Unit 3. Transport — Student’s Copy

Understand

About this text type

What is descriptive writing about a place or system?

A descriptive paragraph about a place or system describes what exists there, what it looks and feels like, and what your overall impression is. You help the reader understand what the place or system is really like.

Purpose. to help the reader understand and visualise a place, system or environment.

Key features

Use There is / There are to introduce what exists in the place.
Use prepositions of place (along, next to, opposite, between) to show where things are.
Describe both the positive aspects and the problems — this makes your text balanced.
End with your overall personal impression.

Remember — your paragraph has three parts

Topic sentence. Introduce the place or system and give your general impression of it.
Body sentences. Describe what exists. Use There is / There are / Also, / However, / For example
Concluding sentence. Give your overall impression or opinion. Use Overall, / To sum up, / In conclusion

Study

Grammar & vocabulary

Vocabulary bank

Word / phrase	Meaning	Example sentence
modern	recently built or updated — new in design or technology	The city has a very modern metro that opened just three years ago.
spacious	large and having plenty of room inside	The new terminal is bright, airy, and very spacious.
run-down	in poor condition; needing repair or renovation	Some of the old bus stations are run-down and uncomfortable.
well-maintained	kept in good condition through regular care — the opposite of run-down	The central station is large, clean, and well-maintained.
well-connected	linked to many places by different transport options	Living near the station is convenient — the area is very well-connected.
lively	full of energy, colour, noise and activity	The market square is a lively and vibrant place at weekends.
efficient	working well without wasting time or energy	The metro is fast, clean, and remarkably efficient.
vibrant	full of life, colour and excitement	The old harbour is a vibrant and popular area for both locals and tourists.

Grammar Describing with adjectives — key structures

Structure	Example
subject + be + adjective(s)	The metro is modern, fast, and very efficient. / The buses are old and unreliable.
subject + have / has + (adj) + noun	The city has an excellent metro network. / The station has a large, spacious waiting area.
There is + (adj) + noun	There is a busy central station near the university.
There are + (adj) + plural noun	There are several well-maintained parks along the riverside.
Adjective collocations — learn these together	a reliable service · a crowded platform · a well-connected district · a run-down building

Useful linking words Notice the example sentences — they show you exactly how to use each word.

Linking word	When to use it	Example sentence
There is / There are…	To say what exists in the place	There is a metro line in the city centre.
Also, / In addition,	To add another detail	There are also many bus routes along the main roads.
However,	To describe a problem or contrast	However, the buses become very crowded at rush hour.
For example,	To open a sentence with a specific example	For example, a metro journey costs far less than a taxi.
such as	To give examples inside a sentence. Not followed by a comma.	My city has several options such as buses, trams, and a metro.

Extra practice · Part A Choose the best linking word or phrase for each sentence.

1There are many bike lanes along the main roads. ?, there are wide, well-kept pavements for pedestrians in the centre.

2Public transport here is remarkably cheap. ?, a single bus ticket costs less than a cup of coffee.

3The tram system is useful. ?, it is sometimes late during busy hours.

4?, the transport system is becoming better every year.

5There is a new metro station near the university. ?, there is a large bus terminal next to the shopping centre.

Part B Complete these sentences about your own city or town using your own ideas.

1There is also… what exists

2However,… a problem

Part C · Make it vivid Each sentence below is too basic. Rewrite it, adding at least TWO adjectives or descriptive phrases from the vocabulary bank.

1There is a station in the city centre. add 2 adjectives

2The city has a bus service. add 2 adjectives

3There are streets near the market. add 2 adjectives

Analyse

Sample paragraph

Read the paragraph, then use the panel beside it to see how it is built. Click any row to light up that sentence.

Transport in My City

The transport system in my city is quite good overall, but it also has some significant problems. There is a modern metro network that connects many parts of the city from north to south, and there are also dozens of bus routes and two tram lines that run throughout the day. Most people choose to use public transport because it is much cheaper and faster than driving during busy periods. For example, a single metro journey costs very little and takes only fifteen minutes, whereas driving the same distance at rush hour can take over an hour. However, during rush hour in the mornings and evenings, the buses and trams become extremely crowded and often arrive late — this can be very frustrating for daily commuters. There are also no dedicated bike lanes on most roads, which makes cycling unsafe. Overall, the transport system in my city is improving slowly, but the city still needs to spend more money to make it more comfortable, safe, and reliable.

Topic sentenceBody sentencesConcluding sentence

Discussion Talk to your partner.

How does the writer’s city compare with your own city’s transport? What is similar? What is different?
Which linking words does the writer use? Could you replace any of them with different ones?
If you were rewriting this paragraph, what would you change?

Practise

Controlled exercises

Exercise 1 Read the paragraph, then complete the table by noting which part of the text does each job.

A Busy City Centre

My city centre is a lively and convenient place, but it also has a few problems. There are many cafés, restaurants, and shops in the main streets, and there is also a large shopping mall near the central square. Many people enjoy spending time there because it is easy to walk around and there are many things to do. For example, families often visit the parks and outdoor cafés at weekends to relax and spend time together. However, the city centre becomes very crowded in the evenings and at weekends, so it can sometimes be noisy and stressful. There is also a serious parking problem because there are not enough parking spaces for visitors. Overall, the city centre is an enjoyable place to visit, but the city needs to make some improvements to make it more comfortable for everyone.

1Topic sentence

2What exists

3Positive detail + example

4Problem 1

5Problem 2

6Concluding sentence

Write

Your own paragraph

What is the transport system like in your city? Write a paragraph of at least 130 words.

One paragraph · three parts · minimum 130 words.

My plan Notes first — then write.

Topic sentence idea (general impression)What existsA positive + exampleThe problemsConcluding sentence

Self-check Tick each box when you are sure.

Topic sentence. I introduced my main idea in my own words — I did not copy the question.
Linking words. I used at least three different linking words to connect my sentences.
Example. I included at least one example using For example, / For instance, / such as.
Concluding sentence. I ended with a sentence that summarises my main idea. I used In conclusion, / To sum up, / Overall,
Proofreading. I read my paragraph again and checked my spelling and punctuation.

0 of 5 checked.

My paragraph

0 / 130 words

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