IELTS VOCABULARY to describe people | C1 vocabulary to describe people | Adjectives for personality

Summary

In this lesson, British English teacher Jenny introduces compound adjectives used to describe people's personalities. These adjectives, such as 'kind-hearted', 'level-headed', and 'quick-witted', are valuable for daily conversations and important exams like IELTS and Cambridge. Jenny demonstrates how to level up language skills by incorporating advanced structures, like using superlatives and inversion. The video covers a range of adjectives, from 'open-minded' to 'big-headed', providing helpful examples and tips to enhance vocabulary and show off advanced knowledge of English.

Takeaways

• 😀 Compound adjectives are two or more words joined together to form a new adjective, often used to describe people's personalities.
• 😀 Using compound adjectives in everyday conversation can enhance descriptions of people, but using advanced structures like inversion can impress in exam settings.
• 😀 Examples of compound adjectives include 'kind-hearted', 'level-headed', and 'thick-skinned', which describe positive traits.
• 😀 Negative compound adjectives like 'two-faced' and 'close-minded' are useful for describing undesirable traits.
• 😀 Being able to use compound adjectives in both positive and negative forms is essential for demonstrating a broader vocabulary range.
• 😀 In an exam, advanced language like 'never have I met such a kind-hearted person' shows greater proficiency in English.
• 😀 'High-spirited' and 'quick-witted' describe people with lively energy and sharp thinking abilities.
• 😀 'Well-mannered' and 'ill-mannered' highlight the importance of politeness and social behavior in describing people.
• 😀 'Self-centered' and 'warm-hearted' contrast selfishness with kindness, offering more nuanced personality descriptions.
• 😀 Compound adjectives can also express levels of determination, such as 'strong-willed' versus 'weak-willed'.

Q & A

What is the main focus of this vocabulary lesson?

The main focus is on compound adjectives used to describe people's personalities.

What is a compound adjective?

A compound adjective is formed by combining two or more words to create a new adjective. These words are often joined by a hyphen, but not always.

Why is it important to learn compound adjectives for describing personalities?

Learning compound adjectives helps you describe people in more detail, and it’s useful for everyday conversations as well as exams like IELTS or Cambridge tests.

Can you give an example of using a compound adjective in a basic and advanced way?

A basic example is 'my friend is kind-hearted'. An advanced example using a superlative is 'he is the most kind-hearted person I know', and to level up further, you can use inversion with a negative adverbial phrase, like 'never have I met such a kind-hearted person'.

What does 'level-headed' mean?

'Level-headed' describes someone who is calm and sensible, especially in stressful situations.

What does 'two-faced' refer to?

'Two-faced' describes someone who is insincere and cannot be trusted, often saying one thing to your face and something different behind your back.

What are the opposites of 'closed-minded' and 'narrow-minded'?

The opposites are 'open-minded' and 'broad-minded', describing people who are willing to accept and consider others' ideas and beliefs.

What does it mean if someone is 'quick-witted'?

A 'quick-witted' person is able to think and respond in a clever and intelligent way, often very quickly.

How would you describe a person who is 'self-centered'?

'Self-centered' refers to someone who is selfish and primarily concerned with their own interests, often ignoring the needs of others.

What is the difference between 'well-mannered' and 'ill-mannered'?

'Well-mannered' describes someone who behaves in a polite and respectful way, while 'ill-mannered' refers to someone who is rude and impolite.