How to Describe an Object

A paragraph to describe an object usually consists of 5 parts as follows:

1. Function/ Use
: fungsi/kegunaan
2. Components/ Parts
: bagian-bagian
3. Characteristics
: ciri-ciri
Material
: bahan pembuat
shape/ figure
: bentuk
dimensions
: ukuran
property
: sifat
colour
: warna
4. Position
: letak
5. Connection between parts
: hubungan antar bagian-bagian
Function/Use
to be + used to + V1.
to be + used for + Ving

A drum is used for making music.

A drum is used to make music.

Components/Parts

Characteristics :

A chair is made of wood.

Bread is made from wheat.
This kind of car is made by a big company in Japan

Shape or figure

A coin is shaped like a circle.

A coin is circular in shape.
A coin is circular.

Noun

Adjective

Square

square

Rectangle

rectangular

Triangle

triangular

Ellipse

elliptical

Semicircle

semicircular

Circle

circular

Cube

cubic

Pyramid

pyramidal

Cone

conical

Hemisphere

hemispherical

Cylinder

cylindrical

Property
Property is a special quality that belongs to the object.

The interior of a Ping-Pong ball is hollow.

This book is thick.

The glass bottle is fragile.

The edge of a table is straight.

The sides of a car are flat.

The middle of a bottle is curved.

Colour
Example of color: black, white, green, etc.

The car is red

The book is reddish

Position
If the objects to be described are complicated, consisting of many parts, or appearing in a set,
positions must be given.
Example: inside, outside, at the top, on the left/ right, in the middle, to the right/ left (of), at the
bottom, above, over, between, below, beside, at the end of, behind, in front of, near,
by, etc.
The engine is inside the scooter with a headlight at the top. The spare wheel is at
the back. There is a petrol cap under the seat.
A car has four headlights at the _ front. At the top of the engine is the radiator and
at the top is an oil cap.

Connection between Parts

Connection is a relationship between two things or more. If the object has more than one part,
we have to describe them part by part with a connection between them.
Verbs that signal the connection are: attach, detach, join, connect, support, fix, fit, lead, link,
etc.
The head of a hammer is_ fixed to the handle.
The rubber tube is _ fitted over the glass tube.
The glass tube is fitted into the rubber tube.
The wire leads from the switch to the bulb.
The wire links between the switch and the bulb.
The wheels of a car are detached from the body of a car.
The wheels of a car are connected by the axles.
Examples of a Paragraph to Describe Objects
A mixer is used for mixing food. The mixer is made of metal and plastic. It consists of 5
parts: a base, a stand, a motor housing, beaters, and a bowl. The base is rectangular in shape. It
is 12 cm wide and 15 cm long. The stand which is supported by the base is 30 cm in height. The
motor housing which contains a motor is joined to the stand. The steel beaters are very hard and
tough. They are fitted in the gearbox. The glass bowl is hard and brittle. The edge of the bowl is
circular. The glass bowl is detached from the base.
A kettle is a metal container which is used for boiling water. It consists of 4 main parts:
a vessel, a lid, a spout, and a handle. The vessel is 7 inches high. It is hollow and spherical in
shape. The base is flat and circular. It has a diameter of 6 inches. On the top of the vessel, there
is a convex lid with a plastic knob in the middle. The lid is 5 inches in diameter. Above the lid
is as curved handle which is covered with plastic at the middle part. At the side of the vessel is a
conical spout for pouring water out of the vessel.

Practice:
1.
Practice the sentences below with your friend:
How to Ask for Details

Sample Response

What does it look like?

How big is it? (What size is it?)
How much does it weigh?
What color is it?

It is small, with eight hairy legs.

It is 3 meters, by 4 meters, by 5 meters.
It weighs 25 kilograms.
Its bright yellow, brighter than a banana.
Its made of plastic and aluminum.
It's a musical instrument.
It puts a sharp point on wooden pencils.
The purpose of a refrigerator is to keep
food cold so it does not spoil.
A peeler is used to remove the skin of
fruits or vegetables.
Water is collected in a large tank and
heated by either gas or electricity.

Whats it made out of?

What is it?
What does it do?
What the purpose of (...a refrigerator)?
What do you use a (... peeler) for?
How does a (... water heater) work?
2.

Pattern in Describing the Objects Used for Leisure Activities

In my free time, I like to __________________ (activity you like to do).
To _________________ (activity you like to do), you need (1) ____________, (2)
____________, and (3) _____________ (list three objects that are required for the activity).
Give
at
least
three
details
for
each
object.
It is used for _______________________ (describe the purpose of the object).

Example about our property:

Guitar
In my free time, I like to play the guitar. To play the guitar, you need a guitar, a pick, and a
tuner. A guitar is a musical instrument. It is usually made out of wood. It is about one meter tall.
It has a large, eggplant shaped body with a long, thin neck. It has six strings that you pluck to make
sounds. It can be the color of wood or can be painted any color.
A pick is small. It is about the size of your thumb. It is triangular. It is made out of plastic.
You use it to play the strings of a guitar. A tuner is a tool that that helps you ensure the strings of
the guitar are in tune. One model is 10cm long, 6cm wide, and 1cm tall. It is electronic and
requires batteries. It is made out of plastic. It is sold in the colors black and silver.

My backpack
I have a new backpack. Its color is soft green. I always bring it whenever I go to school. It is
made of strong fabric.
My backpack has several different parts. The first part is the pocket where I put my money
and library card. The second part is the main part. I always put my books and pencil case in it. The
third part is a small pocket at the left side of the backpack. I keep a bottle of plain water in this
pocket.

Example about tourism object:

Samas Beach
Samas Beach is located at the west of Parangtritis beach, at Srigading village. District of
Sanden, about 14 kilometres south of Bantul. From downtown Yogyakarta, you could travel to the
southwest for 35 kilometres to get to the beach. Samas Beach is easy to visit with private or public
vehicles.
In the beach there are many estuaries which form into lake and used as a place for cultivating
fresh-water fish and shrimp. Besides its beauty, the specialty of this beach is sea turtles. Samas
beach is a beach often visited by sea turtles of many kinds like the Hawksbills sea turtle, the
leatherbacks sea turtle, and the green sea turtle. Those sea turtles come at a certain time and during
the egg-laying season.
In this beach you will find a conservation area of sea turtle as a concern from the society and
the government toward this endangered species. In the conservation area, you will find a pool for
the sea turtles' babies. The babies will be kept in the conservation to avoid them from the predators,
until it reached certain age and ready to be released to the sea.
Besides seeing the sea turtles in the conservation, you can also go to the lake which is formed
from the rivers estuaries to fishing, or perhaps to ride boat in the lagoon. This beach is suitable as a
natural tourist object where you can enjoy the nature's beauty, learn about the sea turtle or simply
refresh your mind with your friends or family.
Exercise:
1. Make a description about your house
2. Make description about your motorcycle
3. Make a description about your

Source:
Direktorat PSP. 2013.Pengayaan UN SMP. Jakarta: Kemendikbud
http://eoec.weebly.com/describing-objects.html
KMUUT.2014. Fundamental English III. School of Liberal Arts
www.DescribingObjects-Elizabeth'sOralEnglishClass.html