Descriptive Skill for class 4 English

Concept:Simile Poetic Device

Simile poetic device in English is used to make compelling descriptions. It can trigger emotions and emphasize certain features. In this chapter, students of class 4 will know simile definition, and usage with examples.

In this learning concept, students will learn the following:

• Uses of simile in detail.
• Popular similes list.
• How to use similes with examples.
• Common mistakes to consider while using them.

All learning concepts covered here have used illustrations, mind maps, and descriptive charts considering the grade, topic and subject. Class 4 students can solve the two printable PDF similes worksheet to grasp the topic better. These worksheets come with their solutions, which are also available in PDF format.

What is a Simile?

• A simile is a figure of speech used to compare two objects that have nothing in common.
• They are framed using ‘like’ or ‘as’ to link two objects in a sentence to compare two different things.
• A simile is used to make a description more interesting and imaginative expression.

Examples:

What do these sentences mean?

a) It just explains that the mother is busy doing various things just like a bee is always busy collecting honey. Here in this example two different things - a human (a mother) and an insect (a bee) are being compared to make the description vivid.
b) In the second example, the comparison is between a girl’s eyes and a sparkling star because the girl’s eyes are sparkling as a shining star sparkles.

Why Do We Use Simile?

• We use a simile to make a contrast between two completely different things that have a similarity between them. It is a great way to make your writing more imaginative and interesting.
• A simile helps to catch the reader’s attention more effectively than an ordinary narrative style.
• The comparison between two things helps to explain the subject vividly and it improves the critical thinking of a reader.
• We can use similes in prose and poetry both but it is mostly used in poetry. It allows the writer to evoke vehement visual images and emphasize an emotional tone.

List of Popular Similes

Now that you know what similes mean, let’s take a look at the list of some popular examples of similes.

Common Mistakes:

When you are using a simile in your writing, don’t forget to mention the common factor between the two different objects. Otherwise, your writing won’t effectively convey the meaning.

Examples:

• You are as sweet as honey.
• You are like honey.

 

Concept : Using Adjectives and WH words for Class 4 English

The students will learn about descriptive writing by using adjectives with examples and pictures. They will also learn to enhance their descriptive writing skills with the help of WH words. There are some common mistakes as well that must be avoided while using this topic.
In this learning concept, the students will learn the following:

• To write descriptively
• To identify WH question words.

Every concept is taught to class 4 English students with the help of examples, illustrations, and concept maps. Once you go through a concept, assess your learning by solving the two printable Descriptive writing worksheets at the end of the page.

Download the worksheets and check your answers with the worksheet solutions for the concept using adjectives and WH words in PDF format.

What is Descriptive Writing?

• The main usage of descriptive writing is to explain a person, place or thing in a way that the reader can visualize it in his or her mind.
• Good descriptive writing includes different sensory details that talk about a picture. It tells about all senses of sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste.

 

Descriptive Writing using Adjectives

• Use adjectives and nouns and strong action verbs to give life to the story.
• When describing a person, you might begin with a physical description, followed by how that person thinks, feels, and acts.

  Examples:

  A bird is sitting on the tree

  After adding the adjectives:

  A tiny and beautiful bird is sitting on the tree.

  

Descriptive Writing using WH Words

Another way to stretch a sentence is by using WH words, which will help in adding more details to the sentence. Let’s understand it better with the help of an example.

Examples:

She is eating.

a) What is she eating? ------> She is eating pasta.
b) How is she eating? -----> She is eating pasta with a fork.
So, the final sentence would be:
She is eating pasta with a fork.
Now, the sentence is stretched.

Common Mistakes:

1. Use how much and how many only before nouns.

   Examples:

   I can’t believe how lazy she is.
   I can’t believe how much lazy she is.
   With adjectives only ‘how’ is used.

   Examples:

   How heavy is the luggage?
   How lazy this girl is?

2. When talking about long distances in general, we can mention ‘far away’ from or ‘far from’.

   Examples:

   My home is several miles far from here.
   My home is several miles away from here.

   1. When speaking about a specific distance, we can use ‘from’ or ‘away from’.

      Examples:

      My home is several miles from here.

   2. When you are asking a question, you can say, “How far…?”. However, we don’t use the word “far” when giving an answer with regards to a specific distance:

      Examples:

      a) Question: How far is the nearest metro station?
      b) Answer: It’s about a kilometre away.

      c) Question: How far is the police station from here?
      d) Answer: It is about 10 miles away - you should take a bus from here.

Use “far” in the answer when speaking in general.
It’s not that far. (This means it is a short distance away)
It’s very/ pretty/quite far. (This means it’s a long distance away)

 

Concept:Use of Five Senses in Descriptive Writing

One of the crucial tasks of a piece of descriptive writing is to appeal to all five senses. The picture that a story paints in a reader's mind must include how things look, sound, taste, smell, and touch. Students will learn how using the five senses in their writing will help it to come to life.

This learning concept covers the following:

• Usage of five senses in English descriptive writing with suitable examples.
• Common mistakes that could occur while using them to write.
• Importance of using sensory words in a descriptive piece.

All the concepts of English grammar in this website have illustrations, examples, mindmaps. Students can check their topic-related skills by solving the worksheet for class 4. Download the descriptive writing worksheets and check the solutions provided in PDF format.

Good descriptive writing must appeal to the five senses. The "picture" that the story paints in a reader's mind should be how things look, sound, taste, smell, and touch
Descriptive writing may also paint pictures of the feelings of the person, place or thing.

Good descriptive writing often makes use of figurative languages such as similes and metaphors to help describe more about the setting or characters.
Use adjectives and nouns and strong action verbs to give life to the story.
While describing about a person, you can start with physical features or how that person looks. It can be followed by how that person feels, thinks, and acts.

Examples:

Take a look at the points below to describe a character:

• His spiky hair
• The scar on his face below the eye that was not always visible
• His neat fingernails
• His rugged jeans

How to Use Five Senses in Descriptive Writing?

Let us have a look with the help of example on how to use five senses in descriptive writing.

A.Sight

Sight is the most often used sense in descriptive writing. It is to write about what you see.

B.Hearing

Loud, yell, soft, angry, whisper, and other adjectives are used for sound.

C.Smell

Sense of smell is different for each of us. Words like pungent and stink are ideal to use. It is very personal. For example, “The alley had a pungent smell, it was a torture to the nose.”

D.Touch

The way things feel is what the sense of touch is all about. Like the other senses, it can be personal: “It felt nostalgic.”

E.Taste

Taste is again something very personal. For example, “I savoured each bite of the handmade bread.”

Examples:

Let us have a look at how you can include the five senses in a description of the park.

1. Sight: leaves gently falling from the trees, children playing, some people exercising or jogging or cycling, some aged people taking a leisurely stroll.
   
2. Smell: the smell of fresh air, the fragrance of fresh flowers
   
3. Sound: leaves rustling in the breeze, the splashing of a fountain, birds chirping, people chattering.
   
4. Taste: sweet, ice cream, savoury
   
5. Touch: dusty tracks , the gentle breeze touching your face, tough tree trunks.
   

Common Mistakes:

1. Do not use too much details indicating five senses in descriptive writing. It can overwhelm the reader. Use them appropriately. Suitable usage of five senses can create a powerful effect.
2. The sense of touch refers to how we feel things. However, texture is major part of it. Touch also includes like experiencing hot or cold temperatures, pleasure or pain.
3. Remember that you can use onomatopoeia to capture the sound of a scene. For instance, The splash of a frog plunging into a pond, the whoosh of a speeding car etc. However too much of it is not recommended. You can use it carefully.

Exceptions:

Authors often mix up the sensory words. For example, you can describe the tangy taste of a fruit as bright (a sight description) or the midnight as a whimper (a sound description).