Picture Description
Learning Objectives
- Understand what picture description means and why it is important.
- Observe a picture carefully and notice all the details.
- Use question words (who, what, where, when, what is happening) to describe a picture.
- Learn useful words and phrases for describing pictures.
- Write 5–7 sentences describing a given picture.
- Use describing words (adjectives) to make descriptions interesting.
- Practice describing scenes from everyday Indian life.
What is Picture Description?
Picture description means looking at a picture carefully and writing sentences about what you see in it. You describe the people, animals, objects, colours, actions, and the place shown in the picture.
Picture description helps you:
• Improve your observation skills (noticing small details)
• Build your vocabulary (learning new words)
• Practice writing complete sentences
• Use your imagination to tell a story about the picture
How to Describe a Picture
When you look at a picture, ask yourself these questions:
1. WHO is in the picture? (people, animals, birds)
2. WHAT do you see? (objects, things, buildings)
3. WHERE is this place? (park, market, school, home, river)
4. WHEN is this happening? (morning, evening, a festival day, rainy day)
5. WHAT IS HAPPENING? (actions — running, playing, selling, cooking)
6. HOW do the people feel? (happy, excited, busy, tired)
Useful Words and Phrases
| Category | Useful Words |
|---|---|
| Starting sentences | In this picture, I can see... / The picture shows... / This is a picture of... |
| Position words | In the front, at the back, on the left, on the right, in the middle, near, beside, behind |
| Colour words | bright, colourful, green, blue, red, golden, white |
| Action words | playing, running, selling, buying, walking, sitting, flying, swimming |
| Describing words | beautiful, big, small, tall, happy, busy, crowded, peaceful, sunny |
| Ending sentences | I like this picture because... / This picture makes me feel... / It looks like a... day. |
Sample Description 1 — A Park Scene
Picture: A park with children playing, trees, birds, and a balloon seller.
Description:
This is a picture of a beautiful park. I can see many children playing happily. In the middle, two boys are playing on the swings. On the right side, a girl is going down the slide. There are tall green trees all around the park. Some colourful birds are sitting on the branches.
In the front, there is a small pond with three ducks swimming in it. Near the gate, a man is selling red, yellow, and blue balloons. A family is sitting on a bench and eating ice cream. The sky is bright blue with white clouds. It looks like a sunny afternoon. I like this picture because everyone looks happy and the park is very beautiful.
Sample Description 2 — An Indian Market Scene
Picture: A busy Indian market with vendors, fruits, and customers.
Description:
This picture shows a busy Indian market. There are many shops on both sides of the road. In the front, a fruit seller is sitting with baskets of mangoes, bananas, and apples. A woman in a green saree is buying vegetables from a vendor.
On the left side, a man is selling colourful bangles. On the right, there is a sweet shop with jalebi and ladoo displayed in the window. Many people are walking and carrying bags. A boy on a bicycle is delivering newspapers. The market looks very crowded and busy. I can imagine the sounds of people talking and vendors calling out their prices.
Tips for Writing Good Descriptions
Tip 1: Start with a general sentence — "This is a picture of a park / market / school."
Tip 2: Describe from one side to the other (left to right) or from front to back.
Tip 3: Use position words — "In the front," "On the left," "At the back."
Tip 4: Use describing words (adjectives) — "tall trees," "colourful flowers," "busy road."
Tip 5: Describe what people/animals are doing (actions).
Tip 6: End with how the picture makes you feel or what you like about it.
Tip 7: Write at least 5–7 sentences for a good description.
Key Words
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Description | Writing about what you see or observe |
| Observe | To look at something carefully and notice details |
| Scene | A view or picture of a place with people and things |
| Vendor | A person who sells things (fruits, vegetables, etc.) |
| Crowded | Having many people in one place |
| Peaceful | Calm and quiet |
| Position | The place where something is (left, right, front, back) |
| Adjective | A word that describes a noun (big, small, beautiful) |
- Picture description means writing about what you see in a picture.
- Ask: Who? What? Where? When? What is happening?
- Start with a general sentence about the picture.
- Use position words (in the front, on the left, at the back).
- Use describing words (adjectives) to make it interesting.
- Describe actions — what people and animals are doing.
- End with how the picture makes you feel.
Finished learning? Now test what you know!