Mastering English Writing: Person Descriptions to Film Reviews
Mastering English Writing: A Comprehensive Guide
1. Describing a Person
P1 – Age, family, work/study. P2 – Personality (positive traits). P3 – Hobbies and interests. P4 – Any negative traits.
- He likes/loves/doesn’t mind + verb + -ing
- She’s happy to + infinitive
- He’s good with children/at making new friends
- She is a bit/really/very/quite/incredibly friendly/shy/forgetful/independent/responsible
2. Writing an Informal Email
- Hi + name/ Dear + name (formal)
- Sorry for not writing earlier, but…
- Thank you/Thanks (so much) for (your letter, having me to stay, etc.)…
- It was great to hear from you…
- That’s all for now.
- Hope to hear from you soon/Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
- (Give my) regards/love to…
- Best wishes/Love to…
- PS: I’ve attached a photo…
3. Writing a Magazine Article About Transport
- The most expensive: Black taxi
- The healthiest: Boris Bike
- The best if you want to see the sights of London: Double-decker bus
- The safest to use late at night
Get on/off the tube… Get in the taxi… Buy tickets from machines next to bus stops… Travelling on the top of a double-decker bus… Travel late at night
More/less –> uncountable (pollution)… More/fewer, few –> countable (bicycles)
You can buy Oyster cards at tube stations.
You must have a ticket or card before you get on a bus.
COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES: Buses aren’t as quick (fast) as trams. / Cycling is the cheapest way to get around (move).
4. Telling a Story
P1 – When was the journey? Where were you going? Who with? Why? P2 – How did you get lost? What happened? P3 – What happened in the end?
- We were going in the wrong/right direction.
- We took the wrong exit/turning.
- We turned right instead of left.
- We didn’t know where we were.
- We had to turn around/back and go back in the opposite direction.
Although/as soon as/because/but/instead of/so/then/when
5. Writing a Film Review
P1 – The name of the film, the director, the stars, and prizes it won. P2 – Where and when it is set. Where it was filmed. P3 – The plot. P4 – Why you recommend the film.
- It was directed/written by…
- It is set in…
- It is based on the book…
- It’s about…
- It stars…
- In the end…
- My favourite scene is…
- I strongly recommend (the film) because…
6. Describing a House or Flat
P1 – A brief introduction. What kind of house is it? Where is it exactly? P2 – Describe the house/flat. What rooms does it have? Does it have any special characteristics? P3 – Describe the neighborhood. How far is it from places of interest, public transport, etc.? P4 – Say who the house/flat is suitable for. Are there any restrictions?
- It is perfectly situated in…
- It is within walking distance from…
- It is a (fifteen-minute) walk from…
- It is a short drive from…
- The neighborhood is (safe, friendly, etc.)…
- It is a (beautiful) area…
Amazing/beautiful/breathtaking/lovely/ideal/luxurious/magnificent/perfect/spacious/superb
7. Writing a Letter of Complaint
Like an informal email. Don’t use contractions.
May 19th, 2013
Start – Dear Sir/Madam… Dear Ms/Ms/Mrs Garcia.
Finish – I look forward to hearing from you. – Yours faithfully, Lucía – Yours sincerely, Lucía
8. Writing a Covering Email with Your CV
Like a formal letter.
P1 – Dear Sir/Madam
P2 – I am writing to…
P3 – I am a qualified psychologist/ I have been working at a… /My English is great/ I speak English fluently (level C1)
P4 – I enclose (informal)/I attach my CV.
P5 – Hope to hear from you soon! (informal)/I look forward to hearing from you.
P6 – Yours sincerely, Lucía (informal)/Yours faithfully, Lucía.
9. Writing a Magazine Article: Advantages and Disadvantages
P1 – Introduction. P2 – Write two or three advantages. P3 – Write two or three disadvantages. P4 – Conclusion – decide if you think smartphones are a great invention or not.
In fact/probably/the first advantage is/Secondly,/Thirdly,/But on the other hand/For example (for instance)/Also,/There are good ones, like/In conclusion (to sum up)/I think
10. Writing a Biography
P1 – Mark Zuckerberg was born in New York in 1984. P2 – He studied computer science and sociology at Harvard. Facemash allowed students to share photos. He launched Facebook from his room in 2004. P3 – Dustin Moskovitz had been his roommate. He had dated Priscilla Chan for nine years.
Example: Ray Charles was born in Georgia in 1930.
He was a legendary musician of soul music during the 1950s.
After his brother’s death, Charles gradually began to lose his sight. He turned deaf at 7 years old and he studied at a school for the deaf where he learned to read, write and play piano, organ, sax, clarinet, and trumpet.
Ray Charles combined blues, gospel, and jazz, leaving a lasting impression on contemporary music.
During his long career, he won twelve Grammy Awards.
Ray Charles died on 2004 at 73 years old as a result of liver disease.