Crib Sheet

Our daily guide to educational jargon, teaching methods and the strange things children may bring back from school as homework. If there is a particular aspect of your child's education you wish explaining, use the POL Ask an Expert service.

Adjectives, Adverbs, Similes, Metaphors

These are all parts of English that are used to describe things or actions. Although experienced writers and readers tend to find writing strongest when they are used sparingly, children need to understand what they are and to practice using them.

Adjectives are words used to describe nouns (people, places or things) - for instance, their size, shape, colour, texture or weight.
Examples: red, yellow, big, short, long, hard, shiny, smooth, ridged, velvety.

Adverbs are used to describe verbs ('doing' words).
Examples: Quickly, slowly, softly, gently, loudly, harshly.

Similes are phrases which compare something to something else in order to describe it vividly. They always contain words such as 'like'or 'as' somewhere.
Examples: 'My love is like a red, red rose...'; the river wended its way like a snake...; the cat's tongue was as rough as Velcro; the tea was as weak as dishwater.

Metaphors are also phrases used to describe things or actions vividly. However, unlike similes they 'pretend' that the first thing actually is the second. This is really quite a tricky concept for children to grasp - it's also one of the most sophisticated and powerful weapons in the writers' arsenal.
Examples: The toddler was a demon when he decided to throw tantrums; his legs were pistons, moving faster and faster as he ran; the train ate the miles; the stars were diamonds in the night sky.

The Describing Game

This little game is good for getting children to put their imaginations to work. You need at least two people, but I've found it works better with more, since the idea is to try and top each others descriptions.

You'll need some interesting objects, and a list of attributes - such as size, shape, texture, speed (it's possible to use clockwork toys, or even pets - though do make sure they don't get stressed out), taste, smell.
The first person holds the object - you really need to look at it closely, or taste or smell it, or whatever - and thinks of a simile to describe one of the attributes. Then the next person takes a turn, and so on. There are no winners or losers, but the more you practice, the faster round the group the object will go and the more imaginative the similes will become. In fact, the faster the game goes, the more vibrant the similes tend to be - though there can come a point where they just get a bit over the top and silly. There's no need to stop at just one turn each per attribute, either. When everyone runs out of steam, change attributes or change objects.

You might want to write down some of the descriptions (this game can be a good starting point for writing stories or poems), but you should at least start by saying your ideas out loud. Even if some of the ideas seem ridiculous, don't be critical. Nothing will kill the game faster. There is a time to introduce the thought that some ideas, or ways of writing them down, are better than others - but this game isn't it.

If you do write the descriptions down, you will need to be selective. Try to help your child choose the best ideas without being destructive about the rest. When you've chosen the similes you want, you'll need to fit them together in the best way - you may find that you have to discard some in order to get your poem or story to flow, for instance.

Be alert to the possibility that the game may take off in an unexpected direction. For instance, a particular bit of description might spark an idea for a story or poem - or even a drawing - that has nothing to do with the chosen object; and it might be that description isn't very important to it at all. That's fine. You can always play the Describing Game again another day.

English in the National Curriculum

Helping with English Homework

Other Crib Sheets

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