How to Describe a Picture in English - Spoken English Lesson

英语口语课程 — 怎样用英语描述一幅图片

HI, I'm Michael.

嗨，我是Michael。

Welcome to Oxford Online English.

欢迎来到Oxford Online English。

In this lesson, you can learn how to describe a picture in English.

在本节课里，您可以学到怎样 用英语来描述一幅图片。

Describing a picture is useful in many English exams; you need to describe a picture in English

描述一幅图片在很多英语测验里 是有用的；例如，您需要在像是FCE、

for exams like FCE, TOEIC or PTE.

TOEIC或PTE测验里用英语 描述一幅图片。

It’s also a good way to practise your general English skills.

那也是练习您的一般 英语技能的好方式。

Take an interesting picture, and try to describe it in English.

拿一幅有趣的图片，试着 用英语描述它。

You can practise your speaking and learn some new English vocabulary!

您可以练习您的口语并学到 一些新的英语词汇！

In this lesson, you can learn how to describe a picture in English in clear, detailed language.

在本节课里，您可以学到怎么以清晰、 有细节的说法用英语来描述一幅图片。

We’ll show you how to build an answer step-by-step.

我们会告诉您怎么一步步地构建一个答案。

What’s the best way to start your description?

开始您的描述的最好方式是什么？

Start with a summary, giving a general description of what’s in the picture and what you can

从总结开始，给出一个 在图片里有什么、您能看到

see.

什么的一般描述。

It’s useful to imagine that the person you’re talking to can’t see the picture.

想像正在和您交谈的人 看不到图片是有用的。

Think: what does the other person need to know?

考虑：其他人需要知道什么？

What do you need to say so that other people can understand what’s in the picture?

您需要说什么来让其他人 能够理解在图片里的是什么？

Let’s do an example.

我们来做一个例子。

You want to summarize what you see in one or two simple sentences.

您想要用一个或两个简单的 句子来总结您看到什么。

How could you do that?

您可以怎样做那个？

You could say:

您可以说：

There are several small boats next to a beach.

There are several small boats next to a beach.

Or, The picture shows a beach, with many small

Or, The picture shows a beach, with many small

boats in the water nearby.

boats in the water nearby.

Simple summaries like this make it easy to understand the general contents of the picture.

像这样的简单总结让理解图片 里的一般内容更容易。

Let’s do one more: What could you say here?

我们再做一个： 在这里您能看到什么？

Here are some possible answers:

这里是一些可能的回答：

There are three people cooking in a kitchen.

There are three people cooking in a kitchen.

Or, The picture shows three young friends cooking

Or, The picture shows three young friends cooking

together.

together.

Okay, now it’s your turn.

好，现在轮到您了。

Here’s another picture: You need to make a summary of what you see.

这里是另一幅图片：您需要 就您看到了什么做一个总结。

You can use these phrases:

您可以使用这些短语：

There is… or, There are…

There is… or, There are…

The picture shows…

The picture shows…

Pause the video, and make one or two sentences.

暂停视频，造一个或两个句子。

You can write down your answers if you want.

如果您愿意，您可以写下您的答案。

Okay, after your summary, you can start giving more detail about what you see in the picture.

好，在您的总结之后，您可以开始给出 您在图片里看到什么的更多细节。

To start giving detail, you can talk about where things are in the picture.

要开始给出细节，您可以谈论在 图片里，那些东西在哪里。

Here’s some useful language to help you do this:

这里是帮您做这个的一些有用的说法：

Let’s do an example.

我们来做一个例子。

You could say:

您可以说：

On the left, there’s a girl with dark, curly hair.

On the left, there’s a girl with dark, curly hair.

She’s holding half a cauliflower.

She’s holding half a cauliflower.

In the middle, there’s a man who’s chopping vegetables.

In the middle, there’s a man who’s chopping vegetables.

At the bottom, we can see a counter with many different vegetables on it.

At the bottom, we can see a counter with many different vegetables on it.

When talking about photos, you might also need the phrases:

当谈论图片时，您也 可能需要短语：

In the background…

In the background…

In the foreground…

In the foreground…

For example: In the foreground, there’s a sandy beach

例如： In the foreground, there’s a sandy beach

with three metal anchors on it.

with three metal anchors on it.

In the middle, there are several small boats, which are close to the beach.

In the middle, there are several small boats, which are close to the beach.

In the background, we can see the blue sea stretching to the horizon.

In the background, we can see the blue sea stretching to the horizon.

Let’s put all of this language together in another example:

我们把所有这些说法一起 放到另一个例子里：

Think first: what could you say about this picture?

首先考虑：关于这幅图片， 您可以说什么？

Okay, let’s look at what you could say:

好，我们看看您可以说什么：

On the left, there’s a cat sitting on a table.

On the left, there’s a cat sitting on a table.

On the right, there’s a man standing, though we can’t see his face.

On the right, there’s a man standing, though we can’t see his face.

In the background, we can see blue sky and snowy mountains.

In the background, we can see blue sky and snowy mountains.

Now it’s your turn!

现在，轮到您了！

Here’s a picture:

这里是一幅图片：

Pause the video, and make at least three sentences.

暂停视屏，造至少三个句子。

Use the useful language you saw in this section.

使用您在这个单元看到的有用的说法。

Again, you can write your sentences down if you want to!

同样，如果你愿意，您可以 写下您的句子！

Okay?

好了吗？

What’s next?

接下来是什么？

Now, the person you’re talking to should have a good general idea about what’s in

现在，正在与您交谈的人对您正在 描述的图片以及某物

the picture you’re describing, and where things are.

在哪里应该有了一个 好的、一般的概念。

Next, you should start describing your picture in more detail.

接下来，您应当开始描述您的 图片的更多细节。

Let’s look at a picture you’ve seen before: When adding detail, don’t try to describe

我们看看您之前看到过的一幅图片： 在添加细节时，不要试着

everything in the picture.

描述图片里面的每一样东西。

It’s not necessary or useful.

那没必要也没用。

You should add details to the most important parts of the picture.

您应当添加图片里 最重要部分的细节。

So, for this picture, what do you think the most important parts are?

所以，对这幅图片，您认为 最重要的部分是什么？

Probably, the person who took this photo took it because of the people.

有可能拍这幅图片的人 因为人而拍它。

So, you should focus your description on the two people.

所以，您应当把您的描述 聚焦到两个人上面。

Think: what do they look like, and what are they doing?

考虑：他们看上去像什么， 他们在做什么？

You could say:

您可以说：

The two people both look unhappy or irritated.

The two people both look unhappy or irritated.

They’re sitting at the kitchen table together, but they aren’t talking to each other.

They’re sitting at the kitchen table together, but they aren’t talking to each other.

The man is staring down at the table, while the woman is stirring her tea with a spoon.

The man is staring down at the table, while the woman is stirring her tea with a spoon.

That’s just three sentences, but they add a lot of detail to your description.

那只是三个句子，但是它们增加了 大量的细节到您的描述里。

Let’s try one more: In this picture, what do you think you should

我们再试一个： 在这幅图片里，您认为

focus on in your description?

您应该聚焦在什么？

Fairly obviously, you should talk about the horses.

很明显，您应当谈论马。

Let’s try:

我们试一下：

The horses are running through the grass.

The horses are running through the grass.

Two of them are black, but the one in the middle is white and grey.

Two of them are black, but the one in the middle is white and grey.

They don’t have saddles or anything, so they could be wild horses.

They don’t have saddles or anything, so they could be wild horses.

Again, you can see that you can do a lot with just a few sentences.

同样，您可以看到您能用仅仅 几个句子做大量的事情。

Alright, now it’s your turn!

好了，现在轮到您了！

Let’s take a picture you’ve already seen: Pause the video and make at least three sentences

我们拿一幅您已经看到的图片： 暂停视屏，并造至少

to describe the picture in detail.

三个句子来描述图片细节。

Try to include as much information as you can.

试着尽您所能包含更多信息。

How was that?

那是什么？

If you want more practice, you can do the same exercise with other pictures from this

如果您想要更多的练习，您可以用 本节课里的其他图片来做相同的

lesson, or you could use your own pictures!

练习，或者您可以看您自己的图片！

At this point, you’ve described the picture in detail.

在这一个重点，您描述了图片的细节。

So, what else can you do?

那么，您可以做其他什么？

Speculating…

推测…

What does that mean?

那意思是什么？

Speculating means talking about possibilities.

推测意思是谈论可能性。

For example, look at this picture: Think about some questions:

例如，看看这幅图片： 想一些问题：

Why are the umbrellas there?

为什么有雨伞？

Who put them there?

谁放在那里的？

By trying to answer questions like this, you are speculating; you’re talking about possibilities

经由尝试回答像这样的问题，您在推测； 您在谈论可能性，以及

and giving your opinion about the picture.

给出您对这幅图片的观点。

Speculating can help you to make a longer, more detailed answer when talking about a

在谈论一幅图片时，推测可以帮 您造一个更长、有更多

picture.

细节的回答。

Let’s do an example:

我们来做一个例子：

I suppose it might be some kind of art project.

I suppose it might be some kind of art project.

Maybe one person put an umbrella up there as a joke, and then other people started doing

Maybe one person put an umbrella up there as a joke, and then other people started doing

it, too.

it, too.

Let’s look at one more picture:

我们再看一幅图片：

Think, if you wanted to speculate about this picture, what could you say?

考虑一下，如果您想推测 这幅图片，您能说什么？

Another way to think about it: what questions could you ask yourself about this picture?

另一方面，考虑它：关于这幅图片， 您自己能问什么问题？

Possible ideas are: who made the footprints, and why?

可能的想法是：谁留下的 足迹，为什么？

Where were they going?

他们要去哪里？

Where is the person who made the footprints now?

留下足迹的人 现在在做什么？

There are other possibilities, of course, so feel free to use your own ideas, too!

有其他的可能性，当然， 那么，也随意使用您自己的想法!

Okay, so what could you say to speculate about this picture?

好的，那么，要推测这幅图片，您能说什么？

Here are some examples:

这里是一些例子：

The footprints must have been made by a climber or a mountaineer.

The footprints must have been made by a climber or a mountaineer.

The person who made the footprints might be standing on top of the mountain now.

The person who made the footprints might be standing on top of the mountain now.

在我们的事例里，您有看到一些有用的、您能用来推测

In our examples, you’ve seen some useful language which you can use to speculate about

a picture.

一幅图片的说法。

Do you remember?

您记得吗？

You can use language like:

您能使用说法，像是：

I suppose…

I suppose…

Maybe…

Maybe…

[It] must…

[It] must…

[He] might…

[He] might…

Let’s practise using these once more with another picture:

我们一起再用另一幅图片来练习使用这些一次：

Could you make four sentences, using the useful language we just saw?

您能使用我们刚刚看到的、有用的说法来造四个句子吗？

Let’s do an example together:

我们一起来做一个例子：

I suppose the guy is a climber, or he’s on an adventure holiday.

I suppose the guy is a climber, or he’s on an adventure holiday.

Maybe he climbed something, and now he’s on the way down.

Maybe he climbed something, and now he’s on the way down.

He must have a lot of experience, because his body language is quite relaxed.

He must have a lot of experience, because his body language is quite relaxed.

He might be focusing on what he’s doing, but he might just be enjoying the view!

He might be focusing on what he’s doing, but he might just be enjoying the view!

Okay, now it’s your turn.

好，现在轮到您了。

Can you make four sentences to speculate about this picture, using the language you’ve

您可以使用您在本单元学到的说法来造四个句子

learned in this section?

来推测这幅图片吗？

Pause the video and think about your answers!

暂停视屏，并考虑您的回答！

Now, you have one more thing to do.

现在,您还有一件事情要做。

When you speculate, you can speculate about what you can see in the picture.

在您推测时，您可以推测您在图片里看到了什么。

However, you can—and you should—speculate about what you can’t see, too.

然而，您也可以 — 以及您应当 — 推测您不能看到什么。

How’s this possible?

这怎么可能？

Well, think about this picture: You can think about questions like: where

好，考虑这幅图片： 您可以像这样考虑问题：

and when was the picture taken?

图片是在什么时候和什么地点拍摄的？

Who took the picture?

谁拍摄的？

What was the photographer doing there?

摄影师在那做什么？

For example:

例如：

I think this could be in the USA, or maybe Russia.

I think this could be in the USA, or maybe Russia.

It’s a good photo, so perhaps it was taken by a professional nature photographer.

It’s a good photo, so perhaps it was taken by a professional nature photographer.

You see?

您觉得呢？

Talking about what you can’t see in the picture can be very useful, and can help to

谈论您在图片里看不到什么可以是很有用的，能帮助给

add details to your answer.

您的回答增加细节。

Let’s do one more example: What could you say about this picture?

我们来再做一个例子： 关于这幅图片，您可以说什么？

Let’s do this one together.

我们一起来做这个。

You could say:

您可以说：

This must be somewhere tropical, like the Caribbean or the Maldives.

This must be somewhere tropical, like the Caribbean or the Maldives.

Perhaps it was taken by a tourist who came to the beach on one of those boats.

Perhaps it was taken by a tourist who came to the beach on one of those boats.

Okay, one more.

好，再多一个例子。

This time, you have to do it yourself!

这次，您要自己做它！

Here’s your picture: Make at least two sentences to speculate about

这里是您的图片： 造至少两个句子来推测

the context of the picture.

图片的背景。

Think about where and when it was taken, who took it, and what the photographer was doing

想想它是在哪里、什么时候拍的，以及谁拍的，摄影师在

there.

那做什么。

How was that?

那怎么样了？

Hopefully you feel more confident describing pictures in English now.

希望现在您对用英语描述图片感到更自信。

Let’s put everything you’ve learned together and practise making longer, fluent descriptions.

我们把您学到的每一样东西放在一起，并练习造得更长和描述更流利。

When you describe a picture, you should:

在您描述一幅图片时，您应当：

Give a summary of what you see.

给出一个您看到什么的总结。

Talk about where things are in the picture.

谈论东西是在图片里的哪里。

Add details.

添加细节。

Speculate about what’s in the picture.

推测什么在图片里。

And, Speculate about the context of the picture.

以及，推测图片的背景。

Let’s make a longer answer together.

我们一起来造一个更长的回答。

We’ll start with a picture we’ve used already:

我们会用一个我们已经用过的图片开始：

Here’s a possible longer answer:

这是一个可能更长的答案：

In the picture, there are two people sitting at a table, looking unhappy.

In the picture, there are two people sitting at a table, looking unhappy.

There’s a woman on the left and a man on the right.

There’s a woman on the left and a man on the right.

In the middle of the picture, we can see some things on the table, like cups of tea, biscuits,

In the middle of the picture, we can see some things on the table, like cups of tea, biscuits,

milk and so on.

milk and so on.

The two people look sad or irritated, and they aren’t speaking to each other.

The two people look sad or irritated, and they aren’t speaking to each other.

They’re both looking down at the table.

They’re both looking down at the table.

I suppose they had a fight and now they aren’t talking to each other, or they might just

I suppose they had a fight and now they aren’t talking to each other, or they might just

be bored and not have anything to talk about.

be bored and not have anything to talk about.

I guess it’s a stock photo because otherwise, why would the photographer be in the kitchen

I guess it’s a stock photo because otherwise, why would the photographer be in the kitchen

with them?

with them?

Do you think you could make an answer like this?

您认为您可以造一个像这样的回答吗？

Remember, all the language you need is in this lesson.

记住所有您需要的说法都在这个单元里。

You just need to take the things you practised in each part, and then put them together.

您只要拿您在每一个部分练习的东西并把它们放在一起。

Let’s do one more example together:

我们在一起再做一个例子：

The picture shows umbrellas hanging in the air.

The picture shows umbrellas hanging in the air.

In the foreground, we can see a streetlight, and the umbrellas fill the picture from left

In the foreground, we can see a streetlight, and the umbrellas fill the picture from left

to right.

to right.

The umbrellas are of many different colours, mostly bright colours like pink, yellow or

The umbrellas are of many different colours, mostly bright colours like pink, yellow or

green.

green.

They’re hanging from wires.

They’re hanging from wires.

I can see at least four lines of umbrellas hanging down in this way, but there could

I can see at least four lines of umbrellas hanging down in this way, but there could

be even more.

be even more.

Maybe this is some sort of art project.

Maybe this is some sort of art project.

It might also be a festival or tradition, that people decorate the street with colourful

It might also be a festival or tradition, that people decorate the street with colourful

umbrellas like this.

umbrellas like this.

I suppose the picture was taken in a city or town, though I can’t tell where exactly.

I suppose the picture was taken in a city or town, though I can’t tell where exactly.

Perhaps the photographer was a tourist, and was just walking around the city when he saw

Perhaps the photographer was a tourist, and was just walking around the city when he saw

this amazing and strange scene.

this amazing and strange scene.

Alright, now it’s your turn.

好了，现在轮到您了。

We’ll give you a new picture:

我们回给您一幅新图片：

Pause the video and try to make a longer answer, like we just did.

暂停视频,并试着造一个更长的回答，像我们刚刚做的。

Follow the same structure.

跟随相同的结构。

Finished?

做完了吗？

I don’t think so!

我不这样认为。

You should practise as much as you can.

您应该尽您所能来练习。

Take the other pictures from the lesson, and make longer answers about them, too.

拿课程里的其他图片，也造关于它们的更长的回答。

Practise your answers several times, until you can do it fluently and comfortably.

练习您的回答几次，直到您可以流利地、舒适地做它。

If you want, you can leave one of your answers in the comments and we'll give you feedback

如果您愿意，您可以在评论栏里写下您的回答里的一个，

on your English.

我们会给您回复意见。

Don't forget to check out Oxford Online English.com for more of our free English lessons.

要看更多的免费英语课程，不要忘记查看Oxford Online English.com

Thanks for watching!

感谢观看！

See you next time!

下次见！