Unit 1 • Description
40 • Types of writing1.2 Adjectives and adverbs: too much of a good thing?
As in the example ofthe glass of wine in 1,0,you can 'paint a picture' by adding
oneormore adjectives to anoun. Similarly,you can describe averb by adding
an adverbor adverbialphrase.
ll e d ranktheseinedelicately/greed ily/n.nhabando n/hi{/careless11It1ll1lCr.
However,writingbecomes tiresome andpredictable unless there is a varietyof
structures,and often amore concreteimage can be achieved witha precise
noun or verb.
l afllallishmallofporcetful , athleticbuild,u:it h shortdarkhair(Imlgreen
eyes
tb (/j lelGibso(/ look-(/like
2a Sheent eredmyroomilltmsiL:elyandaggressil:ely.
21> SheiUf:,[Jded 111 '1room.
Both of the examples arecomparisons. In1b , the manis comparedtoMel
Gibson; in2b,her entryis compared to amilitary operation.Comparisonsare
frequentlyintroducedbythe wordlikeor as.
Ile sippedtheIc i flelike[Jdebutante.
Shegll/pedthesei neasifs},eIcastnJing to droll;"herself
Il e d ti llks as studio uslyasacamel.1.3 Writing practice
This shortdescription was written for a magazine series in which readers
recommend alocal cafeor restaurant.It was not published, because it is not at
all interesting. Noris i t informative: it raisesa lot of questions(what colourare the
uniforms? whatnightdoes the pianist play?) but doesn'tanswerany. Rewrite it,
keepingthe same structure,but informingthe reader and makingthe restaurant,
and yourdescription, soundinteresting.Th BazaarRestaurant
e. u aretakento the bar area, where oneofthe
When you goi n, yo. f T heyare very nice and wear. WIlllook ater you.
waiters orwattresses ] I T hey takeyour orderfrom
.f ofan unusua co our..
interestin gurnorms.. di hesfromdifferent countnes.
the longmenu which hasexc~t1nglll~ithsomeother things thatare
T here is alsoa blackboardon te:a d dish wi thfi sh,which [would
the menu.They do a very,,00
not on f hesal ads areexcellent.
recommend, andsome 0 t t ble in thewell-decorated
are takento your a
Before long, you. .e bia ' the tables are round,and the
dining room.This roomISq uit he: of t music whichaddstothe
. d f od You can ears..
chairs arerna eo wo. ek the hav e someo ne playin gpiano..
atmosphere,andoncea we Y l elike to dri nk coffee, etc..in
Atthe end of the meal, manype~p f pl ants andother exotic
the lounge bar, where there are ots 0
decoration s.. ' 11 fi d iti sn'tveryexpensi ve for such
When thebillcomesyou n.
good food, andI'm sureyou'llwanttogoagain.