How to Describe a Picture in English - Spoken English Lesson

英文口說課程 — 怎樣用英文描述一幅圖片

HI, I'm Michael.

嗨，我是Michael。

Welcome to Oxford Online English.

歡迎來到Oxford Online English。

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

在本節課裡，您可以學到怎樣 用英文來描述一幅圖片。

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

描述一幅圖片在很多英文測驗裡 是有用的；例如，您需要在像是FCE、

for exams like FCE, TOEIC or PTE.

TOEIC或PTE測驗裡用英文 描述一幅圖片。

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

那也是練習您的一般 英文技能的好方式。

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

拿一幅有趣的圖片，試著 用英文描述它。

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

您可以練習您的口說並學到 一些新的英文字彙！

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

在本節課裡，您可以學到怎麼用清晰、 有細節的說法用英文來描述一幅圖片。

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

我們會告訴您怎樣一步步地構建一個答案。

What’s the best way to start your description?

您開始描述的最好方式是什麼？

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

從總結開始，給出一個 在圖片裡有什麼、您能看到

see.

什麼的一般描述。

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

想像正在與您交談的人 看不到圖片是有用的。

Think: what does the other person need to know?

考慮：其他人需要知道什麼？

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

您需要說什麼來讓其他人 能夠理解在圖片裡有什麼？

Let’s do an example.

我們來做一個例子。

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

您想要用一個或兩個簡單句 來總結您看到了什麼。

How could you do that?

您要怎麼做那個？

You could say:

您可以說：

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.

像這樣的簡單總結讓理解圖片 裡的一般內容更容易。

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

我們再做一個： 在這裡您能看到什麼？

Here are some possible answers:

這裡是一些可能的回答：

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，現在輪到您了。

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

這裡是另一幅圖片：您需要 就您看到了什麼做一個總結。

You can use these phrases:

您可以使用這些片語：

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.

暫停影片，造一個或兩個句子。

You can write down your answers if you want.

如果您願意，您可以寫下您的答案。

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

好，在您總結之後，您可以開始給出 您在圖片裡看到的更多細節。

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

要開始給出細節，您可以談論在 圖片裡，那些東西在哪裡。

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

這裡是幫助您做這個的一些有用說法：

Let’s do an example.

我們來做一個例子。

You could say:

您可以說：

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:

在談論圖片時，您也 可能需要片語：

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:

我們把所有這些說法一起 放到另一個例子裡：

Think first: what could you say about this picture?

首先想想：關於這幅圖片， 您可以說什麼？

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

好，我們看看您可以說什麼：

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!

現在，輪到您了！

Here’s a picture:

這裡是一幅圖片：

Pause the video, and make at least three sentences.

暫停影片，造至少三個句子。

Use the useful language you saw in this section.

使用您在這個單元裡看到的有用說法。

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

同樣，如果您願意，您可以 寫下您的句子！

Okay?

好了嗎？

What’s next?

接下來是什麼？

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

現在，正在與您交談的人對您正在 描述的圖片以及某物

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

在哪裡應該有了一個 好的、一般的概念。

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

接下來，您應當開始描述您的 圖片裡的更多細節。

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

我們看看您之前看到過的一幅圖片： 在添加細節時，不要試著

everything in the picture.

描述圖片裡面的每一樣東西。

It’s not necessary or useful.

那沒必要，也沒用。

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

您應當添加圖片裡 最重要部分的細節。

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

所以，對這幅圖片，您認為 最重要的部分是什麼？

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

有可能拍這幅圖片的人 因為人物而拍攝它。

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

所以，您應當把您的描述 聚焦到兩個人上面。

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

考慮：他們看上去像是什麼， 他們在做什麼？

You could say:

您可以說：

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.

那只是三個句子，但是它們增加了 大量的細節到您的描述裡。

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

我們再試一個： 在這幅圖片裡，您認為

focus on in your description?

您應該聚焦在什麼？

Fairly obviously, you should talk about the horses.

很明顯，您應當談論馬。

Let’s try:

我們試一下：

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.

同樣，您可以看到您能只用 幾個句子就做大量的事情。

Alright, now it’s your turn!

好了，現在輪到您了！

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

我們拿一幅您已經看到的圖片： 暫停影片，並造至少

to describe the picture in detail.

三個句子來描述圖片細節。

Try to include as much information as you can.

試著盡您所能包含更多資訊。

How was that?

那是什麼？

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

如果您想要更多的練習，您可以用 本節課裡的其他圖片來做相同的

lesson, or you could use your own pictures!

練習，或者您可以看您自己的圖片！

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

在這一個重點，您描述了圖片的細節。

So, what else can you do?

那麼，您可以做其他什麼？

Speculating…

推測…

What does that mean?

那意思是什麼？

Speculating means talking about possibilities.

推測意思是談論可能性。

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

例如，看看這幅圖片： 想一些問題：

Why are the umbrellas there?

為什麼有雨傘？

Who put them there?

誰放在那裡的？

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

通過嘗試回答像這樣的問題，您在推測； 您在談論可能性，以及

and giving your opinion about the picture.

給出您對這幅圖片的觀點。

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

在談論一幅圖片時，推測可以幫 您造一個更長、有更多

picture.

細節的回答。

Let’s do an example:

我們來做一個例子：

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:

我們再看一幅圖片：

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

考慮一下，如果您想推測 這幅圖片，您能說什麼？

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

另一方面，考慮它：關於這幅圖片， 您自己能問什麼問題？

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

可能的想法是：誰留下的 足跡，為什麼？

Where were they going?

他們要去哪裡？

Where is the person who made the footprints now?

留下足跡的人 現在在做什麼？

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

有其他的可能性，當然， 那麼，也隨意使用您自己的想法!

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

好的，那麼，要推測這幅圖片，您能說什麼？

Here are some examples:

這裡是一些例子：

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.

在我們的事例裡，您有看到一些有用的、您能用來推測

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

a picture.

一幅圖片的說法。

Do you remember?

您記得嗎？

You can use language like:

您能使用說法，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:

我們一起再用另一幅圖片來練習使用這些一次：

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

您能使用我們剛剛看到的、有用的說法來造四個句子嗎？

Let’s do an example together:

我們一起來做一個例子：

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，現在輪到您了。

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

您能使用您在本單元裡學到的說法來造四個句子

learned in this section?

來推測這幅圖片嗎？

Pause the video and think about your answers!

暫停影片，並考慮您的回答！

Now, you have one more thing to do.

現在，您還有一件事情要做。

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

在您推測時，您可以推測您在圖片裡看到了什麼。

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

然而，您也可以 — 以及您應當 — 推測您不能看到什麼。

How’s this possible?

這怎麼可能？

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

好，考慮這幅圖片： 您可以像這樣考慮問題：

and when was the picture taken?

圖片是在什麼時候和什麼地點拍攝的？

Who took the picture?

誰拍攝的？

What was the photographer doing there?

攝影師在那做什麼？

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?

您覺得呢？

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

談論您在圖片裡看不到什麼是很有用的，能幫助給

add details to your answer.

您的回答添加細節。

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

我們來再做一個例子： 關於這幅圖片，您可以說什麼？

Let’s do this one together.

我們一起來做這個。

You could say:

您可以說：

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，再多一個例子。

This time, you have to do it yourself!

這次，您要自己做它！

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

這裡是您的圖片： 造至少兩個句子來推測

the context of the picture.

圖片的背景。

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

想像它是在哪裡、什麼時候拍的，以及誰拍的，攝影師在

there.

那做什麼。

How was that?

那怎麼樣了？

Hopefully you feel more confident describing pictures in English now.

希望現在您對用英文描述圖片感到更自信了。

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

我們把您學到的每一樣東西放在一起，並練習造更長的句子和描述更流利。

When you describe a picture, you should:

在您描述一幅圖片時，您應當：

Give a summary of what you see.

給出一個您看到什麼的總結。

Talk about where things are in the picture.

談論東西是在圖片裡的什麼地方。

Add details.

添加細節。

Speculate about what’s in the picture.

推測什麼在圖片裡。

And, Speculate about the context of the picture.

以及，推測圖片的背景。

Let’s make a longer answer together.

我們一起來做一個更長的回答。

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

我們會用一個我們已經用過的圖片開始：

Here’s a possible longer answer:

這是一個可能更長的答案：

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?

您認為您可以造一個像這樣的回答嗎？

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

記住所有您需要的說法都在這個單元裡。

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

您只要拿您在每一個部分練習的東西並把它們放在一起。

Let’s do one more example together:

我們在一起再做一個例子：

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，現在輪到您了。

We’ll give you a new picture:

我們會給您一幅新圖片：

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

暫停影片，並試著做一個更長的回答，像我們剛剛做的。

Follow the same structure.

跟隨相同的結構。

Finished?

做完了嗎？

I don’t think so!

我不這麼認為。

You should practise as much as you can.

您應該盡您所能來練習。

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

拿課程裡的其他圖片，也做關於它們的更長的回答。

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

練習您的回答幾次，直到您可以流利地、舒適地做。

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

如果您願意，您可以在留言板裡寫下您的回答裡的一個，

on your English.

我們會給您回覆意見。

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

要看更多的免費英文課程，不要忘記查看Oxford Online English.com

Thanks for watching!

感謝觀看！

See you next time!

下次見！