Describing people

Grammar: modal verbs (obligation, no obligation, permission/prohibition)

Vocabulary: personality adjectives

Part 1

Personality vocabulary – worksheet on p.2.

KEY

1. reliable 6. sensible 11. silly 16. bad-tempered

2. sensitive 7. nice 12. shy 17. loyal

3. mean 8. sympathetic 13. selfish 18. dull

4. strict 9. tough 14. trustworthy 19. stubborn

5. cheerful 10. clumsy 15. gentle 20. crafty

Part 2 (grammar intro)

Quickly revise the uses of: must and have to for: obligation, no obligation, permission/prohibition, with an example or
two for each.

Part 3

“Perfect people” – talk about what a good parent/friend/sibling/neighbor/teacher/doctor/politician must, doesn’t have
to and mustn’t be like. Optional: talk about what they must, don’t have to and mustn’t DO, in addition to what they
should be like. For each of the “jobs” and jobs stated above, first brainstorm ideas, then compare and discuss them. If
they disagree, they need to explain their point of view and try to come to a mutual agreement with the other person.

Part 4

Depending on the size of the group, decide whether to divide them into pairs or let them do this part all together (OK for
groups 3 people, any more than that – they should be divided into pairs). Instructions for pair-work option: Ss divide a
piece of paper into 2 columns – one for themselves, the other one for the other person. In the first column, they write
down personality adjectives they believe describe a person who would do their job well. In the second column, they write
down adjectives to describe a person who would do their partner’s job well. When they’re done, they discuss their ideas
and see how much the two sets of adjectives match.

Fill in the gaps with a word from

the box. Only use each word once.
 selfish bad-tempered tough crafty sensitive sensible strict
trustworthy dull shy mean reliable stubborn silly
nice cheerful sympathetic clumsy loyal gentle

1. Janet is incredibly __________________. She always arrives on time and does her job well.

2. It’s impossible to say anything to him. One word and he starts crying. He is so __________________!

3. I wonder why he is so __________________. He has got lots of money but he hates spending it.

4. When she was a child, her parents were incredibly __________________. Whenever she did the smallest thing
wrong, they would send her to bed.

5. Ann is such a __________________ girl. She is always laughing and smiling.

6. Come on, Maria!. You can’t go on a country walk wearing high heels. Do be __________________ for once.

7. I’ll give you a lift home if you’re __________________ to me.

8. She was so __________________ and understanding. When I told her my problems, I immediately felt better
afterwards.

9. In westerns, the hero is always __________________. He always beats his enemies and can put up with any
hardship.

10. That’s the second cup you’ve broken this week. Why do you have to be so __________________?

11. I think he is an extremely __________________ boy. He laughs at stupid things and never concentrates in class.

12. Children are often really __________________. They hide behind their mothers when guests come.

13. Don’t be so __________________, Cathy. You’ve got to learn to share things with other children

14. She is 100% __________________. I’d leave my money, car, anything, for her to look after.

15. When I broke my leg, the nurse was so __________________ that she hardly hurt me at all.

16. Why do you get angry all the time? You are so __________________

17. Bob is my best friend. He remained __________________ through all my problems.

18. He is such a __________________ person with his boring little job and his boring little life.

19. He is terribly __________________. Once he has made up his mind, it is impossible to get him to change it even if
it’s obvious that he is wrong.

20. The general was really __________________. Just when the enemy thought it had won the battle, he played his
best card.