English Vocabulary and Grammar Practice: Descriptions

Posted on Oct 3, 2025 in English

Vocabulary: Describing People

Pelo rizado: Curly hair
Barba: Beard
Gordito: Chubby
Pelo de punta: Spiky hair
Cabello Lacio: Straight hair
Ojos estrechos: Narrow eyes
Ojos brillantes: Bright eyes
Descuidado: Scruffy
Bigote: Mustache
Calvo: Bald
Arrugas: Wrinkles
Pelo ondulado: Wavy hair
Guapo: Handsome
Bien vestido: Well dressed
Sonrisas: Friendly smiles
Linda: Cute
Tatuaje: Tattoo
Personas mayores: Elderly
Encantadora pareja de ancianos: Lovely old couple
Tímido: Shy
Rubio: Blond
Delgada: Thin
Amistoso: Friendly
Extrovertido: Outgoing
Dientes: Teeth

Interrupting and Resuming Conversations

(I) Can you hold on a minute? ¿Puede esperar un minuto?
(R) What were you saying? ¿Qué estabas diciendo?
(I) Oh, just a second. Oh, solo un segundo.
(R) So, where were we? Entonces, ¿dónde estábamos?
(I) Excuse me just a minute. Disculpe solo un minuto.
(R) What was I saying? ¿Qué estaba diciendo?
(I) Oh, just a minute. Oh, solo un minuto.
(R) So you were saying? ¿Qué estabas diciendo?
(I) Can you wait just a second? ¿Puedes esperar un segundo?
(R) All right. Where was I? Correcto, ¿dónde estaba?

Practice Exercises

Complete the Conversation

(Using interruption/resumption phrases)

Akemi: I’m sorry… Can you wait just a second?
Kyle: (Turning) off the TV… Oh, what were you saying?
Muriel: (Looking for) my briefcase… What was I saying?

Disagree with the Statements

(Providing contrasting opinions/comparatives)

Statement: I think VCRs… are easier. Disagreement: I think VCRs are more difficult.
Statement: To me, regular (coffee)… tastes worse. Disagreement: To me, regular coffee tastes better.
Statement: I think radios… are quieter. Disagreement: I think radios are louder.
Statement: It’s easier… Disagreement: It’s more difficult.
Statement: It’s hard when… Disagreement: It’s better when…
Statement: In my opinion… messages less popular. Disagreement: In my opinion, messages are more popular.

Phone Communication Expressions

A. Complete the Expressions

Have a bad connection
Call me back
Have another call
Leave a message
Have the wrong number
Please hold on
Get cut off

B. Use the Phone Expressions in Context

Sheila called… (Answer: call me back)
Rick can’t hear… (Answer: have a bad connection)
William needs to talk… (Answer: leave a message)
Jim wanted to… (Answer: has the wrong number)
I have problems… (Answer: get cut off)
I called Mike… (Answer: please hold on)
Jerl works… (Answer: has another call)

C. Choose the Best Response

Prompt: I can’t hear… Response: Call me back…
Prompt: Please, leave… Response: Hi Frank. This…
Prompt: Can you hol(d on)… Response: Sure, no problem.
Prompt: Oh, I’m (sorry)… Response: No problem.
Prompt: Good morn(ing)… Response: Could I…
Prompt: Did you get (the message)… Response: Yeah. I th(ink so)…

Grammar Practice: Comparatives (More, Less, Fewer)

(Exercise completion based on context clues)

Nancy… Wow: more
Bill… Yeah: more
Julie… Oh no: less
Paula… Let me: more
Dan… I only: fewer
Eric… I don’t: more
Miki… Would you: more
Larry… Well, I’m: less
Ben… Oh, no! The ser(vice): fewer
Paul… I don’t know: less, more

Reading Comprehension: Article Structure

Match the section title to the content summary (Blogging article).

Introduction to the topic: Blogging is a po(pular activity)…
Advantages of blogging: Blogs are helpful.
Disadvantages of blogging: On the other hand…
Conclusion: I think that…

Family Descriptions and Appearance (Have Got)

Review the structure: Yes, I have got / No, I haven’t got / {She|He} {has|hasn’t} got {long hair|green eyes|etc}.

Questions and Answers (Based on a visual reference)

Who does Karen take after? She takes after Sharon.
Who’s got dark hair? Dick, Kevin, and Joey have got dark hair.
Who’s got straight hair? Sharon and Karen have got straight hair.
Do Kevin and Joey have dark hair? Yes, they do.
Who’s bald? Ivan is bald.

Personal Reflection: Appearance and Family

(Example answers for discussion)

Are you taller or shorter than your parents? I’m taller than my mother, but I’m shorter than my father.
Who does your father take after? In both appearance and personality, I definitely look like my dad.
Do you look more like your mother or father? I’m more like my father. I have the facial features of my father.
How many people have black hair? Almost all have got black hair.
What famous person do you look like? I don’t look like anyone.

Vocabulary Clues: Physical Features

Read the clues and identify the feature.

These can make teeth straight.: Braces
This grows on a man’s chin and cheeks.: A beard
These are tiny braids close to the scalp.: Cornrows
People wear these to help them see.: Glasses
These have tiny holes for jewelry.: Pierced ears
People who do weightlifting often become this.: Muscular
These are little brown spots on the skin.: Freckles
This grows under a man’s nose.: Mustache
This is what we call people with no hair on their head.: Bald
Some women think these make their hands look better.: Long nails
People with long hair often tie it back in this style.: A ponytail
Young people sometimes like this hairstyle.: Spiked hair

Complete the Conversation (Describing Features)

Katherine: What star is in it? What’s his name? Young Joon: He cut his hair off. What do you call it? Katherine: Those long twisted things. What do you call those things?
Brittany: Who is the singer with the great voice? What’s her name? Brittany: She has those little braids. What do you call them? Brittany: Her outfit looks like a… um… What do you call it?

Comparative Adjectives List

Big: bigger
Beautiful: more beautiful
Interesting: more interesting
Long: longer
Dangerous: more dangerous
Good: better
Expensive: more expensive
Rich: richer
Bad: worse
Clever: cleverer
Fast: faster