UNIT 6

Describing Features of Things,

Facilities and Places

General Objective : To describe features of things and places or facilities

Specific Objectives : To compare and contrast
To use dimensions
Grammar Points : Noun and Adjectives

Describing things
A. Identifying adjectives:

• Meaning: Typically, adjectives are defined a words that describe nouns. To use
question words to help identify adjectives, find the nouns and then ask the
question "which (say the noun)?" or "what kind of (say the noun)? as in the
following examples:
▪ He pulled out a flattened bag. ▪ We provide an innovative
Which bag? or What kind of network. Which network? or
bag? a flattened bag What kind of network? an
▪ She glanced at the icy water. innovative network.
Which water? or What kind of
water? The icy water

• Order:

• Usually we only use one adjective at Descriptive studies indicate that the
a time. However, when we use two following seems to be the preferred
or more, there is a order they tend to order of native speakers:
come in according to their meaning.

det opinion size shape condition age color origin noun

the wonderful little square smooth old green German mug

Of course we would probably never use that many adjectives at a time. Try the categories
given above two or three adjectives at a time but reversing the order they give and see if
you agree on the order.

• Notice the following, taking note of the answers:

✓ How tall are you? *I'm 5 feet short. ✓ How shallow is the kiddie pool? *It's 4
✓ How short are you? I'm 5 feet tall. inches shallow.
✓ Is it the right length? No, it's 5 feet
short. (i.e. the quality is missing)

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The second was free writing about the same person. Which creates a better picture?

▪ I am going to describe a girl who is
walking before me face to face. She
is five feet tall, her face is white, and
her hair is long. She is not thin, and
she is not fat. She has a normal body.
▪ She is very beautiful, her hair dark
and her eyes black in color. Her face
looks like a moon in the middle of
the sky. She walks smoothly. When
she walks, you think that she is
dancing. When she talks, you think
she is singing. When she smiles, you
think the light of the sun is coming.

Useful language
BUYER

Asking for information

Can you tell me about ...?I'd like some Features
information about ... Does it have any special features?

Target market Price

Who is it for? How much is it/are they?

Colours Delivery
What about colours? What about delivery?

SELLER

Asking for information

Of course. What would you like to know? Features
Our most popular model is ... It has an unusual design. It's easy to use.

Target market Price

It's for people with / who…….. The trade price is ...

Colours Delivery
If comes in four colours. We can deliver within three days.

The products you make/use

KEY PHRASES

Our products are reasonably priced.

extremely well-made
highly competitive.

What are they made of? The casing is plastic.

The working parts are stainless steel.
They are 25% rubber. It's (It is) made of concrete.
It covers an area of 14 square yards.
25% equals a quarter. We stock the full product line.
66.6% equals two thirds. All items are available from stock.
Delivery takes two days.

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The reference number is 12/473-AZ9.
I'd like to order one.
Do you still supply them in green?
We don't stock that color any more.
That line is discontinued.
We used to make them in that size.
We used to stock that design.
It used to be very popular, but there's (there
is) no longer any demand.

LANGUAGE NOTES
Adverbs in phrases
We can use adverbs to modify adjectives.
e.g. absolutely accurate, really expensive, completely reliable

We can use adverbs to modify past participles.

e.g. extremely well-made, highly recommended, beautifully designed

Comparatives and Superlatives

Form
Comparative adjectives are forms like older, more expensive. Superlative adjectives are
forms like the oldest, the most expensive.
• For the majority of one-syllable
adjectives, add -er, -st.
cheap -> cheaper -> the cheapest
• For one-syllable adjectives ending in
-e, add -,r –st.
late -> later -> the latest
• For short adjectives ending in one
vowel + one consonant, double the
consonant.
big -> bigger-> the biggest
hot -> hotter -> the hottest
BUT don't double w:
new-> newer-> the newest
• For adjectives ending in -y, change y
to i.
easy ->easier->the easiest
healthy -> healthier-> the healthiest
• Some adjectives are irregular.
good -> better-> the best
bad -> worse-> the worst
far -> further -> the furthest or
far -> farther-> the farthest

1. When we compare two things we use the comparative + than.

France is bigger than Belgium.
I think a Porsche is less expensive than a Rolls Royce. (NOT *that)
2. When we compare three or more things we use the superlative.
December is the busiest month in all our stores.
Our products are not just good - they're the best in the world.

much /a lot,
a little / a bit

1. Large and small differences 2. Large differences

We can use a lot / a bit (especially in We have a much lower margin on
conversation) or much /a little (more computers then on software. Our new
formal) before comparatives. range is a lot more successful than the
previous one.

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3. Small differences
This time he seemed a little more interested than last time.
Our prices are a bit higher than theirs.

Numbers and symbols

Reference numbers:
106/B-2 one oh six slash B dash two
A3/077-PP A three slash zero seven seven hyphen PP
Dimensions:
10ft x 6.5ft ten by six point five feet
10ft x 10ft ten feet square
10ft2 ten square feet
10ft3 ten cubic feet

The order of adjectives

Note the following examples.
• a large, red container
• a small, rectangular table
• a white, Styrofoam box
• a long, Tibetan jacket
• black, leather golfing shoes
• a faulty, plastic smoke alarm
• a new, fiberglass tennis racket

Product descriptions

The Viva models are particularly suitable for beginners. They range in size from 590 cubic
meters to 2,550 cubic meters. That's (That is) 90,000 cubic feet.
We have off-the-shelf packages. These are available at the lowest possible prices. They
come in a range of colors and trims. There are various options. I'd (I would) like a round
one. This one's (one is) L-shaped. That one's in the shape of a cross.

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