CELPIP vocabulary: describing pictures and scenes

At the front of the picture.

CELPIP tip Start Speaking Task 3 with the foreground, then move back; it keeps your description organized.

At the back of the picture.

CELPIP tip Use "in", never "on", with background. Pair it with the foreground to cover the whole picture.

On the left side of the picture.

CELPIP tip Mirror it with "on the right-hand side" to guide the listener around the scene in Speaking Task 3.

In the upper right part of the picture.

CELPIP tip Use "in" with the corners of a picture, not "on". Small details like this add range to a Task 3 answer.

In the middle of the picture.

CELPIP tip Canadian spelling is "centre". Inversion sounds natural here: "In the centre is a large table."

Beside something.

CELPIP tip Always "next to", never "next of". A simple way to link objects to each other in a scene.

At the back of something.

CELPIP tip Opening with the place, as in "Behind the counter, ...", varies how your Speaking Task 3 sentences begin.

On the opposite side from.

CELPIP tip North Americans prefer "across from"; "opposite" sounds more British but is also correct.

Having things all around.

CELPIP tip Use "by", not "with", for places: "surrounded by trees". Good for setting the scene in Speaking Task 3.

Resting on something for support.

CELPIP tip Describes objects as well as people; use the present continuous: "is leaning against the wall".

Stretching an arm to get something.

CELPIP tip Great for Speaking Task 4 predictions: someone reaching for something may be about to drop it.

Built from plastic.

CELPIP tip Pattern: made of + material (wood, metal, glass). Describing materials is key in Speaking Task 8.

Roughly as big as.

CELPIP tip Compare the object to something familiar so the listener can picture it in Speaking Task 8.

Seems to be.

CELPIP tip Shows you are guessing, not stating a fact; good for describing people's feelings in a picture.

It seems that.

CELPIP tip Follow it with a noun or a clause: "It looks like rain" or "It looks like it's going to rain." Ideal for Task 4.

Used to say that someone will do something very soon.

CELPIP tip Follow it with a base verb: "is about to fall". The most useful structure for Speaking Task 4 predictions.

Making liquid flow from a container.

CELPIP tip Also used for heavy rain: "It's pouring outside." The present continuous fits picture descriptions best.

Holding while moving.

CELPIP tip Spelling: change "y" to "i" in carries and carried, but keep it in carrying.

Preparing equipment or a place.

CELPIP tip Separable: set up the tables or set the tables up. Useful for describing event scenes in Speaking Task 3.

Full of people.

CELPIP tip Pattern: crowded with people. Adds atmosphere to a scene and can support a Task 4 prediction about delays.

Messy, with too many things.

CELPIP tip Pattern: cluttered with + noun. A precise alternative to "messy" that shows good word range.

Shaped like a long box.

CELPIP tip Shape words help in Speaking Task 8, when you must describe an unusual object the listener cannot see.

Happy and bright.

CELPIP tip Can describe places too: a cheerful room. Mentioning moods brings a Speaking Task 3 description to life.

Feeling anxious.

CELPIP tip Pattern: worried about + noun. Back it up with a clue from the picture, such as a clock or rain clouds.

Confused because you cannot understand something.

CELPIP tip Pattern: puzzled by + noun. More precise than "confused" when describing faces in Speaking Task 3.