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2. write a descriptive essay describing a graph,
using
appropriate verbs, phrases and expressions
In this lesson, you will

3. Words used to describe graphs
Going Up: Going Down: Staying the Same
increase
rise
go up
grow
climb
shoot up
soar
rocket
decrease
fall
go down
drop
decline
plummet
plunge
level off
plateau
stabilize
remain + steady
stay + steady

4. Words used to describe graphs
Moving up & down repeating over a period of time
Fluctuate (v)
The number of internet users
fluctuated between 1990 and 1995.

5. Reaching the top position
The number of internet users peaked in 1993.
Peak (v)
Words used to describe graphs
The number of internet users was at
its highest level in 1993.
Or
The number of internet users rose to
its highest level in 1993.
Highest level (n)

6. Bottom off (v)
Reaching the lowest position
The number of internet users bottomed out in 1994.
Words used to describe graphs
Lowest level (n)
The number of internet was at its
lowest level in 1994.
The number of internet fell to its
lowest level in 1994.

7. Words used to describe graphs
Focusing on particular point before we mention the movement
The number of internet users stood at 2,000 in 1990, and then it
increased gradually in the following years.
Stand at (v)

8. Words used to describe graphs
Moving up & down repeating over a period of time
Recover (v)
The number of internet users
recovered between 1990 and 1995.

9. Going Up: Going Down: Staying the Same
increase decrease stabilize
rise fall remain + constant
go up go down
grow drop
climb decline
peak* bottom out*
Pattern:
Sub + Verb.
Sales increased
in 2003.

10. Adverbs and Adjectives for Describing Changes
• increase
• rise
• go up
• grow
• climb
sharply /dramatically /rapidly/
considerably / steeply
show a large change
Apple Computer’s share price increased
sharply between 1990 and 1995.
Pattern:
Sub + Verb + Adv

11. Adverbs and Adjectives for Describing Changes
• decrease
• fall
• go down
• drop
• decline
sharply /dramatically /rapidly/
considerably / steeply
show a large change
Apple Computer’s share price decreased
dramatically between 1990 and 1995.
Pattern:
Sub + Verb + Adv

12. Adverbs and Adjectives for Describing Changes
• increase
• rise
• go up
• grow
• climb
show a small change
slightly / moderately / gradually*
Apple Computer‘s share price rose
slightly between 1990 and 1995.
Pattern:
Sub + Verb + Adv

13. Adverbs and Adjectives for Describing Changes
• decrease
• fall
• go down
• drop
• decline
show a small change
Apple Computer’s share price fell gradually
between 1990 and 1995.
Pattern:
Sub + Verb + Adv
slightly / moderately / gradually*

14. Adverbs and Adjectives for Describing Changes
• remain
• stay
the same, stable , steady, constant
show unchanged movement
Apple Computer’s share price stayed the
same between 1990 and 1995.
Apple Computer’s share price remained
steady between 1990 and 1995.
Pattern:
Sub + Verb + Adv

15. Going Up: Going Down: Staying the Same
increase decrease stabilize
rise fall remain + constant
go up go down
grow drop
climb decline
peak* bottom out*
Pattern:
Sub + Verb.
Sales increased in
2003.
Sub + Verb + Adv
Sales increased
sharply in 2003.

16. Sentence Pattern: A
Subject + Verb OR Subject + Verb + Adverb
Our net profit increased last year.
Our net profit increased dramatically last year.

17. There + was a/an + noun + in something
There + was + a/an adjective + noun + in something
Our net profit increased last year.
There was an increase in our net profit last
year.
Sentence Pattern: B

18. Sentence Pattern: B
There + was a/an + noun + in something
There + was + a/an adjective + noun + in something
Our net profit increased dramatically last year.
There was a dramatic increase in our net profit
last year.

19. Prepositions and Other Expressions
To stand at / To start at /Verb to be
We use this expression to focus on a particular point before we
mention the changes.
Sales stood at $125 million in January.
Then, in February they rose slightly to $
127 million.
Profits were $ 29,000 in 1999 and
continued up to $ 40,000 in 2000.

20. Going Up: Going Down: Staying the Same
increase decrease stabilize
rise fall remain + constant
go up go down
grow drop
climb decline
peak* bottom out*
Pattern:
Sub + Verb + Adv
Sales stood at $
30 M in 2000.

21. Prepositions and Other Expressions
From ____ to _____
We use this preposition to describe the movement between one
point and another.
The share price fell sharply from $100
million to $60 million last year.
There was a sharp fall in the share price from
$100 million to $60 million last year.

22. Going Up: Going Down: Staying the Same
increase decrease stabilize
rise fall remain + constant
go up go down
grow drop
climb decline
peak* bottom out*
Pattern:
Sub + Verb + Adv
Sales increased
sharply from 5
to 50 million
dollars in 2003.

23. Prepositions and Other Expressions
To _____
We use this preposition to describe the end point.
The number of Internet subscribers dropped
slightly to 50,000 people.
There was a slight drop in the number of
Internet subscribers to 50,000 people.

24. Going Up: Going Down: Staying the Same
increase decrease stabilize
rise fall remain + constant
go up go down
grow drop
climb decline
peak* bottom out*
Pattern:
Sub + Verb + Adv
Sales increased
sharply (from 5)
to 50 million
dollars in 2003.

25. Prepositions and Other Expressions
Between _____ and _____
We use this preposition to describe the movement along a scale
from one point to another.
The market share fluctuated between
10 and 50 percent in the first quarter.

26. My salary increased from 300,000 baht to 400,000
baht a year.
It increased by 100,000 baht.
There was an increase of 100,000
baht.
Prepositions and Other Expressions
By ________
We use this preposition to describe the difference.
Verb + by
Of ________
Noun + of

27. Going Up: Going Down: Staying the Same
increase decrease stabilize
rise fall remain + constant
go up go down
grow drop
climb decline
peak* bottom out*
Pattern:
Sub + Verb + Adv
Sales increased
sharply by 45
million dollars in
2003.

28. Prepositions and Other Expressions
At _____ We use this preposition for a certain point.
The company’s income remained constant
at $ 100 million from 1990 to 1997.
The number of internet users peaked at
15,000 in 1993.
The number of internet users reached a peak
at 15,000 in 1993.
The number of customers bottomed out at
1,200 in 1994.

29. Going Up: Going Down: Staying the Same
increase decrease stabilize
rise fall remain + constant
go up go down
grow drop
climb decline
peak* bottom out*
Pattern:
Sub + Verb + Adv
Sales peaked at
50 million dollars in
2003.

30. Prepositions and Other Expressions
Expressing Approximation
We use words to express approximation when the point we are trying to
describe is between milestones on the graph.
Approximately
1,000
Around
About
Roughly
More or less
Almost
Nearly
The problem with computer viruses
rocketed to approximately 1,100
cases.

31. Expressions for Opening Sentences to Introduce the Graph
The opening sentences should make up the first paragraph. It should
define what the graph is about, that is the date, location, what is being
described in the graph etc. For example
The graph shows the sales of computers of ABC
Company

32. Making inferences
Graphs and tables are visual representations which can give
information both directly and indirectly. In other words, we sometimes
may have to make inferences or draw conclusions based on the data
given as well as our knowledge of the world.
From the information given, I conclude/ infer/ assume that
______.
From the information given, it can be concluded / inferred /assumed
that _________.
The information given in the graph implies/ suggests / hints that
_________.