Describing with the five senses: a descriptive paragraph
A descriptive paragraph helps the reader to see, hear, smell, taste and touch a place. Begin with a topic sentence that names the place and the main feeling: The school canteen at eight o’clock is warm and busy. Then add one detail for each sense, with exact words: not nice smell but the smell of fresh bread. End with a closing sentence that gives your feeling. After the verbs smell, taste, sound, look and feel we use an adjective, not an adverb: The soup tastes delicious. The bread smells fresh. Show, don’t tell: instead of I was happy, write My heart felt light and I could not stop smiling. Use verbs such as hum, rustle, sizzle and adjectives such as rough, smooth, sour and sweet. Do not use too many senses in one sentence. A model paragraph of 60 to 80 words is enough for one place.
| Sense | Question | Example detail |
|---|---|---|
| See | What do I see? | bright orange trays on the long table |
| Hear | What do I hear? | the hum of voices and the rustle of paper bags |
| Smell | What do I smell? | fresh bread and warm cheese |
| Taste / touch | What do I taste or feel? | a sour lemon drink; a smooth, cool bottle |
The school canteen at eight o’clock is warm and busy. Bright orange trays stand in a long row, and the hum of voices fills the room. The smell of fresh bread and warm cheese reaches me before I open the door. I buy a glass of lemon juice, and it tastes sour but pleasant. The table feels smooth and cool under my hands. When my friends wave at me, I feel happy and ready for the day.
Describe a place. Choose a place you know well, such as a market stall or your kitchen at breakfast. Write a paragraph of 60 to 80 words with a topic sentence, one detail for each sense and a closing feeling. Read it aloud, and ask a grown-up to guess the place.