Describing Everyday Objects

Pre-intermediate (A2) 35 minutes
ESL Describing Objects Worksheet preview for Pre-intermediate A2 showing adjective matching and sentence completion

ESL Describing Objects Worksheet - Vocabulary Exercises: Matching, Binary Choice, Gap-fill, Sentence Completion - Speaking: Describing, Guessing - Pair Work

In this useful describing objects worksheet, students build their vocabulary and practice using adjectives to describe the size, weight and dimensions of everyday...

ESL Describing Objects Worksheet - Vocabulary Exercises: Matching, Binary Choice, Gap-fill, Sentence Completion - Speaking: Describing, Guessing - Pair Work In this useful describing objects worksheet, students build their vocabulary and practice using adjectives to describe the size, weight and dimensions of everyday objects. First, students write adjectives from a box under pictures and match the adjectives with their opposites. Students then underline the correct adjectives in sentences before completing descriptions with opposite adjectives. Next, students complete sentences about everyday objects with their own ideas. In pairs, students compare their answers and find an adjective used to describe different objects. Finally, students choose four everyday objects and write two sentences about each one, e.g. 'It's small and light. I use it to write.' Students take turns reading their sentences and guessing their partner's objects.
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Describing Things Scramble

Pre-intermediate (A2) 25 minutes
ESL Describing Things Game preview for Pre-intermediate A2 showing sentence formation with made/used + preposition

ESL Describing Things Game - Reading and Vocabulary: Matching, Forming Descriptions - Pair Work

In this productive describing things game, students race to form descriptions with 'made' or 'used' + preposition expressions. In pairs, students begin by separating cards into three types: sentence beginning...

ESL Describing Things Game - Reading and Vocabulary: Matching, Forming Descriptions - Pair Work In this productive describing things game, students race to form descriptions with 'made' or 'used' + preposition expressions. In pairs, students begin by separating cards into three types: sentence beginning cards, 'made' / 'used' + preposition cards, and ending cards. Next, students line up the sentence beginning cards in order and match each one with an ending card. After that, students complete each sentence with a 'made' / 'used' + preposition card, e.g. 'This mirror is made of glass.' The first pair to complete all the descriptions correctly wins.
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Made + Preposition

Pre-intermediate (A2) 25 minutes
ESL Describing Things Worksheet preview for Pre-intermediate A2 showing gap-fill and preposition matching

ESL Describing Things Worksheet - Vocabulary Exercises: Gap-fill, Matching, Binary Choice - Speaking Activity: Brainstorming - Pair Work

In this comprehensive describing things worksheet, students learn how to describe things with 'made' + preposition expressions. First, students complete...

ESL Describing Things Worksheet - Vocabulary Exercises: Gap-fill, Matching, Binary Choice - Speaking Activity: Brainstorming - Pair Work In this comprehensive describing things worksheet, students learn how to describe things with 'made' + preposition expressions. First, students complete descriptions with words from a box. Next, students look at the 'made' + preposition expressions in bold in the descriptions and match them with their functions. Students then underline the correct preposition in each description. After that, students complete descriptions with the prepositions: in, of, from, with, by or out of. Next, students match sentence halves together, adding a suitable preposition. Students then complete descriptions with the correct preposition. Finally, students work with a partner and try to think of one thing to complete each description.
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Think of Something

Pre-intermediate (A2) 25 minutes
ESL Describing Things Activity preview for Pre-intermediate A2 showing word association with adjectives

ESL Describing Things Activity - Vocabulary: Word Association - Pair Work

In this intriguing describing things activity, students associate things with adjectives and discuss their answers. Working alone, students read each question, e.g. 'What do you think of when you think of something white?' and write their...

ESL Describing Things Activity - Vocabulary: Word Association - Pair Work In this intriguing describing things activity, students associate things with adjectives and discuss their answers. Working alone, students read each question, e.g. 'What do you think of when you think of something white?' and write their answer by associating something with the adjective. Next, students ask a partner the same questions and write down their answers. After that, students compare their answers with their partner to see if they both thought of the same things or not. Finally, students give feedback to the class on how many associations they have in common with their partner and discuss the most common associations made by the class, speculating why. As an extension, students choose five adjectives from the worksheet and write as many things they associate with them as possible. Students then read their lists to the class, who guess the adjective.
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What could it be?

Pre-intermediate (A2) 25 minutes
ESL Describing Things Activity preview for Pre-intermediate A2 showing crossword clues and object guessing

ESL Describing Things Activity - Vocabulary and Speaking: Writing Crossword Clues, Describing, Guessing, Controlled Practice - Pair Work

In this useful describing things crossword activity, students describe and guess everyday objects. In two groups, students invent and write down clues...

ESL Describing Things Activity - Vocabulary and Speaking: Writing Crossword Clues, Describing, Guessing, Controlled Practice - Pair Work In this useful describing things crossword activity, students describe and guess everyday objects. In two groups, students invent and write down clues that describe the objects in their crossword by completing prompts in each column of a table. Next, students pair up with someone from the other group and take turns asking their partner for a clue to one of their missing words. Their partner reads out the clue for that word, e.g. 'It is heavy. It is made of wood. It is used for sitting on.' If the other student guesses the object successfully, they write it on their crossword. If not, their partner continues to give more clues until the student is able to guess the object. Afterwards, students compare their crosswords to check their spelling.
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Describing Objects

Intermediate (B1) 25 minutes
ESL Describing Objects Worksheet preview for Intermediate B1 showing matching, categorising, and oral descriptions

ESL Describing Objects Worksheet - Vocabulary Exercises: Matching, Gap-fill, Writing Descriptions - Speaking Activity: Describing, Guessing - Pair Work

This free describing objects worksheet helps students learn how to describe things using adjectives, the materials they're made of, and their uses. First, students...

ESL Describing Objects Worksheet - Vocabulary Exercises: Matching, Gap-fill, Writing Descriptions - Speaking Activity: Describing, Guessing - Pair Work This free describing objects worksheet helps students learn how to describe things using adjectives, the materials they're made of, and their uses. First, students match sentence halves together to make sentences that describe objects. Students then put words in bold from the sentences into their correct category: adjective, material, or use. Next, students read about describing objects and identify words that show the correct grammar rules. After that, students complete sentences to describe objects, including their qualities, the materials they're made from, and their uses. Students then write three sentences to describe each object shown using words from a box. Lastly, students think of two objects and describe each one in three sentences to a partner without saying what they are. Their partner then tries to guess each object.
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Origin

Intermediate (B1) 25 minutes
ESL Describing Things Game preview for Intermediate B1 showing clues about origin and guessing countries

ESL Describing Things Game - Speaking: Describing, Guessing - Pair Work

In this engaging describing things game, students describe things that come from different countries. Each pair is given a set of cards that show things countries are famous for, such as types of food, animals, sports, company names, products...

ESL Describing Things Game - Speaking: Describing, Guessing - Pair Work In this engaging describing things game, students describe things that come from different countries. Each pair is given a set of cards that show things countries are famous for, such as types of food, animals, sports, company names, products, etc. Students then take turns picking up a card and giving clues about what is on the card to their partner. The first clue must be about the nationality of the thing being described, e.g. 'It is Australian.' Their partner then tries to guess the answer. If they guess correctly the first time, they score five points. If they guess incorrectly, the student gives another clue for four points, and so on. All the way down to zero when the answer is revealed. The student with the most points at the end of the game is the winner.
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The Describing Game

Intermediate (B1) 25 minutes
ESL Describing Things Game preview for Intermediate B1 showing group card-based adjective description

ESL Describing Things Game - Vocabulary: Describing - Group Work

In this creative describing things game, students describe objects with specific adjectives and phrases. In groups, players take turns turning over five cards. The player then thinks of an object and tries to use the five adjectives or phrases...

ESL Describing Things Game - Vocabulary: Describing - Group Work In this creative describing things game, students describe objects with specific adjectives and phrases. In groups, players take turns turning over five cards. The player then thinks of an object and tries to use the five adjectives or phrases on the cards to describe it, making one sentence per card. The other students judge whether each sentence the player makes is acceptable. When a player has used a card successfully to describe their object, they keep the card. Any cards the player was unable to use are put back. The next player then turns over five cards and thinks of a new object, and so on. The player with the most cards at the end of the game wins.
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Whatsitsname?

Intermediate (B1) 25 minutes
ESL Describing Objects Game preview for Intermediate B1 showing pair and group guessing activity

ESL Describing Objects Game - Speaking: Describing, Guessing - Group and Pair Work

In this entertaining describing things guessing game, students describe objects for a partner to guess. In two groups, students discuss and make notes on how to describe the objects on their worksheet without saying what they are. Students then pair up with...

ESL Describing Objects Game - Speaking: Describing, Guessing - Group and Pair Work In this entertaining describing things guessing game, students describe objects for a partner to guess. In two groups, students discuss and make notes on how to describe the objects on their worksheet without saying what they are. Students then pair up with someone from the other group and take turns describing an object to their partner, who has one chance to guess what it is. For each correct guess, students put a tick next to the picture. If a guess is incorrect, students put a cross. The student with the most correct guesses at the end of the game wins.
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Advertising Products

Upper-intermediate (B2) 30 minutes
ESL Describing Products Activity preview for Upper-intermediate B2 showing adjectives and product advertisements

ESL Describing Products Activity - Vocabulary and Writing: Matching, Writing Advertisements, Presenting - Pair Work

In this handy product descriptions activity, students practice adjectives commonly used to advertise products and then use them to write product advertisements. First, in pairs, students look at adjectives...

ESL Describing Products Activity - Vocabulary and Writing: Matching, Writing Advertisements, Presenting - Pair Work In this handy product descriptions activity, students practice adjectives commonly used to advertise products and then use them to write product advertisements. First, in pairs, students look at adjectives and decide which product or products each adjective describes, writing the words in the box next to the product. Next, each pair chooses a different product from the worksheet and writes an advertisement for it using the corresponding adjectives. Each pair then presents their advertisement to the class. Finally, pairs write another product advertisement without mentioning the name of the product and then take turns reading their advertisement to the class who try to guess which product it is.
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Ancient Artifacts

Upper-intermediate (B2) 20 minutes
ESL Describing Objects Game preview for Upper-intermediate B2 showing archaeologist role-play and artifact guessing

ESL Describing Objects Game - Speaking: Describing, Guessing - Group Work

In this interesting describing objects activity, students take on the role of archaeologists in the far future and play a game where they describe objects and guess possible uses. Students imagine that they are archaeologists in the far future and that...

ESL Describing Objects Game - Speaking: Describing, Guessing - Group Work In this interesting describing objects activity, students take on the role of archaeologists in the far future and play a game where they describe objects and guess possible uses. Students imagine that they are archaeologists in the far future and that the cards represent unknown ancient objects they have dug up. In groups, students then take turns picking up a card and describing the object in detail to the group without saying what it is. The student describes the object's size, shape, colour and what it's made of. The student also says what it was possibly used for according to the description on the card. The other students listen to the description and say what they think the object was actually used for. The first student to give the correct use of the object wins and keeps the card. If no one can correctly guess the use, the students move on to guess what the object is. The student with the most cards at the end of the game wins.
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Describe it

Upper-intermediate (B2) 25 minutes
ESL Describing Things Game preview for Upper-intermediate B2 showing adjective cards and matching picture descriptions

ESL Describing Things Game - Vocabulary: Matching, Forming Sentences - Group Work

In this free describing things game, students match adjectives to pictures and then describe the pictures using the adjectives. The aim of the game is for players to get four adjective cards that describe one of the pictures on the table...

ESL Describing Things Game - Vocabulary: Matching, Forming Sentences - Group Work In this free describing things game, students match adjectives to pictures and then describe the pictures using the adjectives. The aim of the game is for players to get four adjective cards that describe one of the pictures on the table. Players take turns picking up and putting down adjective cards. When a player has four adjective cards that describe one of the pictures, they place the cards in front of the picture and describe it, e.g. 'This cheap ice cream is tasty, soft and creamy.' If all the players agree the adjectives match, and the description is appropriate, the student wins and keeps the picture card. The adjective cards are then reshuffled and the game begins again. The student with the most picture cards at the end of the game wins.
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Adjectives of Size, Shape and Colour

Advanced (C1) 40 minutes
ESL Describing Things Worksheet preview for Advanced C1 showing matching, gap-fill, and descriptive writing

ESL Describing Things Worksheet - Vocabulary and Writing Exercises: Matching, Gap-fill, Listing, Writing a Paragraph

In this insightful describing things worksheet, students practice adjectives of size, shape and colour to describe rooms and objects in the home. First, students match adjectives of size, shape and colour...

ESL Describing Things Worksheet - Vocabulary and Writing Exercises: Matching, Gap-fill, Listing, Writing a Paragraph In this insightful describing things worksheet, students practice adjectives of size, shape and colour to describe rooms and objects in the home. First, students match adjectives of size, shape and colour from a box to definitions, think of synonyms and complete sentences with the adjectives. Students then use the adjectives to complete a description of an apartment. After that, students think about how they would describe the place where they live and write new adjectives of size, shape and colour that describe their home and the objects typically found there. Lastly, students write a short paragraph that describes where they live using the adjectives from the worksheet.
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Using Describing Things Language

The language of describing objects covers the vocabulary and structures speakers use to communicate what something looks like, what it is made of, and what it is used for. Students who lack the right adjectives and prepositional phrases for this often fall back on repetitive or vague language, leaving their listener unable to identify what they mean.

This page covers object description from A1 to C1 level, with 13 activities spanning vocabulary worksheets, card games, pair speaking tasks, and a paragraph writing exercise, including two free downloads.

This table shows the three core structures used to describe an object's qualities, material, and purpose, with an example sentence for each.

Describing CategoryKey StructureExample Sentence
Quality or appearance subject + is/are + adjective 'It is small, round, and blue.'
Material subject + is/are + made of/from + noun 'It is made of glass.'
Use or purpose subject + is/are + used for + noun/-ing 'It is used for cutting bread.'
Origin subject + is/are + nationality adjective 'It is Australian.'
Size and dimensions subject + is/are + adjective OR subject + measures + dimension 'It is about 10 cm wide and quite heavy.'

How to Use Describing Things Language

Describing the Key Properties in Order: Cover the most useful properties in a consistent sequence — what it looks like, what it is made of, and what it is used for — so your listener can build a clear picture progressively, for example 'It's a small round object made of glass, and you use it to magnify things.'

Using Circumlocution When You Lack the Word: When you cannot recall the exact word, describe the function or appearance instead of stopping. Lead with the most distinctive property to narrow the field quickly, for example 'It's a flat metal thing with a sharp edge that you use to cut food.'

Signalling Nationality or Origin: When origin is the most distinctive property, open with the nationality adjective before adding other details, for example 'It's an Italian dish made from wheat flour, shaped into thin flat sheets and usually served with a sauce.'

3-Step Framework for Teaching Describing Things Language

1. Build Vocabulary Before Speaking: Begin with structured vocabulary work that builds toward unscripted speaking. Students match adjectives and materials to categories, then write three sentences to describe each pictured object using words from a box. The activity closes by pushing students off the page entirely: they think of two objects of their own and describe each one in three sentences to a partner without saying what they are, while the partner guesses.

2. Add Pressure with a Scoring Game: Move into a speaking game that trains students to build a description clue by clue under real competitive pressure. The scoring system creates a strong incentive for precision: a correct first guess earns five points, and each additional clue the describer gives costs both players a point, all the way down to zero. Students quickly learn that opening with a nationality clue, for example 'It is Australian,' sets the frame efficiently before narrowing the field.

3. Push Toward Purposeful Description: Push students toward purposeful, persuasive description by having them match adjectives to specific products and write advertisements using those words. The activity then escalates into a guessing challenge: pairs write a second advertisement without naming the product and read it aloud to the class, who try to identify what is being described. This gets students thinking not just about accuracy but about which details are most distinctive and revealing.

Common Mistakes with Describing Things Language

Wrong Adjective Order: Students often place adjectives in the wrong sequence, putting material or colour before opinion or size adjectives, which sounds unnatural to a native speaker. Wrong: 'A metal small old box.' Correct: 'A small old metal box.'

Confusing 'Made of' and 'Made from': Students often use 'made of' and 'made from' interchangeably, missing the distinction that 'made of' refers to a material still identifiable in the final object while 'made from' refers to a material that has been transformed. Wrong: 'Paper is made of wood.' Correct: 'Paper is made from wood.'

Common Questions About Teaching Describing Things Language

What is a fun game for practicing how to describe things?

Players in the game Describe it collect four adjective cards that all describe one picture on the table. When a player has the right set, they read a description aloud, for example 'This cheap ice cream is tasty, soft and creamy.' If the group agrees the adjectives fit, the player wins the picture card. It is a free download.

What is a useful worksheet for teaching adjectives to describe things?

The worksheet Adjectives of Size, Shape and Colour moves students from matching adjectives to definitions, through gap-fill practice completing an apartment description, and on to writing a paragraph about where they live. The final task pushes students to produce connected descriptive language by drawing on adjectives they have identified themselves rather than a word list.

What is an engaging activity for practicing how to describe everyday objects?

The activity What could it be? has students invent crossword clues by completing description prompts in a table. They then pair up with someone from the other group and take turns reading clues for their partner to guess. Clues build across multiple properties, for example 'It is heavy. It is made of wood. It is used for sitting on.'

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