9 Description Questions. Part question Type 1: Basic Description Questions

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In the answer above find examples of the following:

• 
  ·         Redundant language
  
• 
  ·         Uncommon vocabulary
  
• 
  ·         Linking words
  
• 
  ·         Idiomatic vocabulary
  
• 
  ·         Linking phrases
  
• 
  ·         Different tenses (how many are used?)
  

1. 
   Description Structures
   

When responding to description questions, you need to begin with a lead-in phrase. (This is an example of a linking device I redundant language). Possible lead-in phrases include the following:

1. 
   OK then...
   
2. 
   Right, ok...
   
3. 
   Alright...
   
4. 
   Well...
   
5. 
   Well, you know...
   
6. 
   Well first of all...
   
7. 
   Actually...
   

OK then… Alright… Well, you know… Actually… Right, ok… Well… Well first of all



1.1 We can add a "pointing phrase" next, to signal to the listener that the first point is coming. (This is another example of a linking device / redundant language.)

1. 
   ...the first thing I should mention is that...
   
2. 
   ...the point I’d like to begin with is that...
   
3. 
   ...I could start off by saying that...
   
4. 
   ...my initial point would be that...
   
5. 
   ...I need to start off by pointing out that...
   
6. 
   ...the main thing you need to know is that...
   
7. 
   ...I suppose I should begin by highlighting the fact that...
   
8. 
   ...you may (or may not) be aware that in fact...
   
9. 
   ...I really need to kick of with the point that...
   

Most of the above contain interchangeable words. Now you are ready to describe your first point.
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Example question: "Tell me about the street that you live in." or Can you describe me your hometown , please

Think about one important point you can describe about your street (it could be location, size, appearance, the buildings etc.). Do not give the name as this is not really describing (and the name would probably be in Chinese so you would not be using examples of topic-related vocabulary.) Select a lead-in phrase and a pointing phrase.

·         Now describe your first point.

·         Choose different lead-in and pointing phrases and practice describing the first point about your street.

The first point needs to be developed with a complex sentence. Notice in the example how the candidate uses a structure with "that".

"...the first thing I would say is that it‘s absolutely enormous, maybe even one of the biggest cities in Asia I guess."

This is a simple but effective way to join your linking phrase with the detail sentence. The result is a complex structure. Notice how the candidate then uses another linking word "maybe even" to add more details.

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Example question: “Tell me about your studies or job.”
Choose a lead-in and pointing phrase. Introduce your first point and use a structure with "that”. Add a linking word to introduce a detail about your first point. Now we can look at the full structure.

1. 
   Lead-in phrase
   
2. 
   1st pointing phrase
   
3. 
   Point I
   
4. 
   Linking word / phrase + detail about point I
   
5. 
   2nd pointing phrase
   
6. 
   Point 2
   
7. 
   Linking word / phrase + detail about point 2
   
8. 
   3rd pointing phrase
   
9. 
   Point 3
   
10. 
    Linking word / phrase + detail about point 3
    

2.