Descriptive Text

Descriptive Text is a kind of text to describe a particular person, place / thing . 

Social Function:

To describe a particular person, place or thing

Language figures :
a. Topic is usually about the attributes of a think.
b. The use of think person pronoun forms is used.
c. The use of focus specific human and non human participants.
d. The use of reasoning expressed as verbs or noun.
e. The use of material.
f. The use of relation and mental process.

Characteristic :
a. Use the simple present tense.
b. Using detailed noun phrases to provide information on the subject.
c. Uses relating verbs to provide information on the subject.
d. Use the thinking and feeling verbs to reveal personal views about the subject
author.
e. Use action verbs.
f. Use adverbials to provide additional information.
g. Use figurative language such as simile, metaphor.

Grammatical features :
- Who? What?
- Using linking verb and simple present tense,
- Epithet: adjective or adjective phrase,
- Attributive (the)
- Use a attributive and identifying process,
- Focus an specific participants,
- Frequent use of epithets and classified in nominal groups

Example of Descriptive Text:

The Beautiful Kuta, Bali

Kuta is the exciting tourist area on the southern part of Bali. It is located in southwestern Bali, just minutes from the airport.
Kuta is one of the world's most famous beaches. It first attracted Western surfers with its world renowned surf break followed closely behind by sun worshipers and party goers attracted to its wide stretches of white sandy beach.
Kuta, In addition to being the sunset site number one, is also the center of night life activities. Kuta has a shopping mecca, with its lines of shops, boutiques, and galleries. Restaurants line up the streets as well as the beachfront hotels, ranging from a small, inexpensive homestay to a luxurious resort
There are many night clubs along Jalan Legian and Jalan Pantai Kuta. The busiest time for all night clubs are around from 22:00 and will close until down.

Preposition In, On, At

In general, we use:

• at for a POINT
• in for an ENCLOSED SPACE
• on for a SURFACE

at	in	on
POINT	ENCLOSED SPACE	SURFACE
at the corner	in the garden	on the wall
at the bus stop	in London	on the ceiling
at the door	in France	on the floor
at the top of the page	in a box	on the cover
at the end of the road	in my pocket	on the floor
at the entrance	in my bag	on the carpet
at the crossroads	in a building	on the menu
at the front desk	in a car	on a page

Look at these examples:

• Ki Bum is waiting for you at the bus stop.
• My plane stopped at Japan and Korea and arrived in Hongkong two hours late.
• When will you arrive at the office?
• The shop is at the end of the street
• I have a meeting in New York.
• Mars is in the Solar System.
• The author's name is on the cover of the book.
• There are no prices on this menu.
• Do you live in Vietnam?
• You are standing on my foot.
• There was a "no smoking" sign on the wall.
• I live on the 7th floor at 21 Oxford Street in USA.
• Do you work in an office?

Notice the use of the prepositions of place at, in and on in these standard expressions:

at	in	on
at home	in a car	on a bus
at work	in a taxi	on a train
at school	in a helicopter	on a car
at university	in a boat	on a ship
at college	in a lift	on a bicycle, on a motorbike
at the top	in the newspaper	on a horse, on an elephant
at the bottom	in the sky	on the radio, on television
at the side	in a row	on the left, on the right
at reception	in A. Yani Street	on the way

Introductory It

When the subject is an infinitive phrase, the sentence often begins withit. Instead of saying ‘To find fault with others is easy’, we say, ‘It is easy to find fault with others’.
More examples are given below.

• It is easy to learn Indonesian language. (More natural than ‘To learn Indonesian language is easy’.)
• It was not easy to understand his motive.
• It may be advisable to consult a specialist.
• It could be dangerous to drive so fast.
• It was pleasant to sit on the beach.

However, when we want to emphasize the infinitive phrase, it may be put at the beginning especially if it is short.

• To err is human.
• To withdraw now will be sheer folly.

When the subject is a phrase that includes a gerund, it is used as a provisional subject to begin the sentence. Instead of saying ‘Your trying to deceive us is no good’, we may say ‘It is no good your trying to deceive us’.

• Will it be any good my talking to him about it?
• It is no use arguing with him.
• It won’t be much good complaining to the officer about it.

Note that the gerund can be changed into the infinitive.

• Will it be any good for me to talk to him about it?

     When the subject is a clause, the sentence usually begins with it. Instead of saying ‘That she was once a famous artist is true’, we may say, ‘It is true that she was once a famous artist’.

• It does not matter whether he comes or not. ( Whether he comes or not does not matter.)
• It is doubtful whether he can pay the dues. ( Whether he can pay the dues is doubtful.)
• It cannot be denied that the doctors did their best to save his life. (That the doctors did their best to save his life cannot be denied.)

Offering Expression

The expression of “ Would you like....”is normally used for offering something to someone.


Ways to say it :


* Would you like a cup of coffee, Mr. Ardi?
* Should I get you a bottle of water?
* Could I offer you a glass of milk, Mr. Rio?
* Would you care some salad?


Offering to friends:
* Want some?
* Have some?
* Chocolate?
* Grab some for yourself


Less formal expressions:


* Would you like to have a drink?
* Why don't you have some pie?
* What can I get for you?
* What will you have?


Declining an offering :


* No, thanks.
* No, really won't, thanks
* Not for me, thanks.


Accepting an offering :


* Thank you, Kim Bum.
* Yes, please
* I'd like it very much
* That would be very nice