Descriptive Texts
Hi, and welcome to this video on descriptive texts!
Descriptive Text Structure
When writing, authors will use descriptive text to bring their writing to life by forming a vivid image in the reader’s mind. There are a few ways to go about this. The first is by using adjectives.
Adjectives are words that describe a person, place, or thing. Using them can help the reader better understand how something looks, feels, sounds, and more.
The sentence above uses adjectives to give the reader a clear image of what the dog looks like.
Adverbs work similarly to adjectives, but instead of modifying nouns, they modify verbs and adjectives. This means that they describe how, when, where, why, and to what extent something takes place.
Descriptive Text Examples
Let’s look at this sentence:
This sentence describes what the person is doing—walking through the forest—but doesn’t tell us anything else about what is happening in the scene. Let’s take this same sentence and use adjectives and adverbs to make the text more descriptive:
Here, the adverb slowly tells us how she walked, and the adjectives lush and green tell us what the forest looks like. This sentence is much more descriptive than the first sentence and paints a clear picture of what the writer wants to convey.
Descriptive text can also be used in more abstract ways. By showing what you want to convey instead of telling it bluntly, you can express what is happening vividly with your words. Here is an example that is not very descriptive:
Here, we know what the elf was feeling, but we don’t know why or how the elf expressed its sadness. Let’s add some descriptive text to illustrate the same scene.
Here, we not only know the elf was crying, but we also get a clear picture of the elf’s face with the phrase poured down its cheeks. This is much more descriptive than simply saying the elf was crying. We also know why the elf was crying and what that scene around it looks like. This is a great example of a descriptive sentence that gives a reader a clear image of what is happening rather than just telling them. The more details you share about what is happening, the more descriptive your text will be.
Review
Before we’re done, here’s a quick review question for you:
Which one of the following is an adjective?
- Clearly
- Fast
- Slowly
- Walked
Thanks for watching, and happy studying!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q
What is descriptive text?
A
Descriptive text is a text that explains what a person, place, or thing is like, often providing a visual experience through the use of adjectives and adverbs.
Q
What is the purpose of a descriptive text?
A
The purpose of a descriptive text is to express what a person or thing is like. For example, instead of just writing the word chair, using descriptive words like old and weathered can provide a distinct image of the chair in their mind. Describing the chair’s surroundings can also help solidify the imagery in the reader’s mind:
“As she entered the dusty room, Millie noticed an old, weathered chair sitting in the corner, kept company by a blanket of cobwebs and dust.”
Q
How do you write a descriptive text?
A
To write a descriptive text, use adjectives to describe objects and people, and use adverbs to describe people’s actions. The reader should be able to clearly picture the settings and characters in your story based on the descriptions provided in the text.
Q
What is the structure of a descriptive text?
A
Descriptive text provides a visual experience through words when describing a character, a place, or an event. An author will generally use adjectives and adverbs to highlight certain characteristics and features.
