How to Describe a Picture in English - Spoken English Lesson

Introduction

In this lesson, you will learn how to effectively describe a picture in English. This skill is valuable for various English exams such as the FCE, TOEIC, and PTE, and also serves to enhance your general English speaking skills.

Describing a picture can be a fun and educational exercise. To begin, take an interesting picture and practice your speaking while expanding your English vocabulary. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to build a clear and detailed answer for describing images.

Starting Your Description

Start by providing a summary that gives a general description of what you see in the picture. Imagine you’re communicating with someone who cannot see the image; consider what essential details they need to understand it. Try to summarize what you see in one or two simple sentences.

Examples:

• "There are several small boats next to a beach."
• "The picture shows a beach with many small boats in the water nearby."

This simple summarization helps convey the picture's general content effectively.

Adding Detail

Once you have given your summary, start adding more detail about the key elements in the picture. You can discuss the location of items using phrases like "on the left," "in the middle," and "in the background."

Example Sentences:

• "On the left, there's a girl with dark curly hair who’s holding half a cauliflower."
• "In the middle, there's a man chopping vegetables."
• "In the background, we can see blue sky and snow-capped mountains."

Utilizing phrases like "in the foreground" or "in the background" can be helpful for clarity.

Focusing on Important Parts

While describing, concentrate on the most significant aspects of the picture rather than trying to cover everything. Focus on essential parts that draw attention.

Example:

• "The two people both look unhappy. They’re sitting at the kitchen table but aren’t talking to each other. The man is staring down while the woman is stirring her tea."

Speculating About the Picture

Speculating allows you to express possibilities and interpretations in your description. Think of questions that arise from the picture, such as "Why are they there?" or "Who are they?"

Examples of Speculating:

• "I suppose it might be some kind of art project."
• "The footprints must have been made by a climber."

Utilize language like “maybe,” “must,” “might,” and “I suppose” to articulate your thoughts while speculating.

Speculating the Context of the Picture

In addition to speculating about visible elements, also consider the context of the picture. Questions about the where and when of the photograph can provide depth.

Example Speculations:

• "This must be somewhere tropical like the Caribbean."
• "Perhaps it was taken by a tourist who came to the beach on a boat."

Conclusion

When you describe a picture, remember to summarize your observations, detail what is important, and speculate both about what is visible and what is not.

Keyword

describing a picture, English exams, summary, detail, speculate, context, vocabulary, speaking practice.

FAQ

1. Why is it helpful to describe pictures in English?
Describing pictures is useful for improving speaking skills, vocabulary, and preparing for English exams.

2. How should I start when describing a picture?
Begin with a summary that conveys the main elements and context of the image.

3. What should I focus on when adding detail?
Concentrate on the most important parts of the picture, discussing their positions and characteristics.

4. How can speculation enhance my description?
Speculating allows you to engage more deeply with the picture's content and context, making your description richer.

5. Can I practice this skill with any picture?
Absolutely! You can use any interesting picture to practice describing and speculating about it in English.