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Pour mieu x v o u s e xp rimer à l’ora

l et à l’écrit.

Leur classement suit le Vous y trouverez des Dans les chapitres,

déroulement du commentaire exemples concrets et les renvois à ces pages
de document : directement utilisables dans sont signalés ainsi : → YP 00
description lesquels vous pourrez choisir
interprétation l’expression la mieux adaptée
opinion personnelle à la nature du document
et à ce que vous voulez dire.

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Description 14a. Comparing 33. Analysing symbols

14b. Comparatives 34. Preventing / Enabling
1. Planning
15. Parallel increase 35. Persuading
2a. First reactions
16. Superlatives 36. Concluding
2b. First impressions
17. Contrasting
3a. Announcing an event
18. Measuring / Counting Personal reactions
3b. Describing the action
19. Reporting speech 37. Interacting
4. Describing a situation
20. Quoting a document 38. Opinions
5. Describing people
21. Making hypotheses 39. Agreeing / Disagreeing
6. Describing objects
22. Anticipating 40. Criticizing
7a. Describing habits
41. Praising
7b. Adverbs of frequency
Interpretation 42. Expressing preference
8a. Describing visuals
23. Observing, deducing 43. Judging / Advising
8b. Locating elements
24. Analysing impressions 44. Accusing
8c. Locating elements
25. Inferring meaning 45. If…
on a map
26. Describing allusions 46. Remembering
9. Describing sequences
27. Expressing intentions 47. Imagining
10. Positioning
28. Expressing causality 48. Wishing / Regretting
11. Describing charts
29. Targeting (adverts)
12. Commenting on charts /
graphs 30. Expressing purpose
13. Commenting on texts / 31. Appearance / Reality
slides 32. Expressing paradox

1
 1. Planning

Main parts
Description

1. As an introduction,
2. First of all, / Firstly, it can be said
that...
3. Secondly, we might say

4. Thirdly, / Last of all, / Finally,

5. To conclude, / As a conclusion,

6. First(ly), we will focus on the way...

7. Second(ly), I will examine to what extent...
8. Third(ly), I will see how...

Specific arguments

cause of
likely
consequence of
probable
solution to this
possible
reason for
predictable
factor explaining

9. One
10. Another is that...
11. Yet another
interesting
disturbing
detail showing
exciting this
aspect of
annoying
worrying

2
 2a. First reactions

striking
incredible

Description
interesting this
ironical about this picture
1. What I find (the) most this video is that…
ridiculous in
impressive this document
threatening
unpleasant

this
about this picture
2. What strikes me (the) most this video is that…
in
this document

2b. First impressions

looks
bizarre,
1. This sounds in that… / because…
strange,
feels

bizarre, (adj.)
strange,
looks
2. This man in that… / because…
sounds
a journalist,
like a preacher,
… (noun)

reminds me of
something being...
3. This sounds like
someone doing...
seems to be

4. We are under the impression that

5. We get the feeling that
someone is doing...
6. It seems that
7. It looks as if

3
 3. Describing a situation

What?

an article
Description

1. What we have here is about…

a video

essential question.
2. This document is about crucial problem.
a(n)
3. This deals with major issue.
topical matter.
controversial

Where?
in a high-speed train,
4. The incident/scene took place on a beach,
5. The attack occurred/occurs along the Irish border,
outside a bank in London,

When?
around
at approximately 10 o’clock on Friday.
at exactly

4a. Announcing an event…

A TV anchor speaking in the studio:

1. We have news that there has been an accident...

somebody has been injured...
2. We are told that
a car bomb has gone off...
3. Apparently, an armed man/group has invaded the...

4b. … Describing the action

A field reporter explaining on the spot:

first, a car crashed into another,...

The way it happened was that... then, it rolled over,...
and finally, it came to a stop against a wall.

4
 5. Describing people

He/She is…
tall, well-built, good-looking.
gorgeous.

Description
pretty (girl).
fat, beautiful (girl).
handsome (man).
cute (child, girl).

of medium
height, slim/thin,

short/small,

She’s got…

dark frizzy straight curly wavy

light brown
auburn
red/ginger hair,
fair/blond
sandy
grey
white

which she wears in

pigtails a pony tail a plait / plaits

He’s got…
a crewcut,
a moustache
no hair at all, and a beard.
he’s bald.

He/She’s wearing/carrying…
a suit a tie a blouse
an overcoat a scarf

a waistcoat
bracelets
a skirt
a handbag
a dress
a jacket
tights or
leggings
trousers high-heel shoes
a three-piece suit

5
 6. Describing objects

Shape
Description

cylinder cylindrical

cube cubic

rectangle rectangular

1. It looks like a(n) square 2. It is square

circular
disc round
disc-like
sphere spherical

egg oval

(in shape).

Function

instrument
thing for doing…
device
3. This tool is
technology designed to
app do…
meant to
software

6
 7a. Describing habits

1. it is commonplace to do / to avoid doing...

Description
tradition
In the UK, to do / to avoid doing...
custom
In the USA,
2. the tendency is
In Canada,
stereotype that you should (not) do...
In Great Britain,
rule

3. doing this is the rule.

4. you don’t...

The British
The Irish
The Chinese 5. will usually do...
The French
(The) Americans 6. are (not) used to doing...
(The) Germans
(The) Canadians

7b. Adverbs of frequency

always
usually
1. (The) Americans frequently eat more fat than we do.
often
repeatedly

periodically
2. I am occasionally late for meals.
sometimes

seldom
rarely
3. I have seen such a great film.
hardly ever
never

twice a year.
4. I used to go there three times a year.
once in a while.

7
 8a. Describing visuals

Camera angle
Description

close-up
long-distance shot.
1. This is a
downward view.
upward
in the background

below.
2. The subject is seen from
above.

close.
3. The horizon is
far away.
IN THE FOREGROUND

Major lines

4. There are many horizontal/vertical/diagonal lines.

sense of perspective given by...

5. We have a
feeling of movement suggested by...

8b. Locating elements

At the top,

In the upper / top In the upper / top

left-hand corner of right-hand corner
the picture, we have… of the picture, we have…

On the left, In the middle, On the right,

In the lower / bottom In the lower / bottom

left-hand corner of right-hand corner of
the picture, we have… the picture, we have…

At the bottom,

8
 8c. Locating elements on a map

North of …,

Description
North-west of …, North-east of …,

West of …, East of …,

South-west of …, South-east of …,

South of …,

9. Describing sequences

FILM LANGUAGE

1. Framing 
1. establishing /
panoramic shot
Œ  Ž
2. medium shot
3. full-length shot
4. close-up
5. extreme close-up

 

2. Camera movements

• arrêt sur image : freeze-frame • plongée : downward shot / high-angle shot / dip
• champ : shot • retour arrière : reverse
• contre-champ : reverse shot • séquence : sequence
• contre-plongée : upward shot / low-angle shot / tilt • travelling : tracking-shot/travelling-shot
• fondu-enchaîné : cross-fade/dissolve • voix off : voice over
• plan : shot/framing • zoom AV./AR. : zooming in/out
• plan long : long take

9
 10. Positioning
over
Description

above
on
behind

out of

inside
+ in

to the left of into to the right of

in front of
under outside
underneath below + next to

11. Describing charts

column

bar This is a 3D pie-chart.

1. What we have here is a(n)
line chart. A
2. This here is a(n) C
pie B

doughnut

the A section represents about 65 per cent

3. As is obvious, of the whole, while B and C are almost equal,
respectively 18 and 17 percent.
4. As can be clearly seen,
A is about three times as big as B or C.

10
 12. Commenting on charts/graphs

1. As is obvious here in this chart,...

Description
2. As can be seen clearly in this chart,...

there has been no significant change

increase
in…
decrease
there has been a huge cut
tremendous drop
major fall
significant
slight
minor

24% 67%
been boosted from to
$10,000 $52,000
increased
augmented
gone up 43%
by
$42,000

3. Taxes have
4. Stock options have

67% 24%
been cut from to
$52,000 $10,000
dropped
gone down
fallen 43%
by
$42,000

11
 13. Commenting on texts/slides

Texts
Description

passage is composed of
three parts.
1. The text
three paragraphs.
poem is divided into

first part is about…

2. The second part deals with…
third part is based on…

first part
issue
3. The raised in the second part is…
problem
third part

Slides
demonstrating
how…
showing

1. This here is a(n) image

document a number of…
slide a group of…
2. What we have here in this is
picture a couple of…
photograph a…
3. This map

demonstrates
how…
shows

background, we can see…

4. In the
foreground, clearly visible, we have…

12
 14a. Comparing

Compared
with

Description
1. In comparison her, he looks fragile.
to
In contrast

In comparison, this appears very similar,

This is similar to…,
2. in that…
This is the same situation/idea as in...,
They both convey the same idea,

Similarly,
one could say
3. In (much) the same way, that…
it could be said
In both cases,

14b. Comparatives

comfortable
more appropriate than that one.
efficient

1. This one is
bigger
longer
better than that one.
farther away
worse

as big
2. This one is as that one.
not as long

comfortable
3. This one is less appropriate than that one.
efficient

13
 15. Parallel increase

1. The more you sell, the cheaper you can sell. / The bigger the demand, the higher the prices.
2. The fewer Ferraris they produce, the more expensive they will be.
Description

3. The more you look at it, the more difficult the problem seems to be.
4. The problem gets more and more difficult as you look at it. / Prices tend to get higher and higher.

16. Superlatives

intelligent girl on campus.

the most
in the group.

the more brilliant of the two.

the smartest kid in the school.

She is (by far)
the least pleasant person I’ve ever met.

the best student I know.

the worst actress I’ve ever seen.

17. Contrasting

There is a
1. sharp contrast with the previous document, in that…
This is in

whereas
2. In the other document, we saw..., here we have...
while

Unlike
3. the document we saw, this one shows...
Contrary to

showing..., this one presents...

4. Instead of
a direct message, this one presents a pastiche...

14
 18. Measuring / Counting

Measuring

Description
twenty feet in length / in width / in height.
1. The room is
twenty feet long/wide/high.

600 pounds.
2. This motorbike weighs
272 kilograms.

twenty foot-long/-wide/-deep pool.

3. This is a
600-pound motorbike.

Counting

2.5% two point five per cent

2 x 6 = 12 two times six is twelve

3,000 – 210 = 2,790 three thousand minus two hundred and ten is...

6 –.. 2 = 3 six divided by two is three

I have twice as many books as you.

Sure, but there’s twice as much information in mine.

This motorcycle is worth £5,000 (five thousand pounds).

Fractions and powers

5 one kilometre is five eighths of a mile.

1 km = mile
8

3 seventy-five centilitres is three quarters of a litre.

75 cl = litre
4

104 ten to the fourth

Statistics

1. The birth rate in Britain is 18 per thousand.

2. In the music industry, total UK single sales increased 6 per cent to 188.6 million.

15
 19. Reporting speech

–>
“I’m tired.”
Description

“I was he was tired.

here yesterday.”
1. He said: He said (that) he had been there the day before.
they would be there the day after.
“We will be
here tomorrow.”

–>
“Take your car
and come over.”
2. He said to him: He told him to take his car and come over.

–>
“Will you
come over?”
if
3. He asked her: He asked her she would come over.
whether

20. Quoting a document

passage,
paragraph,
In this sentence,
line,
sequence,

we are told that…

the writer
the editor insists on phrases such as / like “…”
the adman emphasizes words such as / like “…”
the film director

16
 21. Making hypotheses

Adverbs of eventuality
No doubt. +

Description
Do you think this happened? Most probably.
Probably.
Do you think this is happening?
Possibly.
Do you think this will happen? Maybe.
Perhaps. –

Modals of eventuality

Past

She/He/They must / might / may / can’t have done this.

Present

She/He/They must / might / may / can’t be doing this.

Future
is / are sure to
is / are bound to
is / are likely to
She/He/They do this.
may
might
is / are unlikely to

22. Anticipating

1. From what we already know of the document,

the information available so far,
2. Judging from
the way things are going,
3. Given the elements contained in this paragraph, such as “…” or/and “…”,

predict
infer
we can presume that…
suppose
expect

17
 23. Observing, deducing

1. Obviously, the man

does...
the character
2. Apparently, is doing...
the journalist
3. We can observe that uses...
the writer

result from
the fact that…
result in
Interpretation

4. This might indicate

5. This may suggest
6. This could imply that…
7. This tends to show
prove

explain why...

24. Analysing impressions

writer create
manages
film director convey
1. The attempts to
journalist put across
tries
character give us

the impression that…

danger.
an impression suspense.
a feeling / a sense of threat.
an atmosphere beauty.
peace.

doing...
by
2. And he obtains this using...
through
the use of...

18
 25. Inferring meaning

1. When reading/hearing the word/phrase “…”,

we can infer it means “…”.

that
we can assume it is equivalent to “…”.

2. The word/phrase “…”

Interpretation
seems to be explained by the previous/following word/phrase “…”, which means “…”.

26. Describing allusions

an allusion
a comparison to…
What we have here a reference
1. is
What we can see here

a parallel with…

2. This is a distorted image of…

parody
3. This is a of…
pastiche

19
 27. Expressing intentions

showing this,
1. By choosing this character,
the adman
using this word,
the company
the film director
the journalist
this commercial,
2. With the author
this character,
this word,
Interpretation

show
wants to demonstrate
prove that…
intends to suggest
indicate

the audience
makes ø realize
the readers
believe
the public that…
understand
the clients
wants to feel
the viewers

28. Expressing causality

Event or action
–> As a result, …
So, …
–> Consequence

Expressing cause Expressing consequence

This is due to… This leads to…

This results from… This results in…
This is caused by This causes a…
Another reason/cause is… This is one reason why…
This is explained by the fact that… This explains why…

20
 29. Targeting (adverts)

1. Obviously,
the target of this advert is teenage girls.
2. Presumably, this commercial is aimed at the élite.
3. It seems that this ad is directed to/toward(s) men and women.
this campaign is meant to reach all walks of life.
4. It looks as if

30. Expressing purpose

Interpretation
Action
–> Effect

The journalist this strategy so as to obtain this effect.

used
1. The adman this approach in order to convey the idea that...
chose
The company this image to create an impression of...

you believe
this
people feel
2. The purpose of this movie is to make that…
viewers think
this advert
the audience understand

you believe
This
people feel
3. This movie is meant to make that…
viewers think
This advert
the audience understand

21
 31. Appearance / Reality

From appearance…

we are under the impression that...

it seems that...
1. At first sight, it looks as if...
we take it for granted that...
we are led to think that...

…to reality

we realize that...
Interpretation

we are made to understand that...

2. But in fact, / actually,
the writer / film director takes great care to show that...
we gradually become aware that...

32. Expressing paradox

1. Although
this animal looks small and fragile, it is an efficient predator.
2. Even though

3. Despite
the fact that it looks small and fragile, this animal is an efficient predator.
4. In spite of

And yet,
5. It looks small and fragile. this animal is an efficient predator.
However,

6. Granted, this animal looks small and fragile. But still, it is an efficient predator.

22
 33. Analysing symbols

What we have here is a(n)

This is a(n)

metaphor, an object representing

in that we have a concept.
allegory, a character symbolizing

beauty.
majesty/power.
The painting Ø
wisdom.
The image represents

Interpretation
peace.
This detail symbolizes
This montage is a symbol of
This photo stands for conflict between…
This animal birth of…
the
death of…
development of…

34. Preventing / Enabling

Preventing

1. Security personnel prevented the journalists from entering the building.

Enabling

software enables to /allows you to create all sorts of things.

technology
2. This
equipment
strategy allows for better performance and creativity.

23
 35. Persuading

1. He
Action

made
–>
her
Effect

leave the company. (he forced her)

2. She got him to stop working for them. (she persuaded him)

out of
3. She talked him taking the job.
into
Interpretation

4. He had his car repaired. (by a garage mechanic)

5. Do not let them enter.

6. Do not keep them waiting.

36. Concluding

As a conclusion,
To conclude,
Overall,

the document
we can say that this chapter the fact
is based on
it seems that this sequence the notion that…
revolves around
I would say that this video the idea
this article

24
 37. Interacting

Asking for information

where you found this information?

1. Er, excuse me, could you tell me how heavy the file is?
2. Excuse me, sir, do you know who’s calling?
3. Hey pal! Any idea* if there is…?
what…?

Making suggestions Accepting / Refusing

1. I suggest taking the video first. Fine with me.

I suggest that we take… I don’t feel like it.

OK.
2. Let’s check it out, OK?*
No, thanks.

3. Why don’t we Sounds great!*

4. Why not get out now? I’d rather stay in.
5. Shall we No way!*

Personal reactions
Good idea.
6. How about leaving now?
I don’t think it’s such a good idea.

7. Care for* A coke it is, then*.

a coke?
8. Would you like I’m not too keen on the stuff*, I’m afraid.

Gaining time

1. Er…, well, you see,… / you know,…

2. Well, it’s like…, / it’s sort of…/ it’s kinda strange, but…*
3. I’ll tell you what…
4. Now that’s a tricky question…
5. Now please bear with me a second / a minute…
6. Hold on now, let me put it in another way… (trying to reformulate)
7. Anyway, let’s get back to our subject now please…
8. Mind you, / Actually, / As a matter of fact,…
9. What I’m trying to get at, you see, is that…
10. What I mean to say is that… / in other words,…
(*This is oral language to be avoided in writing)

25
 38. Opinions

Stating opinions

1. I can’t help thinking

2. My belief is
3. Personally, I’d tend to think
that…
4. Well, obviously, there’s no doubt
5. As has been said, I think
6. Contrary to what has been said, I believe

7. To my knowledge, there is no such thing as…

Modifying opinions

I do believe that…
1. Having said that,
I also think that…

how you look at it.

2. This depends on how much… / how many…
3. This is a matter of who… / what… / where…
whether…

what you think, I’ll keep saying that…

Personal reactions

whose opinion it is, I think it’s absurd.

4. No matter
how hard you try, you can’t prove your point.
which way you look at it,…

39. Agreeing / Disagreeing

I agree,
1. Yes,
I think this is true,

when you read the text, you find that…

in that when you look at the picture, you observe that…
when you watch the video closely, you understand that…

I disagree,
I don’t agree,
2. No, I don’t think it’s true,
I think this is wrong,
I think this is biased/unobjective,

26
 40. Criticizing

I’m afraid I don’t like it at all, in that…

1.
It really is a failure / a flop, because…

worrying,
disturbing,
I find this in that…
2. distressing,
I think it is because…
troubling,
risky,

not clear enough.

I find this is
3.
I think it is
too dangerous .

cases
too few
4. I find there are examples to be able to…
too many
uncertainties

information
too little
5. I find there is opacity in this to…
too much

Personal reactions
transparency

41. Praising

in that…
1. I like it a lot,
because…

good,
great,
in that…
2. I think it’s clear,
because…
fine,
well done,

examples.
evidence.
3. I find there is just the right amount of
details.
anecdotes.

27
 42. Expressing preference

1. I like playing better than working. 3. I’d rather play than work.
2. I prefer playing to working. 4. I’d rather he paid cash.

43. Judging / Advising

Judging a particular event

He was
wrong
1. They were to do this.
right
We have been

Instead, he
2. Instead of doing this, they should have done that.
Rather than do this, we

Advising about any future actions

Personal reactions

Instead, he
3. Instead of doing this, they should do that.
Rather than doing this, you

44. Accusing

1. they should be blamed

doing…
2. they are to blame for
what happened.
3. they should feel responsible

Clearly, 4. they were guilty

To my mind, 5. he is accused of doing…
My view is that, 6. he accused them

7. he felt guilty about doing…

28
 45. If…

(The hypothesis is quite probable.)

will
1. If the boy does this, he get into trouble.
may

(The hypothesis is not really envisaged.)

would
2. If the boy did this, he get into trouble.
might

(In the end, the hypothesis has not come true.)

would
3. If the boy had done this, he have got into trouble.
might

46. Remembering

Personal reactions
Past

In those days, 1. we used to do…

In those times, 2. we would do…
At that time, 3. we would spend our time doing…

Present

4. we no longer do it.
But now, 5. we don’t do it any more.
These days,
Nowadays, 6. it’s no longer the case.
7. it’s not that way any more.

29
 47. Imagining

These days, we are used to doing…

one day,
sooner or later, we will no longer do it.
within a decade or so, we won’t do it any more.
But… in the near future,
in the short/long term, it will no longer be possible.
tomorrow, it will no longer be that way.
any time now,

48. Wishing / Regretting

Present

I wish 1. she came more often.

Personal reactions

(but she doesn’t)

If only 2. she played the guitar.

Future
3. she would play the guitar. (she knows how to but I don’t think she will)
I wish
If only
4. I could go. (but I’m not allowed to)

Past
5. He regrets having done that.

6. I had never done that.

I wish
7. she had called me. (but it’s too late now anyway)
If only
8. I could have left.

30