How to describe a map

1.

How to describe a map?

2.

When you describe a map describe the main change
and the location!

3.

Describing changes in place.
Match the verbs with the definitions 1-10.
add / remove / modernise / extend / replace / reconstruct / expand / improve / renovate / reduce / develop
1. make something bigger
2. make something new again
3. make something modern
4. take something away and put something else in its place
5. make something better
6. make something smaller
7. build several buildings in the area where there was nothing
8. put in something totally new
9. take something away
10.build something again

4.

Describing changes in place.
Check your answers!
add / remove / modernise / extend / replace / reconstruct / expand / improve / renovate / reduce / develop
1. make something bigger: expand (size), extend (number)
2. make something new again: renovate
3. make something modern: modernise
4. take something away and put something else in its place: replace
5. make something better: improve
6. make something smaller: reduce
7. build several buildings in the area where there was nothing: develop
8. put in something totally new: add
9. take something away: remove
10.build something again: reconstruct

5.

The following maps show the changes that have
taken place in the centre of a town since 1700.
Summarise the information by selecting and
reporting the main features, and make comparisons
where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
What has changed for these items?:
-the hotel
-Steggle Farm
-the roads
-the shops
-the houses
-Goode Farm
-the house in St Peter’s Lane
-the stables

6.

Check yourself!
Changes:
-
the hotel has been expanded/extended
Steggle Farm has been removed
the roads have been expanded and
modernised
the number of shops has been extended
the number of houses has been
extended
Goode Farm has been replaced with a
car park and a number of houses
the house in St Peter’s Lane has been
removed
the stables have been replaced with/by
a block of flats

7.

Complete the sentences with the
correct location
1. The Market Square, _____, has not
changed in 300 years.
2. According to the 1700s map, there
was a house _______ .
3. Another feature that has remained
the same is the church located
_________ the market square.
4. The row of shops that can be seen
___________ both maps, has
changed little over the years.

8.

Check yourself!
1.
The Market Square, which is right
in the centre of the town, has not
changed in 300 years.
2. According to the 1700s map, there
was a house in the bottom righthand corner.
3. Another feature that has remained
the same is the Church located in
the centre, to the right of the
market square.
4. The row of shops that can be seen
in the bottom centre of both maps,
has changed little over the years.

9.

Complete the sentences with the
correct location.
1. Steggle Farm, _____ the 1700s
map, is no longer there.
2. _____ the market square is the
hotel, which has changed
considerably over the years.
3. ______ both maps, there is a
bridge.
4. In the 1700s, there were stables
located _____ the church.

10.

Complete the sentences with the
correct location.
1. Steggle Farm, which can be seen
in the bottom left-hand corner of
the 1700s map, is no longer there.
2. To the left of the market square is
the hotel, which has changed
considerably over the years.
3. In the top left-hand corner of
both maps, there is a bridge.
4. In the 1700s, there were stables
located to the right of the church.

11.

Location phrases
Location phrases
in the top left-hand corner
in the top right-hand corner
in the bottom left-hand corner
in the bottom right-hand corner
in the centre of the map
in the middle of the area
on the left-hand side
on the right-hand side
at the top of the map
at the bottom of the map
Relative position phrases
to the left of
to the right of
next to
beside
adjacent to
close to
near
in front of
behind
opposite
across from
between A and B

12.

Complete the sentences with the correct verb
forms
1. Goode Farm ____ (replace) with a car park.
2. The hotel ____ (expand), and is now
almost twice the size it was in 1700.
3. Though many of their names have
_____(remain) the same, all of the roads
have been extended.
4. The traffic lights, roundabout and zebra
crossing, which were not needed in 1700,
_____ (improve), and the road surfaces
have been added .
5. The stables _____ (renovate and replace)
with a block of flats.

13.

Complete the sentences with the correct verb
forms
1. Goode Farm has been replaced with a car
park.
2. The hotel has been expanded, and is now
almost twice the size it was in 1700.
3. Though many of their names have
remained the same, all of the roads have
been extended.
4. The traffic lights, roundabout and zebra
crossing, which were not needed in 1700,
have been improved, and the road
surfaces have been added .
5. The stables have been renovated and
replaced with a block of flats.

14.

Verb tenses
Past map + earlier past
map
Past perfect + past simple
● The site had been
farmland before it
became residential.
Past map + present map
Present map + future map
Present perfect
● The area has been converted
into a shopping mall.
● Several houses have been
demolished.
Present simple
For current situation:
● The area is currently a park.
Past simple
Use past simple when referring to
completed past changes:
● The factory was replaced by a
park.
Future simple / going to
For planned change:
● It will be replaced by
apartments.
● The government is going to
build a road.

15.

Organisation of specific
details:
When the majority of the map
remains unchanged, the best way to
organise is to describe the first one
in BP1 and the second one in BP2.
So, for this map it would be
like this:
BP1 - present
BP2- future plans (changes that
happened to the west and the
east)

16.

Currently, the students enter the sports
centre into the reception, behind which
is a 25-metre pool, a changing room to
the left, seating to the right and a gym
behind. To the east and the west, there
are two sets of outdoor courts.
In terms of the plans for the future
development of the sports centre, the
original shell will stay the same.
However, the gym will be extended to
the east, where there will be two dance
studios, a sports hall and a changing
room in the corner, next to which is a
cafe. To the west, a leisure pool, a
changing room in the corner and a
sports shop next to it will appear.

17.

Organisation of specific
details:
When there are significant
changes, you can organize
paragraphs by different places
on the map:
BP1 - western side
BP2- the remaining areas (center
and right side)

18.

In terms of the western side of the library, the section with
CDs, videos, and computer games, that was located in the top
left-hand corner, has been now replaced by the area with
children’s fiction books. The given section, where 2 sofas have
been added, is also used now for the storytelling events. The
zone located below with the adult fiction books now offers all
reference books. The computer room (to the left of the
entrance) is now where the reading room with magazines and
newspapers used to be.
Regarding the remaining areas, tables and chairs, that were
situated right in the centre of the library, have been completely
removed to create an empty space. The lecture and the cafe in
the top and bottom right-hand corner respectively have
replaced the areas with the children’s books and the enquiry
desk (tickets, book returns, and etc.). The previous section with
adult non-fiction books is now more modernized with selfservice machines and the information desk being added. Nonfiction books are no longer available there as they have been
replaced by the fiction type.