following example of a paragraph describing an object and make a similar chart as above:
A kettle is a metal container which is used for boiling water. It consists of 4 main parts: a vessel, a lid, a spout, and a handle. The vessel is 7 inches high. It is hollow and spherical in shape. The base is flat and circular. It has a diameter of 6 inches. On the top of the vessel, there is a convex lid with a plastic knob in the middle. The lid is 5 inches in diameter. Above the lid is as curved handle which is covered with plastic at the middle part. At the side of the vessel is a conical spout for pouring water out of the vessel.
2. Look at the objects in the pictures and tell something about shape and what they are made of. Also explain what they are used for.
3. Choose an object from your classroom and complete the following chart, without the name of the object. Ask your classmate to guess what it is.
It is ___________________.
Size: _____________________________________________ Shape: ___________________________________________ Color: ____________________________________________ Taste: ____________________________________________ Texture: __________________________________________ Temperature: ______________________________________ Weight: ___________________________________________ Age: _____________________________________________ Origin: ___________________________________________
4. Hiroyuki is a Japanese exchange student talking about home. Read the dialogue, then with your partner, make a similar one and act in front of the class.
A: Hi Hiroyuki. How are you? B: Hi. Im ok, but Im a little homesick. A: Oh, thats too bad. Do you call home often? B: I call once a week but its not the same. A: What do you miss most from home? B: Actually I miss my geta the most. A: Geta? What are geta? B: Geta are a kind of Japanese shoes which are worn in the summer time. They are made of wood and make a nice sound. I wore my geta to many summer festivals. A: Wow! Geta are interesting. Please show me a picture some time!
5. Look at the expressions below that can be used when asking for descriptions of things: Expression What does it look like? How big is it? How much does it weigh? What color is it? Whats it made out of? What is it? What does it do? What the purpose of a ( refrigerator)? What do you use a (... cheese grater) for? How does a (... water heater) work? Response Its big, with eight hairy arms. Its 3 feet, by 4 feet, by 5 feet. It weighs 75 pounds. Its bright yellow, brighter than a banana. Its made of plastic and aluminum. It's a garlic press. It puts a sharp point on wooden pencils. The purpose of a refrigerator is to keep food cold so it does not spoil. A cheese grater is used to make small strips of cheese from a larger block. Water is collected in a large tank and heated by either gas or electricity.
Choose from the list below and make a dialogue with the expressions and their proper responses
Pencil sharpener
Bicycle
Calculator
Camera
Stethoscope