IV.

DESCRIBING THINGS
4.1 Learning Outcomes
 Students are able to describe the materials.
 Students are able to describe the shape of things.
 Students are able to mention the function of general technical things.

4.2 What thing is it?

A. Look at the picture of the thing below. Then answer the questions.

Questions Possible Answers

Is it used for listening to music? No, it is not

Is it used for hearing protection? …
What color is it?
…
What is it made of?
…
What does it look like?
Who wears that thing? …
Where do the people wear that …
thing? …
What is it? …

Some ways to describe the things

Name What is it?

What is the shape of the

Shape thing?

Objects
Material What is it made of?

Function What is it for?

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 B. Match the words and pictures. Write the alphabets in bracket next to the word.

c d
a b

h
e f g
i

m n
j k l

safety boots (…) safety helmet (…) screwdriver (…)

pliers (…) drill (…) fire extinguisher (…)
saw (…) mobile phone (…) tape measure (…)
earplug (…) gloves (…) life buoy (…)
wrench (…) safety glasses (…)

What do you think of these:

What is the function of fire extinguisher?
What is the function of safety helmet?
Is a saw for cutting wood?
Is a wrench to protect our ears?

4.3 Shape of Objects

Which one is rectangle? Which one is triangle?

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A. Match the words with the shapes. Write the number in bracket next to the word.

circle (…) rectangle (…)

cone (…) semicircle (…)
cube (…) sphere (…)
cylinder (…) square (…)
hemisphere (…) triangle (…)

B. Write an adjective of each noun from the picture above.

Example: cylinder - cylindrical

Circle - ……………………

Cone - ……………………

Cube - ……………………

Sphere - …………………… etc.

Language : You can describe the shape of something in these ways

- The shape of the computer is rectangle.

- The fire extinguisher normally has cylindrical shape.
- The place of this ice cream is not circle. It is cone.

C. Underlined the correct word.

1. This fan is not oval. It’s circle/ circular in shape.
2. Don’t take the cylinder/ cylindrical glass. That’s my brother’s glass.
3. A surfboard sail is roughly triangle/ triangular in shape, with one curved side.
4. A food tin (or can) is basically a metal cylinder/ cylindrical.
5. TVs and computers normally have rectangle/ rectangular screens.
6. Don’t cut that wood with the hand saw. It’s quicker to use the circle/ circular saw.
7. My bass amplifier is the new cube/ cubic model. It’s exactly 30 x 30 x 30 cm.
8. The Earth is not a perfect sphere/ spherical. It is flatter at the poles.
9. The spaceship’s re-entry capsule is in the shape of a cone/ conical.
10. A protractor is a semi-circle/ semi-circular instrument for measuring angles.

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4.4 Function of Objects
A. Match the object with the correct function.

Objects Function

wrench (…) a. a tool for turning screws

pliers (…) b. used for cutting hard materials, such as wood or metal

drill (…) c. used for holding and turning objects of different sizes

saw (…) d. a tool or machine which makes holes

screwdriver (…) e. for holding or pulling small things like nails/ for cutting wire

Learn This
The function of a thing, or what is used for, can be expressed in a number of ways:
1. By using the phrase: The function of ……… is to ………
Example: The function of a crane is to lift heavy objects.
2. By using the verb to use + for-ing.
Example: A crane is used for lifting heavy objects.
3. By using a verb expressing the function.
Example: A crane lifts heavy objects.
4. By using a prepositional phrase introduced by with.
Example: We lift heavy objects with a crane.

B. Rewrite the following sentences in the three alternative ways.

1. The function of a thermometer is to measure temperature.
a. ......................................................................................
b. ......................................................................................
c. ......................................................................................
2. A fire extinguisher is used for putting out fires.
a. ......................................................................................
b. ......................................................................................
c. ......................................................................................

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 C. Take turn with your partner to describe the function of each item of equipment.
Use the correct form of the verbs.

Example: The demand valve is for controlling the flow of oxygen to the diver.

Equiment Function

1. Demand valve control the flow of oxygen to the diver (for)

2. Cylinders store oxygen under high pressure (used to)
3. Contents gauge indicate the amount of oxygen in the cylinders (present
simple)
4. Cylinders transport oxygen with the diver (used for)
5. Depth gauge indicate the depth of water (designed
to)

You can also describe the material of something in these ways:

- The fire extinguisher basically is made of metal.

- Some gloves are commonly made of leather and rubber.

Now, match these words then make them in sentences to describe the materials.

Things Material

Wrench (…) a. Fur

Earmuffs (…) b. plastic

Gloves (…) c. copper

Helmet (…) d. leather

Wire (…) e. metal

4.5 Exercise
A. Describe these pictures

Name :
1.
Description :

Function :

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 Name :
2.
Description :

Function :

Name :
3.
Description :

Function :

Name :
4.
Description :

Function :

Name :
5.
Description :

Function :

B. Fill in blanks with the correct words in the box of the following description.

earmuff propeller solder

mouse wrench chain
screwdriver tape measure earplug
adhesive

1. It is a strip of plastic or metal that can be bent with measurements printed on it

which is used for measuring (……………..)

2. It is a sticky substance which is used for joining things together permanently

(…………..)

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 3. It is rings usually made of metal which are connected together and used for
fastening (……………..)

4. It is a soft metal that is melted in order to join together pieces of metal so that
they stick together when it cools and becomes hard again (……………..)

5. It is usually one which can be made larger or smaller for holding and turning
objects of different sizes (……………..)

6. It is a small piece of soft material such as wax, cotton or plastic which you put
into your ear to keep out noise or water (……………..)

7. It is a device which causes a ship or aircraft to move, consisting of two or more

blades which turn round at high speed (……………..)

8. It is a small device which you move across a surface in order to move a cursor
on your computer screen (……………..)

9. It is a tool for turning screws, consisting of a handle joined to a metal rod shaped
at one end to fit in the cut in the top of the screw (……………..)

10. It is a pair of small pieces of material like fur worn over the ears with a strap that
goes over the head to keep them on (……………..)

4.6. References

1. Bonamy, David, (2013), “Technical English – Course Book”, PearsonEduation

ESL.
2. C. Richard, Jacks, ”New Interchange – English for International Communication”,
Cambridge University Press.
3. Leo Jones. Let’s talk 1 2nd edition. Cambridge University Press.

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