DESCRIPTIVE ESSAY (PEOPLE)

Describing a person or people

Dos Don’ts

Write a clear description – physical Give a poor description

characteristic

Highlight and explain on their Leave out their personalities/qualities

personalities/qualities

Include their lifestyle, interests or hobbies Leave out their lifestyle, interests or hobbies

End the essay with your opinions or feelings End the essay abruptly
about the person

Physical
characteristics

Describing a
Opinion and
person or Personality
feelings
people

Interest
Hobbies
Lifestyle
Education
Family
✓ ✓

✓
✓
 ✓

✓ ✓
 POSITIVE TRAITS NEGATIVE TRAITS

ambitious boring

amusing cruel

brave dull

caring fearful/afraid/scared

dependable/trustworthy ill-mannered/rude/impolite

firm/determined irresponsible

friendly lazy

generous nosey

gentle playful

hardworking selfish

helpful snobbish

jovial/cheerful stingy

kind timid/shy

patient unfriendly

polite clumsy

quiet dishonest

understanding jealous

loyal stubborn

Sample sentences

✓ As an ambitious and brave woman, Hana was not afraid to take up the challenge.
✓ Mr Singh trusted Rahim so much that he asked Rahim to bring back his cheque book
home. Rahim was a dependable worker.
✓ Musa was a firm man. He never took back his words and was always determined to
complete his work.
 ✓ My teacher was understanding as she never scolded us if we did not complete her
work because she told us, she was once a lazy student too. However, she always
reminded us to work hard to achieve our goals.
✓ Umar was a jovial, kind and patient boy before he faced a tragic incident which
changed him to be a cruel and ill-mannered boy.
✓ Gurmit became snobbish after Mr Karan appointed him as our class monitor.
Instead of working with us, he made us work for him and ordered us around.
✓ She seemed unfriendly at first, but after getting to know her, we realised she was a
cheerful and loyal person.

Using adjectives to describe emotions and feelings