Describe a graph in English - Learn Business English and IELTS vocabulary

Summary

In this instructional screencast, the presenter demonstrates how to describe various trends in graphs. Key examples include upward trends in sales in Asia versus slower growth in Europe, a sharp decline in customer complaints in a restaurant, fluctuating central heating usage in the UK and Spain, and seasonal variations in ice cream sales. The presenter emphasizes useful verbs and adverbs to describe changes, such as 'climbed dramatically' or 'plummeted.' The video provides practical vocabulary for explaining data trends across different contexts, making it a valuable resource for learners looking to improve their graph description skills.

Takeaways

• 😀 The script discusses how to describe trends in graphs, focusing on sales, customer complaints, central heating usage, and ice cream sales.
• 😀 The first graph compares sales in Asia and Europe, with Asia showing a dramatic increase, while Europe has a slow and slight rise in sales.
• 😀 Common verbs for describing upward trends include 'shot up', 'climbed', and 'increased dramatically'.
• 😀 The second graph illustrates customer complaints in a restaurant, where complaints steadily declined from 2006 to 2009, with a dramatic drop after 2010.
• 😀 Verbs for describing downward trends include 'fall', 'decrease', 'decline', 'plunge', and 'plummet'.
• 😀 The graph comparing central heating usage in the UK and Spain shows usage peaks and drops throughout the year, with distinct patterns for each country.
• 😀 The UK shows a significant drop in central heating usage from Q1 to Q3, while Spain experiences a peak in Q4 and a sharp drop from Q1 to Q3.
• 😀 For the ice cream sales graph, verbs such as 'dramatic increase', 'astonishing rise', and 'steady increase' are used to describe fluctuations throughout the year.
• 😀 Ice cream sales saw a sharp drop after August, and the decline continued through the end of the year.
• 😀 The script encourages viewers to comment on graphs, and it highlights the use of specific verbs and adverbs to accurately describe various trends.

Q & A

How can we describe the sales trend in Asia from 2008 to 2014?

The sales in Asia show a dramatic rise from 2008 to 2014, with a steady increase over the years. The sales 'shot up' or 'climbed dramatically' during this period.

What verb choices can be used to describe the upward trend in Asia's sales?

Verbs like 'shot up', 'climbed dramatically', or 'increased significantly' can be used to describe the upward trend in Asia's sales.

How did sales in Europe compare to Asia during the same period?

Sales in Europe showed a more moderate increase compared to Asia. The sales 'increased slightly', 'rose gradually', or 'climbed slowly' over the same period.

What vocabulary can be used to describe the decline in customer complaints from 2006 to 2009?

The number of customer complaints declined gradually, and verbs like 'fell', 'decreased', or 'declined' can be used to describe this downward trend.

What significant change occurred in the number of complaints after 2009?

From 2010 onwards, there was a severe drop in the number of complaints, described as a 'dramatic fall', 'plunge', or 'drastic decline'.

How would you describe the period from 2009 to 2010 in terms of customer complaints?

From 2009 to 2010, the number of customer complaints remained constant, and we could say that the number 'leveled off' or 'stabilized'.

What was the pattern of central heating usage in the UK during the year?

In the UK, central heating usage peaked in Q1, then dropped dramatically in Q3, with a marked increase from Q3 to Q4.

What verb can be used to describe the dramatic drop in central heating usage in the UK between Q1 and Q3?

The drop in central heating usage between Q1 and Q3 can be described as a 'massive drop' or 'marked decrease'.

How did central heating usage in Spain differ from that in the UK?

In Spain, the peak usage of central heating occurred in Q4, unlike in the UK, where it was in Q1. The drop from Q1 to Q3 in Spain was also sharp and significant.

What was the trend in ice cream sales from January to March and May to June?

From January to March, ice cream sales saw a drastic increase, and between May and June, there was an astonishing rise in sales, described as a significant or incredible increase.

How would you describe the decline in ice cream sales after August?

After August, there was a sharp decline in ice cream sales, continuing into September, described as a 'steep drop' or 'significant decrease'.

What is the relationship between the number of downloaded songs and MP3 players sold?

The number of downloaded songs and MP3 players sold appear to show clear and distinct trends, likely increasing in correlation with the rising popularity of MP3 players.