Dialogue

Alice: Hey Bob, how was your first day at the new art class?

Bob: Oh, hey Alice! It was interesting. Our teacher, Mr. Sketch, is… well, he’s a bit serious.

Alice: Serious? Oh no! Is he like, “no smiling ever” serious?

Bob: Not that serious, but he doesn’t laugh much. He’s very focused on drawing straight lines.

Alice: Haha! Sounds like fun. What about the other students? Any funny people?

Bob: Hmm, there’s one guy, Leo. He told a joke during the break. He’s definitely funny.

Alice: A comedian in an art class! That’s good. What about kind people?

Bob: Yes, there’s Sarah. She helped me find my charcoal pencils when I dropped them. She’s very kind.

Alice: Aww, that’s nice of her. So, you have a serious teacher, a funny classmate, and a kind classmate.

Bob: Exactly! It’s a good mix. What about your new book club, Alice? Any interesting personalities there?

Alice: Oh, it’s great! Our leader, Maria, is super kind. She always makes sure everyone gets to speak.

Bob: That’s lovely. And is anyone funny?

Alice: Yes, David! He makes jokes about the books. He’s really funny.

Bob: So, no serious people in your book club?

Alice: Well, maybe a little bit. There’s one lady, Mrs. Peterson, who takes every plot twist very seriously. But in a good way!

Bob: Sounds like fun. So, Alice, would you say I am serious, funny, or kind?

Alice: Bob, you’re definitely funny! And kind, sometimes. Serious? Only when you’re thinking about pizza.

Current Situation

Understanding and using “personality words” is a fundamental part of communicating in English, especially when talking about people. Every day, we describe ourselves, our friends, family, colleagues, and even fictional characters. Words like “kind,” “funny,” and “serious” allow us to express how we perceive others and what their general nature is like. Mastering these basic adjectives will significantly improve your ability to engage in conversations about people’s characteristics, making your English sound more natural and expressive.

Key Phrases

• A bit serious: Used to describe someone who is not very playful or lighthearted.
  Example: My boss is a bit serious, but he’s fair.
• Definitely funny: Used to emphasize that someone makes people laugh a lot.
  Example: My friend Mark is definitely funny; he always tells great jokes.
• Very kind: Used to emphasize someone’s gentle, friendly, and generous nature.
  Example: The old lady at the shop was very kind and gave me a free cookie.
• Sounds like fun: Used to express that something sounds enjoyable or interesting.
  Example: “We’re going to the beach this weekend!” “Oh, that sounds like fun!”
• What about…?: Used to ask for information about another person or topic that is related to the current conversation.
  Example: “I like coffee.” “What about tea?”
• That’s nice of her/him: A common phrase used to show appreciation for someone’s kind action.
  Example: “John helped me carry my groceries.” “That’s nice of him!”

Grammar Points

When talking about someone’s personality, we commonly use adjectives. Here are the main grammar points:

• Using ‘to be’ + Adjective: This is the most common way to describe someone’s personality.
  • Subject + is / are + Adjective
  • Examples:
    • He is funny.
    • She is kind.
    • They are serious.
    • I am funny.
• Adverbs of Degree: You can add adverbs to make your description stronger or weaker.
  • Very: Makes the adjective stronger. (e.g., “very kind”)
  • A bit: Makes the adjective a little weaker or less extreme. (e.g., “a bit serious”)
  • Definitely / Really / Super: Stronger adverbs for emphasis. (e.g., “definitely funny”, “really kind”, “super serious”)
  • Examples:
    • He is very kind.
    • She is a bit serious.
    • They are definitely funny.
• Asking Questions about Personality:
  • Is he/she…? or Are they…? + Adjective
  • Examples:
    • Is your teacher serious?
    • Are your friends funny?
    • Is he kind?

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with “kind,” “funny,” or “serious.”

1. My brother always tells jokes. He is very _______.
2. Sarah helped me with my homework. She is very _______.
3. The teacher doesn’t smile much. He is a bit _______.
4. My dad is never late for work. He is always very _______.
5. Lisa brought me flowers when I was sick. She is so _______.

Exercise 2: Answer the questions about yourself or people you know.

(Your answers will vary.)

1. Are you kind?
2. Is your best friend funny?
3. Is your teacher serious? (If you don’t have a teacher, think of someone like a boss or a leader.)
4. Are your parents (or guardians) kind?
5. Would you say you are more funny or serious?

Exercise 3: Make a sentence using the given word and “is” or “are.”

1. My mother (kind)
2. My friends (funny)
3. My boss (serious)
4. The children (kind)
5. My uncle (funny)

Answers

Exercise 1

1. My brother always tells jokes. He is very funny.
2. Sarah helped me with my homework. She is very kind.
3. The teacher doesn’t smile much. He is a bit serious.
4. My dad is never late for work. He is always very serious.
5. Lisa brought me flowers when I was sick. She is so kind.

Exercise 2

(Answers may vary. Examples below.)

1. Yes, I am kind. / No, I am not very kind.
2. Yes, my best friend is very funny. / No, my best friend is not funny.
3. Yes, my teacher is a bit serious. / No, my teacher is not serious.
4. Yes, my parents are very kind. / No, my parents are kind.
5. I would say I am more funny than serious. / I would say I am more serious than funny.

Exercise 3

1. My mother is kind.
2. My friends are funny.
3. My boss is serious.
4. The children are kind.
5. My uncle is funny.