VOCABULARY FOR DESCRIPTIVE WRITING
HOUSE - VOCABULARY
Unless you live in a block of flats or a bungalow (one-storey house with or without an
attic), British houses normally have two or three floors or stories. On the ground floor you're likely to find the living
room, kitchen and dining room, while on the first
floor you'll probably find bedrooms and a bathroom.
On the second or top floor is the attic, or loft. On the roof of many houses you can still see a chimney and chimney pot – even if
the house now benefits from central heating.The
floors of a house are connected by stairs, with a landing (area) on the upper floor which leads to
the upstairs rooms.
Most British houses are made of brick and cement. In a row of terrace houses (houses joined together), the
interconnecting walls are cavity walls: they have a space between them to
allow air to circulate. On the interiors, the walls are covered in plaster, and then either painted or decorated with
wallpaper. The internal walls
of a house fall into two categories: load-bearing walls
(those that are structural and support the weight of the floors) and partition walls (those walls that divide rooms,
but can be knocked down.) Floors and roofs are supported by strong>beams,
which are long, heavy pieces of wood or metal.
Floors can be covered in a variety of
materials, such as parquet (wooden
squares), laminate flooring (a type of
thin wooden plank), or tiles (either ceramic
or vinyl). In living rooms and bedrooms, the floors are generally covered with
carpets.
Houses are normally connected to local
utilities, such as mains water, electricity and gas supply. In the
countryside, not everyone is connected to mains gas, and some houses have gas tanks in their gardens. The vast majority of
people are connected to the local sewage system (for
waste water), but some people have their own septic
tanks in their gardens to treat waste water. Houses that are
connected to utilities have separate meters to show how
much they consume. Representatives of these utility companies visit houses
regularly to take meter readings –
with which they can then bill their customers.
Some electrical jobs (such as wiring or rewiring = installing
the electrical cables) should only be done by professional electricians,
although you can still change a plug, or
change a socket (the hole in the wall
where you put the plug in to connect to the electricity supply). For safety
reasons, the wiring in the house is on more than one circuit: lighting usually is on one circuit, and
the sockets are on another circuit.
Some plumbing
(water piping) jobs should also be done by professional plumbers. For example,
although you can change taps, you should get a
professional to install a gas boiler.
Some building work can be done without
supervision. Many people enjoy doing DIY, such as putting up shelves, fitting cupboards and doors, assembling furniture and so on. However, for the
big jobs, such as loft conversions and
building extensions, you need to first
apply for and obtain planning and building permission (from the local authorities)
then employ a firm of builders.
In Britain, damp winter weather causes
many problems to houses. For example, some houses can suffer from damp (humidity) or dry
rot, caused by water seeping into walls and timber (wood). For this reason, houses have gutters (tubes attached just under the roof that
run along the length of the house to catch rain water) and some may need
regular damp proof treatment (special
chemicals to prevent damp from spreading). Window sills (the piece of the wall – internal or
external – in which the window is set) and window frames (the wood that goes around the window)
should be made waterproof (so that water cannot get in), and most people have
central heating via radiators to keep the
air inside warm and dry. Special thermostats set on the
wall help to regulate the temperature in the room. In addition, most people
have insulation in the loft to keep
warm air in, and cold air out
VOCABULARY
FOR TALKING ABOUT YOUR FAMILY
your family tree
Your closest relatives are your parents: your mother
and father; and your siblings (brothers or sisters). If your mother or father is not an only child, you also have aunts and / or uncles.
An aunt is the sister of your mother or father, while an uncle is the brother
of your mother or father. Your female child is called your daughter, and your male child is your son.
If your aunts or uncles have children,
they are your first cousins. Your female
cousin is your mother (or father's) niece, while a male
cousin is the nephew of your mother
and father.
In-laws
When you marry, your husband (or
wife's) family becomes your in-laws. The mother of
your spouse (husband or wife) is
your mother-in-law and his or her
father becomes your father-in-law. The
term in-law is also used to describe your relationship with the spouses of your
siblings. So the husband of your sister becomes your brother-in-law, while the sister of your husband
becomes your sister-in-law. If you
are a woman, you become the daughter-in-law of
your husband's parents, and if you are a man, you become the son-in-law of your wife's parents.
Grandparents
/ grandchildren
The parents of your parents are your grandparents – grandmother
and grandfather. You are their grandchildren – either a granddaughter or a grandson.
If your grandparent has a sister, she is your great-aunt.
If your grandparent has a brother, he is your great-uncle.
(And you are either his or her great-niece or great-nephew.)
The mother of your grandmother or
grandfather is your great-grandmother. The
father is your great-grandfather.
Second
families
If your mother or father remarries,
you can acquire a new family and set of relatives. For example, if your father
marries a second wife, she becomes your step-mother. Any
children she already has become your step-sisters or step-brothers.
If your mother or father remarries and
has children, they become your half-brothers or half-sisters.
Types
of family
nuclear
family = mother, father and children:
"The traditional British family unit is a nuclear family."
single-parent
/ one-parent family = a
family which only has one parent (because the parents are divorced, or because
one of the parents has died): "There are more and more single-parent
families in the UK."
immediate
family = your closest relatives: "Only
immediate family members attended the funeral."
extended
family = your entire family: "The
wedding invitations were sent to the entire extended family."
close-knit
family = a family where the members have
close relationships with each other: "They are a close-knit family."
dysfunctional
family = a family where the members have
serious problems with each other: "He comes from a rather dysfunctional
family."
blood
relative = a relative connected to you by
"blood" rather than through marriage: "She's not a blood
relative, but we're still very close."
Expressions with family
family
gathering = a meeting / celebration of family
members: "There's a small family gathering next week."
family
resemblance = where members of the family look /
act similar: "You can see a distinct family resemblance between the father
and the son."
to
start a family = to start having children:
"They want to wait a couple of years before starting a family."
to
run in the family = a
characteristic that is common among family members: "Baldness runs in his
family."
to
bring up / raise a family = to
have and look after children: "It's difficult to raise a family on one
income."
a
family car = a car big enough to transport a
family: "The Volvo Estate is a popular family car."
family-size = large quantity item: "We need to buy
family-size packets of biscuits!"
family-friendly = a policy that favours families: "This
hotel is family-friendly."
family
doctor = a doctor who looks after general
medical needs: "There are a number of good family doctors in this
area."
family
man = a man who prefers to spend his time
with his family: "John is a family man."
family
values = traditional ideas about what a
family should be: "Some political parties often emphasise family values
and the importance of marriage."
family
name = surname: "What's your family
name?"
Describing
family relationships
Children often quarrel with each
other, and these arguments – or squabbles – are often
quickly resolved. In fact, sibling rivalry (the
competition between brothers and sisters) is quite common.
More seriously, if arguments continue
into adulthood, family feuds can
develop where both sides can end up hating each other and even trying to hurt
or destroy each other.
A person who no longer speaks to a
family member is estranged from his /
her family. Often estrangement is voluntary. However, if parents decide they no
longer want anything to do with their children, they cut them off (= break off communiation), or even disinherit them. (Decide not to leave them
anything when they die.)
Most people feel loyalty to their
family, and will defend family members saying "He
/ She's family". There's also a saying "Blood's thicker than water" which means
that your family ties are stronger than any other relationships.
VOCABULARY
- PHYSICAL APPEARANCE
Age
My grandfather is quite old. In fact,
as he has a pension, he is an old age pensioner, or a senior citizen.
His daughter, my aunt, is 55, and middle-aged.
She has three sons. One is a young adult, at 24 years of age, and the
other two are both teenagers. They are 16 and 17. My sister also has two
children – one toddler who is a two-year old, and a baby who is 6
months old.
Build
People are built in all shapes and sizes.
There are those who are fat and overweight. Some people are
extremely overweight and are obese. Other people are naturally slim,
but others look /have absolutely no fat on them and are thin, or skinny.
Personally, I am stocky – small,
but well-built. My father is tall and lean – with very
little fat. My sister is short, but wiry – she is quite thin, but
muscular. Both my brothers are athletic and well-proportioned.
My mother looks like a 1940's film star. She is curvaceous, with an hour-glass
figure.
My grandfather is fit for his age and takes
plenty of exercise. He doesn't want all his muscles to get flabby.
Colouring
My sister is an English rose – she has fair
hair and fair skin. She doesn't tan easily and has to be
careful in the sun. My mother is blonde, also with a fair complexion.
I am a red-head – with red hair. Like many other people with a pale
complexion, I get freckles from the sun – small brown dots on my face
and arms. In contrast, my father has dark-brown hair and he is quite dark-skinned.
You are born with a colour – white or Caucasian, black or Asian.
People whose parents are of different ethnic origin are mixed-race.
Southern Europeans are sometimes described as Mediterranean.
Face
Some people have oval faces – their foreheads
are much wider than their chins. Other people have heart-shaped,
square or round faces.
Features also vary. My grandfather has bushy
eyebrows (he has lots of hair!), a hooked nose and high
cheekbones. His eyes are large and set quite far apart. My mother
has a broad nose, which she hates, as she prefers narrow noses.
But she is lucky to have even or regular teeth. My sister
corrected her crooked teeth by wearing a brace which straightened them.
She has rosy cheeks, small ears and a snub nose, which goes up at
the end.
I have long, curly hair, though my
sister is the opposite, with short, straight hair. Her hair is fine
and doesn't weigh very much, but mine is thick and heavy. My
mother's hair is wavy – in between straight and curly. It's cut in a
bob and she also has a short fringe, where it is cut horizontally
across her forehead. My father is losing his hair – in fact he is going
bald, which makes him very sad. My brother looks like he is going to lose
his hair too – it is receding.
WAYS TO DESCRIBE FRIENDSHIP
IN ENGLISH
BFF (best friends forever) used onle
in informal situations like chatting/sms
best
mate = your best friend.
a
good friend = someone in your "inner
circle" of friends.
to be
really close to someone = be
good friends with
pal = friend (UK slang)
buddy
(best buddy) = friend (mainly US English)
to go
back years = to know someone for a long time:
"Steve and I go back years."
an
old friend = a friend you've known for a long
time: "He's an old friend of Dave's."
a
friend of the family / a family friend = someone close to your family: "John was an old family
friend."
a
trusted friend = someone you can trust
a
childhood friend = a friend from when you were very
young
a
circle of friends =
all the friends in your group: "She's got a great circle of friends."
be
just good friends =
when you want to say you're only friends with someone of the opposite sex:
"We're not going out. We're just good friends, that's all."
More casual friendships
penpal
/ epal = someone you know from corresponding
/ writing: "Find a penpal on our Penpals forum!"
someone
you know from work (or
another interest group): "Andy? Oh, he's someone I know from work."
someone
you know to pass the time of day with = someone you know to say "hello" to.
casual
acquaintance = someone you don't know very well:
"She's just a casual acquaintance of mine."
a
friend of a friend =
someone you only know because they're a friend of one of your friends.
"Dave's a friend of a friend."
a
mutual friend = someone that two people know:
"Karen's a mutual friend of both me and Rachel."
MATES
classmate
= someone in your class at school.
workmate = someone you work with
flatmate (UK English) roommate
(US English) = someone you share a flat or house with
soul
mate = someone you're very close to
because you share the same opinions and beliefs
Not good friends
on-off
relationship = where you're sometimes friendly,
and sometimes not: "Cath and Liz have an on-off relationship."
fair-weather
friend = a friend who's never around when you
need help: "She's only a fair-weather friend."
a
frenemy = someone who's a friend and an enemy
at the same time.
Other expressions
strike
up a friendship with =
make friends with someone
be no
friend of = not like someone / something:
"I'm no friend of his!"
have
friends in high places =
know important / influential people: "Be careful what you say. He's got
friends in high places."
