Describing places

1. DESCRIBING PLACES

2. QUESTIONS WHICH CITY/TOWN/VILLAGE IS IT? WHERE IS IT? WHAT IS

THERE TO SEE AND DO? WHAT IS THE CITY LIKE? IT’S FAMOUS FOR… WHY IS
IT MEANINGFUL TO YOU? HOW ARE THE PEOPLE? WHAT’S THE WEATHER
LIKE? HOW IS THE FOOD?

3. USEFUL EXPRESSIONS It offers… It’s well known for… • The views are … It’s possible
to… • You shouldn’t miss … It’s got... • The atmosphere is … You can see… • It’s located in …
It’s close to… • It’s far away from … • What I don’t like about it is … • The good thing about
this place is … • A popular tourist attraction is … • It’s popular with tourists because…

4. LOCATION BY THE SEA ON THE COAST IN THE COUNTRY IN THE
NORTH/SOUTH/WEST /EAST OF ON THE RIVER (NAME) IN A VALLEY ON A
PLAIN IN THE MOUNTAINS NEAR A FOREST/DESERT

5. ATMOSPHERE/ADJECTIVES • PEACEFUL/QUIET: not busy, calm, free from activities •

ANCIENT: with a long history • BEAUTIFUL: very pleasing on the eye •
CHARMING/PICTURESQUE: nice, very pleasant in a unique way • COSMOPOLITAN: with a
varied mix of cultures and languages • BORING: dull, uninteresting • BUSTLING: a crowded,
busy place • COMPACT: not very big, within a small area • NOISY: full of noise, busy •
UNSPOILT: having an unaltered character, pure, immaculate • STUNNING: very attractive,
impressive, astonishing

6. ATMOSPHERE/ADJECTIVE S • LIVELY: with lots of things going on • FASCINATING:

very interesting • HUGE: very big, enormous • POLLUTED: dirty, contaminated •
TOURISTIC/TOURISTY: visited by lots of tourists • EXCITING: thrilling, with lots of
enjoyable things to do • POPULAR: liked by a lot of people • CROWDED: very full of people •
CONTEMPORARY: modern, very up to date • EXPENSIVE: costing a lot of money •
HOSPITABLE: welcoming to guests or strangers • HISTORIC: with a lot of ancient buildings

7. ACTIVITIES • LOTS OF NIGHTLIFE • SPECTACULAR VIEWS • GOOD

SHOPS/TRANSPORT • GO SIGHTSEEING/SHOPPING/HIKING • VISIT MUSEUMS/ART
GALLERIES • TAKE LOTS OF PHOTOS • GO TO CONCERTS/THE
THEATRE/EXHIBITIONS • DO BUSINESS • PRACTISE A SPORT: horse-riding,
windsurfing, paragliding, cycling, mountain biking, snowboarding • MEET PEOPLE • RELAX
ON THE WONDERFUL BEACHES • WANDER ROUND THE TOWN/SHOPS • GO FOR A
BOAT RIDE ON THE LAKE/RIVER • GET ON THE TOURIST BUS

8. AREAS IN TOWN Downtown: the central or lower part of a city, esp the main commercial
area Outskirts: bordering areas or districts of a city Suburbs: a residential district situated on
the outskirts of a city or town Industrial zone: an area for the purpose of industrial development
Residential area: suitable for residence
9. BUILDINGS  CATHEDRAL CHURCH  SHOPPING CENTRE DEPARTMENT STORE
 LIBRARY CHAPEL  SWIMMING POOL SUPERMARKET  THEATRE/CINEMAS
CASTLE  SPORTS CENTRE HOTEL/MOTEL/INN/HOSTEL  MUSEUM ART GALLERY
 HOSPITAL UNIVERSITY  BANK SKYSCRAPER  POLICE STATION

10. PLACES IN TOWN  BUS/TRAIN/ STATION  AMUSEMENT PARK  ZOO  PARK

 COUNTRYSIDE  PIER: EMBARCADERO, MUELLE  HARBOUR: PUERTO  PORT:
PUERTO PARA BARCOS  AIRPORT  PETROL STATION

11. SHOPS BOOKSHOP OPTICIAN’S BUTCHER’S SHOE SHOP BAKER’S

BOUTIQUE CHEMIST’S IRONMONGER’S FISHMONGER’S GREENGROCER’S
STATIONER’S OFF LICENCE KIOSK/TUCK SHOP JEWELLER’S SWEETS SHOP
FURNITURE SHOP FLORIST’S GROCER’S LAUNDERETTE DRY-CLEANER’S
TOBACCONIST’S NEWSAGENT’S

12. Types of houses DETACHED HOUSE SEMI-DETACHED HOUSES TERRACED

HOUSES

13. Types of houses LIGHTHOUSE VILLA BEAMED HOUSE

14. Types of houses BUNGALOW COTTAGE WINDMILL

15. A COASTAL CITY

16. A MOUNTAINOUS PLACE

17. VENICE

18. A BIG CITY

19. A POLLUTED CITY

20. A CROWDED STREET

21. A CONTEMPORARY CITY