DescribingPeople
Personality and appearance · adjective order · bored vs boring
Your level · You are here
Get Talking · Section 1
5 minStart the conversation
Do you take after your mum, your dad, or neither? In what ways?
Describe a close friend's appearance and personality to your partner without naming them. Can they guess who?
What's the personality trait you admire most in others, and which one annoys you most?
Grammar · Section 2
8–10 minAdjective order + -ed vs -ing adjectives
Opinion before fact/appearance. -ING = causes the feeling (the film is boring). -ED = feels the feeling (I am bored).
- Two separate grammar points.
- (1) ADJECTIVE ORDER: when you stack adjectives before a noun, English follows a fairly fixed order — opinion, size, age, shape, colour, origin, material, purpose, then noun. 'A lovely (opinion) tall (size) young (age) Spanish (origin) woman.' For people specifically, the most common combination is OPINION + AGE/SIZE + PHYSICAL DETAIL: 'a friendly, elderly man' / 'a tall, dark-haired teenager'.
- Get opinion first and the rest tends to fall into place.
- (2) -ED vs -ING ADJECTIVES: adjectives from verbs like 'bore', 'annoy', 'interest', 'excite' have two forms with different jobs.
- The -ING form describes the thing/person that CAUSES the feeling: 'My uncle is boring' (he causes boredom in others).
- The -ED form describes the person who EXPERIENCES the feeling: 'I'm bored' (I feel boredom).
- Mixing these up is one of the most common B1 mistakes — 'I am boring' actually means 'I am a boring person', not 'I feel bored'.
- Stacking two or more adjectives before a noun — put opinion first: 'a friendly, tall man'.
- Describing something/someone that produces an emotion in others — use -ING: 'She's an annoying flatmate.'
- Describing how you or someone else feels — use -ED: 'I'm annoyed with my flatmate.'
- Talking about a personality trait as a permanent quality — often -ING: 'He's a really interesting person.'
- Talking about a temporary emotional reaction — always -ED: 'I was bored during the meeting.'
e.g. A friendly, outgoing, tall, dark-haired woman.
| Form | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -ing (boring, annoying) | causes the feeling | My commute is exhausting. |
| -ed (bored, annoyed) | experiences the feeling | I'm exhausted after my commute. |
| opinion + fact | adjective order for people | a kind, elderly neighbour |
| fact + opinion (wrong order) | sounds unnatural | an elderly, kind neighbour (less natural) |
She's a cheerful, easy-going colleague — everyone likes working with her.
He's a tall, broad-shouldered man with short dark hair.
My grandmother was a stubborn, big-hearted old woman.
The lecture was so boring that half the class fell asleep.
I was really annoyed when he cancelled at the last minute.
Are you interested in art, or do you find galleries boring?
Not this
I am boring of this film.
Say this
I am bored with/by this film.
'Boring' describes the film (it causes boredom). 'Bored' describes you (you feel it). Use 'bored with/by', not 'boring of'.
Memory tip
The machine is BORING you = the machine causes it, ends in -ING. YOU are BORED = you receive it, ends in -ED.
Natural English
Native speakers often soften a criticism with 'a bit' or 'quite': 'He's a bit big-headed' sounds far more natural — and less rude — than a flat 'He's big-headed.'
Step 1 — Build the sentences yourself
Build the sentence → spot the natural chunks → say it aloud → reply like a real conversation.
1.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
2.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
3.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
4.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
Step 2 — Produce the form from memory
There isn't one "right" answer — write a natural version, then compare with the model.
Q1.Correct: 'The film was so ____ that I fell asleep.'
Step 3 — Check your choices
Question 1.Which sentence correctly describes how a person FEELS?
Question 2.Which adjective order is most natural for describing a person?
Question 3.Which sentence describes something that CAUSES a feeling?
Question 4.Which is correct?
Vocabulary · Section 3
5–7 minWords & phrases to learn
Easy-going
relaxed, not easily upset or annoyed
In context
"My flatmate's really easy-going — nothing seems to bother him."
Now try it yourself
Describe someone you know who is easy-going.
Reliable
someone you can trust to do what they say
In context
"She's the most reliable person on the team — always on time."
Now try it yourself
Name someone reliable in your life and give an example.
Stubborn
unwilling to change your mind or opinion
In context
"My dad's so stubborn — he never admits he's wrong."
Now try it yourself
Describe a time someone you know was being stubborn.
Outgoing
sociable, confident with new people
In context
"She's very outgoing — she'll chat to anyone at a party."
Now try it yourself
Say whether you're more outgoing or more reserved, and why.
Down-to-earth
practical, sensible, not pretentious
In context
"Despite being famous, he's really down-to-earth."
Now try it yourself
Describe someone you know who stays down-to-earth despite success.
Big-headed
too proud of yourself; arrogant
In context
"Don't get big-headed just because you won once."
Now try it yourself
Give an example of behaviour you'd call big-headed.
Take after (someone)
resemble a parent/relative in looks or character
In context
"He takes after his mum — same sense of humour."
Now try it yourself
Say who you take after and in what way.
Get on (well) with
have a good relationship with someone
In context
"We get on really well — we never argue."
Now try it yourself
Describe someone you get on well with, and why.
Broad-shouldered
having wide shoulders
In context
"He's tall and broad-shouldered, like a rugby player."
Now try it yourself
Describe the build of someone you know.
Middle-aged
roughly between 45 and 65 years old
In context
"A middle-aged woman was sitting opposite me on the train."
Now try it yourself
Describe a middle-aged relative's appearance.
Have a lot in common
share interests, opinions or experiences
In context
"We have a lot in common — we both love hiking."
Now try it yourself
Say what you have in common with a friend or partner.
Two-faced
friendly to your face but critical behind your back
In context
"I don't trust her — she's a bit two-faced."
Now try it yourself
Explain, in general terms, why two-faced behaviour damages trust.
Pick at least three words from above and use each one in a sentence about your real life. Say each one aloud before you write.
Ask your teacher (or a partner) a question that uses one of today's words. They reply using a different word.
Rank today's words from most to least useful for you this week. Defend your top choice.
Finish: "Honestly, I'd say…" using one of today's words.
Tip: aim to reuse at least two of these words later in the Speaking and Writing tasks.
Tap an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.
Pronunciation · Section 4
3–4 minWord stress on personality adjectives; the /ɪd/ vs /d/ ending in -ed adjectives
Compound adjectives like 'easy-going', 'down-to-earth' and 'big-headed' usually carry stress on the FIRST part: EASy-going, DOWN-to-earth, BIG-headed. Note also that '-ed' adjectives ending in a vowel sound (bored, annoyed) end in a simple /d/ or /t/ sound — NOT an extra syllable. Only adjectives ending in -t or -d in the base form (like 'excited', 'interested') add an extra syllable /ɪd/. Compare: 'bored' (one syllable, /bɔːd/) vs 'excited' (three syllables, /ɪkˈsaɪtɪd/).
- • She's really EASy-going and DOWN-to-earth.
- • He can be a bit BIG-headed sometimes.
- • I was BORED /bɔːd/ but she was exCITed /ɪkˈsaɪtɪd/.
- • We get on really WELL — we TAKE after each other.
Reading · Section 5
8–10 minThe words we reach for when we describe people
Ask someone to describe their best friend and, within seconds, most people default to 'nice' or 'really funny'. Both are true, but neither says very much. Learning a wider range of personality vocabulary doesn't just make your English sound better — it forces you to think more precisely about the people around you, which is a useful skill in itself.
Start with the difference between similar-sounding words. 'Confident' and 'big-headed' can describe the same behaviour, but one is a compliment and the other an insult; the difference is usually whether the person notices other people's feelings too. 'Stubborn' and 'determined' can also describe the identical trait — refusing to give up — but stubborn implies the person is wrong to persist, while determined implies admiration. English is full of these near-pairs, and choosing the right one is often more about attitude than accuracy.
Appearance vocabulary works differently. English speakers tend to describe height, build and hair before anything else, usually in that order, and usually with the opinion adjective first if there is one: 'a friendly, tall, dark-haired man' rather than a random list. Family resemblance has its own set of phrases — 'he takes after his dad' is far more natural than 'he looks like his dad genetically', which nobody actually says.
Relationships bring another layer entirely. 'We get on well' is the everyday British phrase for a good relationship, used for friends, siblings, colleagues and even pets. Its opposite, 'we don't really get on', is a polite way of saying two people clash without going into detail — useful when you don't want to explain exactly why.
The grammar hiding underneath all of this is worth noticing too: whether an adjective causes a feeling or describes one changes its ending completely. Someone who is 'boring' makes other people feel 'bored'. Get that pair the wrong way round, as many learners do, and you can accidentally announce that you yourself are a dull person rather than simply feeling under-stimulated by a lecture.
Step 1 — Read for the overall picture: true or false?
Q1.The text claims 'nice' and 'funny' are very precise personality words.
Q2.The text says English speakers usually put an opinion adjective before appearance details.
Step 2 — Find the evidence and answer
Question 1.According to the text, what is the difference between 'confident' and 'big-headed'?
Question 2.What does the text say is the everyday British phrase for a good relationship?
There isn't one "right" answer — write a natural version, then compare with the model.
Q1.Why does the text say 'stubborn' and 'determined' are a useful pair to compare? (answer in a few words)
Q2.What does the final paragraph imply about mixing up 'boring' and 'bored'? (answer in a few words)
Listening · Section 6
8–10 minDescribing a new colleague before he arrives
Listening audio
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
Show transcript
Jess:So, what's the new guy like? You met him at the interview, didn't you?
Ola:Yeah, Daniel. He seemed really easy-going, actually. Quite tall, dark-haired, maybe mid-thirties.
Jess:Is he outgoing, or more the quiet type?
Ola:Definitely outgoing. He was chatting to everyone in reception before the interview even started.
Jess:Good — we need someone like that. The last person was so boring in meetings, honestly.
Ola:I remember. I was bored just watching him present.
Jess:Does Daniel seem reliable, though? That matters more than being fun.
Ola:He does. He followed up the same evening with all the documents we asked for — no reminders needed.
Jess:That's a good sign. Any red flags at all?
Ola:Maybe a tiny bit big-headed about his last job — he mentioned his old title about four times.
Jess:That's mild. As long as he's not two-faced, I can live with a bit of confidence.
Ola:No, he seemed down-to-earth apart from that. Apparently he takes after his mum, who's a teacher — very patient, according to him.
Jess:We'll see. What did you think of his appearance, out of interest? Just for the seating chart.
Ola:Tall, broad-shouldered, short hair, glasses. Looked a bit nervous, but that's normal in interviews.
Jess:Fair enough. I think we'll get on with him fine.
Step 1 — Listen and notice the language
Step 2 — Listen again and complete the notes
Question 1.How does Ola describe Daniel's personality in the interview?
Question 2.What evidence does Ola give that Daniel is reliable?
There isn't one "right" answer — write a natural version, then compare with the model.
Q1.What can we infer about the previous person in the role? (answer in a few words)
Q2.What does Jess imply when she says 'as long as he's not two-faced, I can live with a bit of confidence'? (answer in a few words)
Exam tip · Section 7
5 minSpeaking — Cambridge B1 Preliminary Part 2 (describing a photo / person)
Task
Describe a person you know well for 90 seconds: appearance, personality, and your relationship with them. Use at least 4 personality adjectives, correct adjective order at least twice, and one -ed/-ing pair correctly.
Strategy
Examiners at this level reward RANGE and ACCURACY over speed. (1) Structure: appearance first, then personality, then relationship — this mirrors natural description order. (2) Stack adjectives correctly: opinion before physical fact ('a kind, elderly woman', not 'an elderly, kind woman'). (3) Use a comparison or resemblance phrase ('she takes after her mother') to add natural range. (4) Include one clear -ed/-ing contrast to show grammatical control ('she's never boring, and I'm never bored around her'). (5) Finish with 'We get on really well because…' to link back to relationship.
Example
I'd like to describe my aunt, Carol. She's a tall, grey-haired woman in her sixties, quite broad-shouldered — she used to play basketball. Personality-wise, she's incredibly easy-going and down-to-earth, even though she's quite successful in her job. She's also very reliable — if she says she'll help, she always does. She can be a little stubborn occasionally, but never in a way that causes real problems. I take after her more than I take after my own mum, actually — same sense of humour, same terrible driving. She's never boring to be around, and I'm honestly never bored in her company. We get on incredibly well, probably because we both say exactly what we think.
Practice · Section 8
8–10 minFill in the blank
Step 1 — Retrieve it from memory first
There isn't one "right" answer — write a natural version, then compare with the model.
Q1.Describe a family member's appearance using at least two stacked adjectives in the correct order.
Q2.Use 'take after' to describe a resemblance in your family.
Q3.Write one sentence using an -ing adjective and one using the matching -ed adjective.
Q4.Describe someone using 'get on well with' or 'don't really get on with'.
Step 2 — Now check your choices
Question 1.She's a friendly, ____ woman — everyone likes her.
Question 2.I was so ____ during the meeting that I nearly fell asleep.
Question 3.He ____ his dad — same eyes, same laugh.
Question 4.My sister and I ____ really well — we rarely argue.
Question 5.That documentary was really ____ — I learned a lot.
Writing · Section 9
5 minPut it in writing
Your task
Write a 130–160 word description of a close friend or family member for a class 'guess who' activity. Include at least 3 stacked adjectives in correct order, 5 lesson vocabulary items, one -ed/-ing pair, and a sentence about your relationship using 'get on' or 'take after'.
Your answer
Your work saves automatically0 words
Show model answer
I'd like to describe my best friend, Marta. She's a cheerful, medium-height, dark-haired woman in her late twenties, usually seen with a coffee in one hand and a notebook in the other. Personality-wise, she's incredibly easy-going and outgoing — she can start a conversation with anyone, anywhere. She's also extremely reliable; if she promises something, it happens. She can be a little stubborn when she's convinced she's right, but it rarely causes real problems, because she's genuinely down-to-earth rather than big-headed about it. Interestingly, she takes after her grandmother more than either of her parents — same directness, same dry sense of humour. She's never boring to spend time with, and I'm honestly never bored on the rare quiet evenings either, because she always has an interesting story. We get on brilliantly, mostly because neither of us takes the other too seriously.
Speaking · Section 10
10–15 minMake it a real conversation
Role-play 'New flatmate interview'. One partner is looking for a flatmate; the other is describing a possible candidate they know. Discuss appearance, personality, reliability and whether you'd get on with them. Use at least 5 lesson phrases and correct adjective order twice.
Useful phrases
- • He's a bit big-headed about…
- • She's really easy-going and down-to-earth.
- • I think we'd get on well because…
- • He takes after his…
- • The last one was so boring/annoying that…
Speaking reflection & notes
Your work saves automatically0 words
- AWhat's your new manager like?
- B_______________
- ADoes she seem reliable?
- B_______________
- AAny downsides so far?
- B_______________
Homework · Section 11
Take-homeTake it home
Write a 120-word description of a celebrity's appearance and personality using at least 6 lesson words and correct adjective order.
Record yourself describing three family members for 2 minutes, focusing on -ed/-ing adjective accuracy.
Watch a 5-minute interview clip in English and note down 5 personality adjectives used to describe the guest.
Homework notes
Your work saves automatically0 words
Recap · Section 12
2–3 minWhat you've learned
- Adjective order for people: opinion first, then age/size, then physical detail — 'a friendly, tall, dark-haired man'.
- -ING adjectives (boring, annoying) describe what CAUSES a feeling; -ED adjectives (bored, annoyed) describe what EXPERIENCES it.
- 'Take after' = resemble a relative; 'get on (well) with' = have a good relationship.
- Soften negative traits with 'a bit' or 'quite' to sound natural and polite.
- Compound adjectives (easy-going, big-headed, down-to-earth) are usually stressed on the first part.
Extra Practice
Need more practice?
Practise the grammar, vocabulary and speaking from this lesson.