Describing Trends in Graphs

BY MUHAMMAD S. MEER

In general we should use past tense not present perfect. Look through the examples below and then try some practice exercises.

 Word summary Verbs and Adverbs went up rose increased went down fell decreased were stable remained stable slowly Slightly quickly dramatically

Sales rose dramatically from 20 in 2000 to 60 in 2001. They remained stable at 60 until 2006. or There was a sharp increase in sales from 20 in 2000 to 60 in 2001. They remained stable at 60 for 5 years.

Sales were stable at 60 for 6 years. or There was no change in sales between 2000 and 2006. They remained stable at 60 over this time period.

Sales fell sharply form 60 in 2000 to 20 in 2001. Then remained stable for 4 years and rose slightly to just under 30 in 2006 or There was a sharp fall in sales from 60 in 2000 to 20 in 2001. They remained stable until 2005 and rose slightly to about 30 in 2006

Sales went up rapidly from 0 in 2000 to just under 80 in 2006 or There was a sharp increase in sales from 0 to just under 80 over the 6 year period

Sales went down quickly from about 80 in 2000 to just under 20 in 2006 or There was a dramatic decrease in sales from just under 80 to just under 20 over the 6 year period

Sales rose slowly and consistently from 20 in 2000 to 30 in 2006 or There was a slow rise in sales from 20 in 2000 to 30 in 2006

Sales went up slowly from 20 in 2000 to about 23 in 2001. They decreased slowly to just over 15 in 2006. or There was a slight increase in sales from 20 in 2000 to about 23 in 2001. They decreased slowly to just over 15 in 2006.

Sales fell sharply from 60 in 2000 to 20 in 2001. They remained stable at 20 until 2006 or There was a sharp decrease in sales form 60 in 2000 to 20 in 2001. They were stable at 20 for the next 5 years.

Sales fell slowly from 30 to just under 20 over the 6 year period. or There was a slow decrease in sales from from 30 to just under 20 over the 6 year period

Sales initially went up dramatically from 20 in 2000 to about 35 in 2001. They fell back quickly to about 25 in 2002 and remained

stable at 25 for the next 4 years.