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How to Describe Things in English: Guide and Examples

Published on May 22, 2020 | Updated on April 13, 2024

When you have to describe things in English, you can use different words to make such descriptions.

You can describe things based on:

MaterialColor
ShapeSize
OpinionAge

In this post, you will find adjectives to describe the material, shape, color, size, age of different objects.



Descriptions of Things in English

Let’s check some vocabulary that will help us describe things in English.

Make sure to check the examples to understand more about how to use that vocabulary in context.


#1 Materials in English

Check this list of the most common vocabulary to describe things based on the material they are made of.

brickcopper
rubberfiberglass
claycotton
goldglass
ironleather
marbleplastic
papersilk
silversteel
stonewood 
woolwax

Examples:

  • Please pass me those plastic glasses
  • There are no paper cups for the drinking fountain

#2 Colors in English

Check this list of the most common vocabulary to describe things based on the color.

BlackWhite
Blue Pink 
YellowRed
OrangeGreen
PurpleBrown
GreyTurquoise

Examples:

  • Please pass me the yellow folder
  • The stapler is next the green book
  • There are three blue chairs in my office

#3 Shapes in English

Check this list of the most common vocabulary to describe things based on its shape.

TriangularRectangular 
SquareCircular

Example:

  • The square box is for the reports
  • There are two circular chairs in my office

#4 Sizes in English

Check this list of the most common vocabulary to describe things based on its size.

SmallBig
MediumLarge
HugeTiny

Examples

  • That’s a big flat screen
  • There is a small desk over there

#5 Opinions in English

Check this vocabulary to help describe objects based on opinion.

Nice Ugly
strangeexcellent

Examples

  • That’s a nice laptop, I like it
  • That’s a very strange poster for an office

#6 Age in English

These are some words to describe things in English taking into account how new or old they are

OldNew

Examples:

  • Look at that old scanner, it barely works
  • We have new headphones, Call Centers Agents love them

Locations of Things

We can also talk about the location of those objects as we describe them

  • There is a very nice laptop on your desk
  • There is a Mac Book Air next to the printer
  • There is a very blue book next to the desktop computer
  • There is a folder next to the binder

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Manuel Campos

Manuel Campos

I am Jose Manuel, English professor and creator of EnglishPost.org, a blog whose mission is to share lessons for those who want to learn and improve their English