My favourite photograph – A2 English writing

My favourite photograph

Exercise 2

Choose the correct sentence to complete each part of this photo description.

Writing about your favourite photograph

In this lesson, you will learn how to write about your favourite photograph. You will describe the photo, say what was happening when it was taken, and explain why it is special to you.

When you describe a photograph, you can answer these questions:

• Who took it? When and where was it taken?
• What was happening? What were people doing in the photo?
• Why do you like it? How does it make you feel?

Plan your paragraphs

You can organise your writing into three short paragraphs:

1️⃣ Introduce the photo

Say who took the photo, when, and where. Use the past simple to talk about the time and place.

2️⃣ What was happening

Describe what was happening when the photo was taken. Use the past continuous to show actions in progress.

3️⃣ Why it is special

Explain why the photo is important to you. Say where you keep it and how it makes you feel. Use the present simple to talk about your feelings.

Grammar focus

Past simple: Finished actions

Use the past simple to talk about when and where the photo was taken, and to describe the place, the people or the event.

• It was taken at my birthday party last year.
• My best friend took this photo.
• We celebrated my birthday at home.
• All my friends came to the party.

Past continuous: Actions in progress

Use the past continuous to describe what people were doing in the photo.

• We were having a party.
• My friends were singing and holding balloons.
• I was blowing out the candles.

Present simple: Current feelings

Use the present simple to say how you feel about the photo now.

• I love this picture because it makes me smile.
• It reminds me of a happy day.

Time expressions and connectors

Use time expressions to indicate when something happened.

Use connectors to link ideas in your description.

• It was taken last summer when we were on holiday.
• We were playing music and laughing because we were so happy.
• I was blowing out the candles while my friends were singing.

Useful language and vocabulary

Talking about the photo:

• This is my favourite photo.
• It was taken by…
• It shows…
• It was taken at…

Describing actions:

• We were celebrating…
• My friends were smiling and laughing.
• I was eating/blowing out the candles/standing next to my friends.

Feelings and opinions:

• I love this photo because…
• It reminds me of…
• It makes me feel happy/relaxed/lucky.

Sample text

➟ Past simple

➟ Past continuous

➟ Present simple

➟ Connectors

➟ Time expressions