1. Describing Graphs English for Graduate Study (LA 501)
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2. Describing Graphs In this lesson, you will
write a paragraph describing a graph, using appropriate verbs, phrases and expressions
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3. Describing Graphs Words used to describe graphs
Going Up: Going Down: Staying the Same
increase
rise
go up
grow
climb
shoot up
soar
rocket
decrease
fall
go down
drop
decline
plummet
plunge
level off
plateau
stabilize
remain + steady
stay + steady
Describing Graphs PowerPoint by Aj. Sorada Wattana

4. Describing Graphs Words used to describe graphs
Moving up & down repeating over a period of time
Fluctuate (v)
The number of internet users
fluctuated between 1990 and 1995.
Describing Graphs PowerPoint by Aj. Sorada Wattana

5. Describing Graphs Words used to describe graphs
Reaching the top position
Peak (v)
The number of internet users peaked in 1993.
Highest level (n)
The number of internet users was at its highest level in 1993.
The number of internet users rose to its highest level in 1993.
Describing Graphs PowerPoint by Aj. Sorada Wattana

6. Describing Graphs Words used to describe graphs
Reaching the lowest position
Bottom off (v)
The number of internet users bottomed out in 1994.
Lowest level (n)
The number of internet was at its lowest level in 1994.
The number of internet fell to its lowest level in 1994.
Describing Graphs PowerPoint by Aj. Sorada Wattana

7. Describing Graphs Words used to describe graphs
Focusing on particular point before we mention the movement
Stand at (v)
The number of internet users stood at 2,000 in 1990, and then it increased gradually in the following years.
Describing Graphs PowerPoint by Aj. Sorada Wattana

8. Describing Graphs Words used to describe graphs
Moving up & down repeating over a period of time
Recover (v)
The number of internet users
recovered between 1990 and 1995.
Describing Graphs PowerPoint by Aj. Sorada Wattana

9. Describing Graphs Pattern: Sub + Verb. Sales increased in 2003.
Going Up: Going Down: Staying the Same
increase decrease stabilize
rise fall remain + constant
go up go down
grow drop
climb decline
peak* bottom out*
Pattern:
Sub + Verb.
Sales increased in 2003.
Describing Graphs PowerPoint by Aj. Sorada Wattana

10. Describing Graphs Adverbs and Adjectives for Describing Changes
show a large change
sharply /dramatically /rapidly/ considerably / steeply
increase
rise
go up
grow
climb
Pattern:
Apple Computer’s share price increased
sharply between 1990 and 1995.
Sub + Verb + Adv
Describing Graphs PowerPoint by Aj. Sorada Wattana

11. Describing Graphs Adverbs and Adjectives for Describing Changes
show a large change
decrease
fall
go down
drop
decline
sharply /dramatically /rapidly/ considerably / steeply
Pattern:
Apple Computer’s share price decreased
dramatically between 1990 and 1995.
Sub + Verb + Adv
Describing Graphs PowerPoint by Aj. Sorada Wattana

12. Describing Graphs Adverbs and Adjectives for Describing Changes
show a small change
increase
rise
go up
grow
climb
slightly / moderately / gradually*
Pattern:
Apple Computer‘s share price rose
slightly between 1990 and 1995.
Sub + Verb + Adv
Describing Graphs PowerPoint by Aj. Sorada Wattana

13. Describing Graphs Adverbs and Adjectives for Describing Changes
show a small change
decrease
fall
go down
drop
decline
slightly / moderately / gradually*
Pattern:
Apple Computer’s share price fell gradually
between 1990 and 1995.
Sub + Verb + Adv

14. show unchanged movement
Describing Graphs
Adverbs and Adjectives for Describing Changes
show unchanged movement
remain
stay
the same, stable , steady, constant
Apple Computer’s share price stayed the same between 1990 and 1995.
Apple Computer’s share price remained steady between 1990 and 1995.
Pattern:
Sub + Verb + Adv

15. Describing Graphs Pattern: Sub + Verb. Sales increased in 2003.
Going Up: Going Down: Staying the Same
increase decrease stabilize
rise fall remain + constant
go up go down
grow drop
climb decline
peak* bottom out*
Pattern:
Sub + Verb.
Sales increased in 2003.
Sub + Verb + Adv
Sales increased sharply in 2003.
Describing Graphs PowerPoint by Aj. Sorada Wattana

16. Describing Graphs Sentence Pattern: A
Subject + Verb OR Subject + Verb + Adverb
Our net profit increased last year.
Our net profit increased dramatically last year.
Describing Graphs PowerPoint by Aj. Sorada Wattana

17. Describing Graphs Sentence Pattern: B
There + was a/an + noun + in something
There + was + a/an adjective + noun + in something
Our net profit increased last year.
There was an increase in our net profit last year.
Describing Graphs PowerPoint by Aj. Sorada Wattana

18. Describing Graphs Sentence Pattern: B
There + was a/an + noun + in something
There + was + a/an adjective + noun + in something
Our net profit increased dramatically last year.
There was a dramatic increase in our net profit last year.
Describing Graphs PowerPoint by Aj. Sorada Wattana

19. Describing Graphs Prepositions and Other Expressions
To stand at / To start at /Verb to be
We use this expression to focus on a particular point before we mention the changes.
Sales stood at $125 million in January. Then, in February they rose slightly to $ 127 million.
Profits were $ 29,000 in 1999 and continued up to $ 40,000 in 2000.
Describing Graphs PowerPoint by Aj. Sorada Wattana

20. Describing Graphs Pattern: Sub + Verb + Adv
Going Up: Going Down: Staying the Same
increase decrease stabilize
rise fall remain + constant
go up go down
grow drop
climb decline
peak* bottom out*
Pattern:
Sub + Verb + Adv
Sales stood at $ 30 M in 2000.
Describing Graphs PowerPoint by Aj. Sorada Wattana

21. Describing Graphs Prepositions and Other Expressions
From ____ to _____
We use this preposition to describe the movement between one point and another.
The share price fell sharply from $100 million to $60 million last year.
There was a sharp fall in the share price from $100 million to $60 million last year.
Describing Graphs PowerPoint by Aj. Sorada Wattana

22. Describing Graphs Pattern: Sub + Verb + Adv
Going Up: Going Down: Staying the Same
increase decrease stabilize
rise fall remain + constant
go up go down
grow drop
climb decline
peak* bottom out*
Pattern:
Sub + Verb + Adv
Sales increased sharply from 5 to 50 million dollars in 2003.
Describing Graphs PowerPoint by Aj. Sorada Wattana

23. Describing Graphs Prepositions and Other Expressions To _____
We use this preposition to describe the end point.
The number of Internet subscribers dropped slightly to 50,000 people.
There was a slight drop in the number of Internet subscribers to 50,000 people.

24. Describing Graphs Pattern: Sub + Verb + Adv
Going Up: Going Down: Staying the Same
increase decrease stabilize
rise fall remain + constant
go up go down
grow drop
climb decline
peak* bottom out*
Pattern:
Sub + Verb + Adv
Sales increased sharply (from 5) to 50 million dollars in 2003.

25. Describing Graphs Prepositions and Other Expressions
Between _____ and _____
We use this preposition to describe the movement along a scale from one point to another.
The market share fluctuated between
10 and 50 percent in the first quarter.

26. Describing Graphs Prepositions and Other Expressions By ________
Of ________
We use this preposition to describe the difference.
My salary increased from 300,000 baht to 400,000 baht a year.
It increased by 100,000 baht.
There was an increase of 100,000 baht.
Verb + by
Noun + of

27. Describing Graphs Pattern: Sub + Verb + Adv
Going Up: Going Down: Staying the Same
increase decrease stabilize
rise fall remain + constant
go up go down
grow drop
climb decline
peak* bottom out*
Pattern:
Sub + Verb + Adv
Sales increased sharply by 45 million dollars in 2003.

28. Describing Graphs Prepositions and Other Expressions At _____
We use this preposition for a certain point.
The company’s income remained constant at $ 100 million from 1990 to 1997.
The number of internet users peaked at 15,000 in 1993.
The number of internet users reached a peak at 15,000 in 1993.
The number of customers bottomed out at 1,200 in 1994.

29. Describing Graphs Pattern: Sub + Verb + Adv
Going Up: Going Down: Staying the Same
increase decrease stabilize
rise fall remain + constant
go up go down
grow drop
climb decline
peak* bottom out*
Pattern:
Sub + Verb + Adv
Sales peaked at 50 million dollars in 2003.
Describing Graphs PowerPoint by Aj. Sorada Wattana

30. Describing Graphs Prepositions and Other Expressions Approximately
Expressing Approximation
We use words to express approximation when the point we are trying to describe is between milestones on the graph.
Approximately
1,000
Around
About
Roughly
More or less
Almost
Nearly
The problem with computer viruses rocketed to approximately 1,100 cases.

31. Describing Graphs
Expressions for Opening Sentences to Introduce the Graph
The opening sentences should make up the first paragraph. It should define what the graph is about, that is the date, location, what is being described in the graph etc. For example
The graph shows the sales of computers of ABC
Company

32. Describing Graphs Making inferences
Graphs and tables are visual representations which can give information both directly and indirectly. In other words, we sometimes may have to make inferences or draw conclusions based on the data given as well as our knowledge of the world.
From the information given, I conclude/ infer/ assume that ______.
From the information given, it can be concluded / inferred /assumed that _________.
The information given in the graph implies/ suggests / hints that _________.