Give a general idea of who the person is and what makes them interesting or special.

🗣️ Useful phrases:

• I’d like to describe...

• He/She is the kind of person who...

• One thing that makes him/her special is...

• At first sight, you might think... but actually...

💡 Example:

I’d like to describe my best friend Lara. She’s the kind of person who always puts others before herself. At first sight, she seems quiet, but once you get to know her, she’s very funny and talkative.

🔹 2. Use adjectives for personality traits

Use a mix of positive and negative adjectives to show balance. Try to avoid repeating simple ones like nice or good.

🗣️ Useful adjectives:

• Positive: reliable, patient, ambitious, honest, open-minded, caring, confident

• Negative: impatient, stubborn, lazy, arrogant, moody, selfish

💡 Example:

Lara is very reliable and always keeps her promises. However, she can be a bit stubborn when she thinks she’s right.

🔹 3. Show the qualities through examples

Instead of only listing adjectives, prove them with short stories or examples.
This makes your description more vivid and believable.

🗣️ Useful phrases:

• For example...

• Once, she...

• This shows that...

• You can really see this when...

💡 Example:

For example, once she stayed up all night to help me study for an exam. This shows that she’s always willing to help others.

🔹 4. Use contrast and connectors

Good character descriptions often include contrasts, because real people have both strengths and weaknesses.

🗣️ Useful phrases:

• Although... / Even though...

• On the one hand... on the other hand...

• However... / Nevertheless...

💡 Example:

Although he’s usually very calm, he can get really angry when someone is unfair.
On the one hand, she’s ambitious, but on the other hand, she sometimes forgets to relax.

🔹 5. Include idioms or natural expressions

Idioms make your language sound more fluent and natural. Use them carefully and only when you’re sure of their meaning.

🗣️ Examples:

• She has a heart of gold. (= very kind)

• He wears his heart on his sleeve. (= shows emotions openly)

• She’s down to earth. (= practical and realistic)

• He can be a pain in the neck sometimes. (= annoying)

💡 Example:

My brother is really down to earth. He never complains and always finds practical solutions to problems.

🔹 6. Show your opinion or reaction

You can make the characterisation more personal by expressing how you feel about the person.

🗣️ Useful phrases:

• I really admire...

• I sometimes find it difficult to...

• What I like most about him/her is...

• To be honest...

🟦 1. Introduction

👉 Purpose: Introduce the person and say why you’re describing them.

Phrases:

• I’d like to describe [name/person], who is [your relationship: my friend / my classmate / someone I admire / a famous person].

• He/She is the kind of person who [general characteristic].

• What makes him/her special is [unique quality or habit].

💡 Example:

I’d like to describe my best friend Lisa, who is one of the most positive people I know. She’s the kind of person who always sees the good in every situation.

🟦 2. General Character Traits

👉 Purpose: Give an overview of their inner qualities.

Phrases:

• In general, he/she is [adjective 1], [adjective 2], and [adjective 3].

• Most of the time, he/she [verb phrase].

• People often say that he/she is [adjective].

• I would describe him/her as [adjective phrase].

💡 Example:

In general, Lisa is cheerful, reliable, and caring. She’s always in a good mood and loves helping other people.

🟦 3. Give Examples to Show the Qualities

👉 Purpose: Show, don’t just tell — use examples or short stories.

Phrases:

• For example, [story or situation].

• Once, she/he [example action], which shows that [personality trait].

• You can really see this when [situation].

💡 Example:

For example, once she helped me prepare for an important exam even though she had her own tests. This shows that she’s really generous and supportive.

🟦 4. Add Contrast (Weaknesses or Opposite Traits)

👉 Purpose: Make the description realistic by mentioning both strengths and weaknesses.

Phrases:

• Although he/she is usually [positive trait], sometimes he/she can be [negative trait].

• On the one hand, he/she is [positive], but on the other hand, [negative].

• Everyone has weaknesses, and his/her biggest one is [trait].

💡 Example:

Although Lisa is usually calm, she can get a bit impatient when things don’t go as planned. Still, she always tries to stay positive.

🟦 5. Use Idioms or Natural Expressions

👉 Purpose: Make your English sound natural and idiomatic.

Phrases / Idioms you can insert:

• She has a heart of gold. (= very kind)

• He wears his heart on his sleeve. (= shows his emotions)

• She’s down to earth. (= practical and realistic)

• He can be a pain in the neck sometimes. (= annoying)

• You can always count on her/him. (= reliable)

💡 Example:

She really has a heart of gold and is always ready to help others.

🟦 6. Give Your Opinion / Feelings

👉 Purpose: Add a personal touch and show your emotional connection.

Phrases:

• What I like most about him/her is [trait or habit].

• I really admire him/her because [reason].

• I sometimes find it difficult to [something], but overall...

• To be honest, [personal opinion].

💡 Example:

What I like most about Lisa is her positive attitude. I really admire her ability to stay calm in stressful situations.

🟦 7. Conclusion / Summary

👉 Purpose: End with a clear summary or final impression.

Phrases:

• All in all, he/she is [summary adjective], and I’m glad to know him/her.

• To sum up, I would say that [name] is [main qualities].

• In general, he/she is someone who [final description].

💡 Example:

All in all, Lisa is one of the kindest and most reliable people I know, and I’m really lucky to have her as my friend.

I’d like to describe my best friend Lisa, who is one of the most positive people I know. In general, she’s cheerful, reliable, and caring. For example, once she helped me prepare for an exam even though she had her own tests. This shows how generous she is. Although she’s usually calm, she can get a bit impatient when things don’t go as planned. She really has a heart of gold and is always ready to help others. What I like most about her is that she never gives up, even when life gets tough. All in all, Lisa is a true friend and someone I can always count on.

(clear, everyday adjectives you can use confidently in B2 writing or speaking)

1. Honest – always tells the truth

2. Reliable – you can depend on this person

3. Hardworking – works with effort and discipline

4. Friendly – kind and pleasant

5. Helpful – likes to support others

6. Caring – shows love and concern

7. Creative – has new and original ideas

8. Ambitious – wants to achieve goals

9. Polite – shows good manners

10. Generous – likes to give or share

11. Patient – calm when things take time

12. Confident – believes in themselves

13. Open-minded – accepts new ideas and people

14. Responsible – takes duties seriously

15. Optimistic – sees the good side of things

16. Loyal – stays true to friends or principles

17. Tolerant – respects other opinions

18. Fair – treats everyone equally

19. Supportive – encourages others

20. Sincere – honest in words and feelings

21. Determined – doesn’t give up easily

22. Thoughtful – thinks about others’ needs

23. Cheerful – happy and positive

24. Modest – doesn’t show off

25. Brave – not afraid of difficulties

26. Sociable – enjoys meeting people

27. Organised – keeps things in order

28. Respectful – polite and considerate

29. Honourable – acts with honesty and respect

30. Dependable – trustworthy and consistent

1. Lazy – doesn’t like working or making effort

He’s too lazy to clean his room.

2. Impatient – can’t wait; gets angry when things take time

She gets impatient if people talk too slowly.

3. Arrogant – thinks they are better than others

He’s so arrogant — he never listens to anyone’s advice.

4. Selfish – only cares about their own needs

She’s quite selfish and never shares her snacks.

5. Stubborn – refuses to change their opinion

He’s stubborn and never admits when he’s wrong.

6. Moody – changes feelings quickly, often without reason

She’s very moody — sometimes happy, sometimes angry.

7. Bossy – likes telling others what to do

My sister can be really bossy at home.

8. Jealous – unhappy when others have what they want

He’s jealous of his brother’s success.

9. Rude – impolite or disrespectful

It was rude of her to interrupt while I was talking.

10. Unreliable – cannot be trusted to do things

He’s unreliable; he often forgets his promises.

11. Pessimistic – always expects the worst

She’s pessimistic and believes nothing will ever work out.

12. Greedy – wants more than is fair, especially money or food

He’s greedy and never wants to share.

13. Forgetful – often forgets things

She’s so forgetful — she lost her keys again!

14. Disorganised – doesn’t plan or arrange things well

He’s disorganised and always loses important papers.

15. Overconfident – too sure of themselves

She was overconfident and didn’t prepare for the exam.

16. Narrow-minded – not open to new ideas or people

He’s narrow-minded and refuses to listen to others’ opinions.

17. Insecure – lacks confidence or feels unsure about themselves

She’s insecure about her appearance.

18. Lazy-minded – doesn’t like thinking deeply or learning new things

He’s clever but a bit lazy-minded.

19. Hot-tempered – gets angry very easily

My father is quite hot-tempered; small things make him angry.

20. Overemotional – reacts too strongly with feelings

She’s overemotional and cries about everything.

21. Careless – doesn’t pay enough attention; makes mistakes

He’s careless and often forgets important details.

22. Talkative – talks too much

She’s friendly but sometimes too talkative.

23. Judgmental – quickly criticises others

He’s judgmental and always points out people’s mistakes.

24. Impulsive – acts without thinking

She made an impulsive decision and regretted it later.

25. Dependent – can’t do things without help

He’s too dependent on his parents for everything.

26. Forgetful – easily forgets information

He’s so forgetful that he always misses meetings.

27. Greedy for attention – always wants others to notice them

She’s greedy for attention and interrupts everyone.

28. Negative-minded – focuses only on problems, not solutions

He’s negative-minded and always finds something to complain about.

29. Dishonest – doesn’t tell the truth or hides facts

She was dishonest about how much she spent.

30. Over-sensitive – gets hurt too easily

He’s over-sensitive and takes every joke personally.

• Sometimes he can be a bit ___, but deep down he’s a good person.

• Although she’s usually ___, she gets ___ when she’s stressed.

• He tends to be ___, which makes working with him difficult at times.

💡 Example:

Although he’s usually friendly, he can be quite impatient when things don’t go his way.