Can-Do Task: Describe a Photo or Scene

Your Task

Describe a photo or a scene. Choose a real photo (a family event, a street, a park) or imagine one. Write 6–8 sentences: what is happening, what people are wearing and where things are. Then add a short comparison of one person’s habits and what they are doing now, and say your description out loud.

Before You Start

  1. Part 1, the photo: 5–6 sentences with In this photo…, the present continuous, two clothes/colour phrases and two prepositions.
  2. Part 2, habits vs. now: one sentence in the present simple and one in the present continuous about the same person.
  3. Part 3, you: two sentences about what you are wearing right now.
  4. Read everything aloud, pointing at the photo as you talk.

Useful Language

  • Start: In this photo… · It’s a sunny / rainy day. · There are three people.
  • Actions: is standing · is sitting · is smiling · are talking · is holding
  • Clothes: is wearing a blue shirt / black jeans
  • Where: on the left / right · in the middle · behind · in front of · next to
  • Habit vs. now: usually + present simple · right now + present continuous

Model Answer

Read this example first. Then write your own; don’t copy it.

Part 1: In this photo, my family is having a picnic in the park. It’s a sunny day. In the middle, my sister is wearing a yellow dress. She’s smiling and holding our dog. On the left, my brother is playing with a ball. My parents are sitting under a big tree behind them.
Part 2: My brother usually plays football at the weekend, but in this photo he’s playing with the dog.
Part 3: Right now I’m wearing a blue T-shirt and black jeans. My shoes are white.

Check Your Work

Tick each box before you finish:

  • ☐ I used am / is / are + -ing for actions in the photo.
  • ☐ I used is wearing with a colour before the noun.
  • ☐ I used at least two prepositions or on the left / right.
  • ☐ I used the present simple for a habit and the continuous for now.
  • ☐ I described the photo out loud.

Go Further

Swap photos with a friend (or use a picture online). Ask five questions about their photo: Who is that? What is she doing? Where are they?

Connect

Review this module’s grammar with our Grammar Quiz (choose A1).

Try our Grammar Quiz →

CEFR A1 — Spoken Production / Writing: I can describe a picture, ongoing actions and people’s appearance in simple sentences.

Azizul Hakim
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