describing graphs

Describing Graphs PowerPoint by Aj. Sorada Wattana

English for Graduate Study (LA 501)

write a paragraph describing a graph, using appropriate verbs, phrases and expressions

In this lesson, you will


Words used to describe graphs

Going Up: Going Down: Staying the Same

increaserisego upgrowclimbshoot upsoarrocket

decreasefallgo downdropdeclineplummetplunge

level offplateau stabilize remain + steadystay + steady



Moving up & down repeating over a period of time


Fluctuate (v)

The number of internet users

fluctuated between 1990 and 1995.


Reaching the top position

The number of internet users peaked in 1993. Peak (v)


The number of internet users was at its highest level in 1993.

The number of internet users rose to its highest level in 1993.

Highest level (n)


Bottom off (v)

Reaching the lowest position

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.



Focusing on particular point before we mention the movement

The number of internet users stood at 2,000 in 1990, and then it increased gradually in the following years.

Stand at (v)


Moving up & down repeating over a period of time


Recover (v)

The number of internet users

recovered between 1990 and 1995.


Going Up: Going Down: Staying the Sameincrease decrease stabilizerise fall remain + constantgo up go down grow dropclimb declinepeak* bottom out*

Pattern:

Sub + Verb.Sales increased in 2003.


Adverbs and Adjectives for Describing Changes

• increase• rise• go up• grow• climb

sharply /dramatically /rapidly/ considerably / steeply

show a large change

Apple Computer’s share price increased

sharply between 1990 and 1995.

Pattern:

Sub + Verb + Adv



• decrease• fall• go down• drop• decline

sharply /dramatically /rapidly/ considerably / steeply

show a large change

Apple Computer’s share price decreased

dramatically between 1990 and 1995.

Pattern:

Sub + Verb + Adv



• increase• rise• go up• grow• climb

show a small change

slightly / moderately / gradually*

Apple Computer‘s share price rose

slightly between 1990 and 1995.

Pattern:

Sub + Verb + Adv


• decrease• fall• go down• drop• decline

show a small change

Apple Computer’s share price fell gradually

between 1990 and 1995.

Pattern:

Sub + Verb + Adv

slightly / moderately / gradually*


• remain• stay

the same, stable , steady, constant

show unchanged movement

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



Pattern:

Sub + Verb.Sales increased in 2003.

Sub + Verb + AdvSales increased sharply in 2003.


Sentence Pattern: A

Subject + Verb OR Subject + Verb + Adverb

Our net profit increased last year.

Our net profit increased dramatically last year.


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.

Sentence Pattern: B


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.


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.



Pattern:

Sub + Verb + AdvSales stood at $ 30 M in 2000.



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.



Pattern:

Sub + Verb + AdvSales increased sharply from 5 to 50 million dollars in 2003.


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.


Pattern:

Sub + Verb + AdvSales increased sharply (from 5) to 50 million dollars in 2003.


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.

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.


By ________

We use this preposition to describe the difference.

Verb + by

Of ________

Noun + of


Pattern:

Sub + Verb + AdvSales increased sharply by 45 million dollars in 2003.


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.



Pattern:

Sub + Verb + AdvSales peaked at 50 million dollars in 2003.


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.

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

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 _________.

describing graphs

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