Describing People in English: Vocabulary for Friends & Family ESL Lesson

This ESL lesson is designed for medium-level students to master the art of describing people in English. You will learn essential vocabulary for discussing friends and family, using various English tenses and grammar structures. Improve your English conversation skills and confidently talk about the important people in your life.

Describing People in English: Vocabulary for Friends and Family (ESL Lesson)

Learning how to describe others is a fundamental part of English conversation. This lesson will help you build your vocabulary and grammar skills to talk about the appearance, personality, and relationships of your friends and family. Let’s start improving your ability in describing people in English!

MODE 1: The Foundation – Describing People with ‘To Be’

In this mode, we use only the verb ‘to be’ (am, are, is, was, were, will be) to describe states or characteristics. Remember, there are NO action verbs here!

Present: Describing Now

I am tall and have brown hair.
You are very kind and thoughtful.
He is my brother, and he is quite funny.
She is a doctor, and she is intelligent.
It is a nice photo of my family.
We are good friends and we are happy together.
They are my parents, and they are very supportive.

Past: Describing Before

I was a shy child.
You were always energetic when we were younger.
He was my best friend in high school.
She was a dedicated student.
It was a difficult time for them.
We were classmates for many years.
They were very close siblings.

Future: Describing Later

I will be a good listener for you.
You will be a wonderful parent, I’m sure.
He will be an important person in our project.
She will be ready for her new job next month.
It will be a big change for everyone.
We will be colleagues soon.
They will be proud of your achievements.

MODE 2: The Flow – Describing Actions Happening Now or Around a Time

Here, we combine ‘to be’ with action verbs ending in ‘-ing’ to talk about continuous actions or temporary situations. This helps in describing people in English in a more dynamic way.

Present Continuous: Happening Now

I am thinking about my family reunion next week.
You are listening carefully to my story about my sister.
He is laughing at his brother’s joke right now.
She is helping her friend with homework this evening.
We are planning a surprise party for our mom.
They are talking on the phone with their relatives.

Past Continuous: Happening at a Specific Time in the Past

I was walking with my aunt yesterday afternoon.
You were studying when your friend called.
He was playing soccer with his cousins when it started raining.
She was cooking dinner while her parents were watching TV.
We were discussing our family history last night.
They were traveling to see their grandparents last summer.

Future Continuous: Happening at a Specific Time in the Future

I will be visiting my grandparents next month.
You will be celebrating your friend’s birthday next weekend.
He will be working on a project with his dad all day tomorrow.
She will be meeting her new colleagues at the party.
We will be enjoying a family meal together on Sunday.
They will be attending their sister’s wedding next year.

MODE 3: The Perspective – Simple Tenses for Habits and Facts

Simple tenses describe habits, routines, facts, and general truths. We will focus on the difference between declarations and affirmations, which is key for understanding negations and interrogations. To learn more on our ESL homepage, visit https://esl.onlinezr.com.

Declarations: Simple Statements

I like my cousin.
You work with my father.
He lives near his parents.
She studies English every day.

Affirmations: Emphasizing the Truth (Used as a bridge for Negations & Interrogations)

We use ‘do’ or ‘does’ to affirm something. This helps us form negations and questions easily.

I do like my cousin. (Negation: I do not like my cousin. / Interrogation: Do I like my cousin?)
You do work with my father. (Negation: You do not work with my father. / Interrogation: Do you work with my father?)
He does live near his parents. (Negation: He does not live near his parents. / Interrogation: Does he live near his parents?)
She does study English every day. (Negation: She does not study English every day. / Interrogation: Does she study English every day?)

Past Simple: Completed Actions in the Past

I visited my aunt last summer.
You helped your friend move last week.
He played with his brother when he was a child.
She called her family yesterday.

Future Simple: Actions in the Future

I will meet my friends for coffee tomorrow.
You will see your sister at the party.
He will join his cousins on vacation.
She will send a card to her grandparents.

MODE 4: The Completion – Perfect Tenses for Experienced Actions

Perfect tenses connect actions or states to a point in time, emphasizing completion or experience.

Present Perfect: Actions Started in the Past, Still Relevant Now

I have known my best friend for ten years.
You have met my entire family already.
He has traveled with his relatives many times.
She has finished her university degree.
We have lived in this city for a long time.
They have visited us every holiday season.

Past Perfect: Action Completed Before Another Past Action

I had already eaten when my friend arrived.
You had already left before your brother called.
He had completed his chores before his parents came home.
She had decided to move before she told her family.
We had discussed the plans before the meeting started.
They had seen that movie before, so they chose another one.

Future Perfect: Action Will Be Completed Before a Future Time

I will have finished my presentation before my friend gets here.
You will have learned a lot about describing people in English by the end of this lesson.
He will have saved enough money for his trip by next year.
She will have organized the whole event before Saturday.
We will have completed our project before the deadline.
They will have celebrated their anniversary by next month.

MODE 5: The Strategy – Modals and WH-Questions

This mode helps you add nuance to your descriptions and ask for specific information.

MODALS: Adding Possibility, Ability, Advice, Obligation

Modals are helping verbs that express different meanings.

Can / Could (Ability/Possibility): My sister can speak three languages. He could be at his friend’s house.
Should (Advice/Recommendation): You should call your mother more often. She should rest after such a long day.
Will / Would (Future/Politeness): I will introduce you to my cousin. Would you like to meet my parents?
May / Might (Possibility): They may come to the family dinner. She might be busy tomorrow.
Must (Obligation/Strong Recommendation): We must help our neighbors. You must visit your aunt soon.

WH-QUESTIONS: Asking for Specific Information

Use WH-questions to get details about people.

Who: Who is that tall man? (Asking about a person)
Whose: Whose car is this? Is it your brother’s? (Asking about possession)
What: What does your friend do? (Asking about occupation/activity)
Where: Where does your family live? (Asking about place)
When: When will your relatives arrive? (Asking about time)
Why: Why is she so happy today? (Asking for a reason)
Which: Which sister is older? (Asking about choice)
How: How are your parents doing? (Asking about manner/condition)
How many: How many cousins do you have? (Asking about quantity)
How much: How much time do you spend with your family? (Asking about amount)

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Vocabulary List (Beginner Level)

Here are some simple words to help you with describing people in English:

Tall – having a greater height than average.
Short – having less height than average.
Friendly – kind and pleasant.
Shy – nervous or uncomfortable around other people.
Funny – causing laughter or amusement.
Intelligent – having good understanding and knowledge.
Kind – caring and considerate.
Generous – willing to give money, help, or time freely.
Energetic – full of energy and enthusiasm.
Quiet – making little or no noise.
Optimistic – hopeful and confident about the future.
Serious – thoughtful or subdued in nature.
Supportive – providing encouragement or emotional help.

Practice Dialogue (Beginner Conversation)

Read this conversation to see how to practice describing people in English.
Suggested alt text: “ESL lesson about describing people in English for beginners.”

A: Hi Sarah! How are you?

B: I’m good, thanks! I just visited my cousin, David.

A: Oh, nice! What’s David like? I don’t think I’ve met him.

B: He’s quite tall, with dark hair. He’s very funny and always tells great jokes. He also works as an engineer.

A: Sounds like a great guy! Is he older or younger than you?

B: He’s a bit older. He’s also very supportive and always gives good advice. We often play chess together.

FAQ: Common Questions About This Topic

Q: How can I start describing people in English if I’m a beginner?
A: Start with simple physical descriptions like “He is tall,” or “She has brown hair.” Then add personality traits like “He is kind” or “She is funny.”
Q: What are some common words for describing a friend’s personality?
A: You can use words like friendly, kind, funny, outgoing, shy, energetic, generous, or intelligent.
Q: Can I use ‘to be’ and action verbs in the same sentence when describing people?
A: Yes, you can! For example, “My sister is very kind, and she helps many people.” Just make sure the verbs are in the correct tenses.
Q: How do I ask someone to describe their family members?
A: You can ask, “What is your father like?” or “Can you describe your sister for me?” For more practice, join our free email list at https://esl.onlinezr.com/post-subscribe/.

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