Descriptive Text: Definition, Structure, and Examples
Definition of Descriptive Text in English (Descriptive Text)
A descriptive text is a text that aims to describe, explain, or depict something: a person,
an object, an animal, a place, or something else.
Writers often use their five senses to describe something. This is done so that we, as
readers, can clearly imagine what the writer is describing.
However, many of us sometimes confuse it with a report text because both explain or
depict something. We need to understand that there is a very subtle difference between
the two.
While a descriptive text describes something in detail and from the author's perspective,
a report text in English describes something in general terms based on facts, research,
and scientific observations.
For example, a descriptive text might be titled "My Pet," while a report text might be
titled "Pets."
Furthermore, there are differences in the text structure, as well as slight differences in
language rules. To understand these differences, see the explanation below.
Descriptive Text Structure in English
The structure of a descriptive text in English is divided into two parts: identification and
description:
1. Identification
Identification contains paragraphs that identify the place, animal, person, object, and so
on that will be described. For example:
Borobudur is a Hindu-Buddhist temple. It was built in the ninth century under the Sailendra
dynasty of the ancient Mataram kingdom. Borobudur is located in Magelang, Central
Java, Indonesia.
(Borobudur adalah candi Hindu-Budha. Dibangun pada abad kesembilan di bawah dinasti
Sailendra dari kerajaan Mataram kuno. Borobudur terletak di Magelang, Jawa Tengah,
Indonesia.)
Descriptive Text Structure in English (Descriptive Text)
The structure of a descriptive text in English is divided into two parts: identification and
description. 2. Description
A description is the part of the text that describes a place, animal, person, object, and
other things in detail, usually using the five senses to help explain something.
Borobudur is well-known all over the world. Its construction is influenced by the Gupta
architecture of India. The temple is constructed on a hill 46 m high and consists of eight
steps like a stone terrace. The first five terraces are square and surrounded by walls
adorned with Buddhist sculptures in bas-relief.
The upper three are circular. Each of them is with a circle of bell shape-stupa. The entire
edifice is crowned by a large stupa at the center of the top circle. The way to the summit
extends through some 4.8 km of passage and stairways. The design of Borobudur, which
symbolizes the structure of the universe, influences temples at Angkor, Cambodia.
Borobudur temple which was rededicated as an Indonesian monument in 1983 is a
valuable treasure for the Indonesian people.
(Borobudur terkenal di seluruh dunia. Konstruksinya dipengaruhi oleh arsitektur Gupta
India. Candi ini dibangun di atas bukit setinggi 46 m dan terdiri dari delapan anak tangga
seperti teras batu. Lima teras pertama berbentuk bujur sangkar dan dikelilingi oleh
dinding yang dihiasi dengan patung Buddha di relief.
Tiga bagian atas berbentuk lingkaran. Masing-masing dengan stupa berbentuk lingkaran
berbentuk lonceng. Seluruh bangunan dimahkotai oleh sebuah stupa besar di tengah di
tengah lingkaran atas. Jalan menuju puncak terbentang melalui sekitar 4,8 km lorong dan
tangga. Desain Borobudur yang melambangkan struktur alam semesta mempengaruhi
candi-candi di Angkor, Kamboja.
Candi Borobudur yang diresmikan kembali sebagai monumen Indonesia pada tahun
1983 adalah harta yang berharga bagi bangsa Indonesia.)
Language Features for Descriptive Texts in English
The following are the language features for descriptive texts in English:
1. Specific Object
In the descriptive text, we will see the object is unique, the only one in the world.
Contohnya seperti: “Borobudur Temple.” “Planet Jupiter”, “My Cat”,and so on.
2. Adjectives
To enhance understanding of what is being explained in descriptive text, adjectives will
be used to help readers visualize what is being described. For example: “A beautiful
mountain” dan “The Tall Man”
3. Simple Present Tense
The tense used in descriptive texts in English is the simple present tense. This is because
the thing being described is based on the current situation, although it isn't always factual.
For example: The first five terrace of Borobudur Temple are square and surrounded by
walls adorned with Budist sculpture in bas-relief.
4. Action Verbs
There are also action verbs used in descriptive texts in English. Action verbs are words
that indicate an activity. Some of these verbs are: "run," "sleep," "visit," and so on. Contoh
dalam kalimatnya: “It was built in the ninth century under the Sailendra dynasty of the
ancient Mataram kingdom.”
Example of the Structure and language features of Descriptive Texts in English
(Descriptive Text)
To better understand descriptive texts in English, let's examine this example of a
descriptive text about Kuta Beach in detail!
Example of the Structure of Descriptive Texts in English
Examples of Language Features for Descriptive Texts in English
1. Specific Object
Kuta is an exciting tourist area in the southern part of Bali. Most tourists visiting Bali do
not forget to spend their time in Kuta.
It is located in southwestern Bali, just minutes from the airport. Kuta is one of the world’s
most famous beaches. It first attracted Western surfers with its world-renowned surf
break followed closely behind by sun worshipers and party-goers attracted to its wide
stretches of white sandy beach. Kuta is the center of nightlife activities.
Kuta has a shopping mecca, with its lines of shops, boutiques, and galleries. Restaurants
line up the streets as well as the beachfront hotels, ranging from a small, inexpensive
homestay to luxurious resorts. There are many nightclubs along Jalan Legian and Jalan
Pantai Kuta. The busiest time for all night clubs is around 22:00 and will close until dawn.
(Kuta merupakan kawasan wisata yang menarik di bagian selatan Bali. Sebagian besar
wisatawan yang berkunjung ke Bali tidak lupa menghabiskan waktunya di Kuta.
Terletak di barat daya Bali, hanya beberapa menit dari bandara. Kuta adalah salah satu
pantai paling terkenal di dunia. Ini pertama kali menarik peselancar Barat dengan ombak
selancarnya yang terkenal di dunia diikuti oleh para penyembah matahari dan
pengunjung pesta yang tertarik dengan bentangan luas pantai berpasir putihnya. Kuta
adalah pusat kegiatan kehidupan malam.
Kuta memiliki kiblat belanja, dengan deretan toko, butik, dan galerinya. Restoran berjejer
di jalan-jalan serta hotel tepi pantai, mulai dari homestay kecil yang murah hingga resor
mewah. Ada banyak klub malam di sepanjang Jalan Legian dan Jalan Pantai Kuta. Waktu
tersibuk untuk semua klub malam adalah sekitar pukul 22.00 dan akan tutup hingga
subuh.)
2. Adjective
Kuta is an exciting tourist area in the southern part of Bali. Most tourists visiting Bali do
not forget to spend their time in Kuta.
It is located in southwestern Bali, just minutes from the airport. Kuta is one of the world’s
most famous beaches. It first attracted Western surfers with its world-renowned surf
break followed closely behind by sun worshipers and party-goers attracted to
its wide stretches of white sandy beach. Kuta is the center of nightlife activities.
Kuta has a shopping mecca, with its lines of shops, boutiques, and galleries. Restaurants
line up the streets as well as the beachfront hotels, ranging from a small, inexpensive
homestay to a luxurious resort. There are many nightclubs along Jalan Legian and Jalan
Pantai Kuta. The busiest time for all night clubs is around 22:00 and will close until dawn.
3. Simple Present Tense
Kuta is an exciting tourist area in the southern part of Bali. Most tourists visiting Bali do
not forget to spend their time in Kuta.
It is located in southwestern Bali, just minutes from the airport. Kuta is one of the world’s
most famous beaches. It first attracted Western surfers with its world-renowned surf break
followed closely behind by sun worshipers and party-goers attracted to its wide stretches
of white sandy beach. Kuta is the center of nightlife activities.
Kuta has a shopping mecca, with its lines of shops, boutiques, and galleries. Restaurants
line up the streets as well as the beachfront hotels, ranging from a small, inexpensive
homestay to a luxurious resort. There are many nightclubs along Jalan Legian and Jalan
Pantai Kuta. The busiest time for all night clubs is around 22:00 and will close until dawn.
4. Action Verbs
Kuta is an exciting tourist area in the southern part of Bali. Most
tourists visiting Bali do not forget to spend their time in Kuta.
It is located in southwestern Bali, just minutes from the airport. Kuta is one of the world’s
most famous beaches. It first attracted Western surfers with its world-renowned surf
break followed closely behind by sun worshipers and party-goers attracted to its wide
stretches of white sandy beach. Kuta is the center of nightlife activities.
Kuta has a shopping mecca, with its lines of shops, boutiques, and galleries. Restaurants
line up the streets as well as the beachfront hotels, ranging from a small, inexpensive
homestay to a luxurious resort. There are many nightclubs along Jalan Legian and Jalan
Pantai Kuta. The busiest time for all night clubs is around 22:00 and will close until dawn.