Describing Graphs

Look at the graphs and the descriptions. Underline the verbs.

Decem

ber

Janu

ary

Februa

ryMarc

hApri

lMay

June Ju

ly

Augus

t

Septem

ber

Octobe

r

Novem

ber

Decem

ber

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

5.5

6

6.5

Sales (£m)

Last year our sales figures fluctuated considerably. Sales fell between December and January after the Christmas rush. They continued to go down in February, before levelling off between March and April. In May they started to rise again, and continued to grow in June. They remained steady throughout July and August and increased again in September. In October sales decreased for the first time since February, but in November and December they went up again as Christmas approached.

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 20098

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

Exports (£m)

Our exports grew consistently from 2002 to 2004, then remained constant between 2004 and 2006. They increased steadily for two years, but this year they have shrunk slightly. Overall, they have been going up since we started exporting in 2002.

Page 1 of 6 Created by Sandy Millin

Describing Graphs

Put the verbs in the correct columns:

Which tenses are used in the second text and why?

Page 2 of 6 Created by Sandy Millin

Describing Graphs

Look at the graph. Use the information to complete the sentences using an appropriate form of the verb given.

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 20090.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

80.0

ExportsOverheadsRaw Material CostsDomestic SalesStaff numbersSalaries

Taken from: Build Your Business Grammar p48

1. Exports _________________ significantly between 2004 and 2005.

(fall)

2. Since 2008 they _________________ steadily, however. (rise)

3. Overheads _________________ sharply since last year. (rise)

4. Overheads _________________ slowly between 2003 and 2006. (fall)

5. The price of raw materials _________________ gradually between

2006 and 2008, but it _________________ dramatically in 2009. (fall,

rise)

6. Domestic sales _________________ steadily over the past four years.

(increase)

7. The workforce _________________ by 25% since 2007. (shrink)

8. The workforce _________________ by 10% between 2004 and 2005.

(grow)

9. Salary costs _________________ sharply over the last few years. (go

up)

10.Domestic sales _________________ slightly in 2004. (fall)

Page 3 of 6 Created by Sandy Millin

Describing Graphs

Look at the texts on page 1 and the exercise you have just done. Find the adverbs and put them onto the graphs in the correct places:

Describing the amount of change

Describing the speed of change

Which verb + adverb combinations are NOT possible?

Page 4 of 6 Created by Sandy Millin

Describing Graphs

Look at this graph and write as many sentences as possible about it.

Janu

ary

Februa

ryMarc

hApri

lMay

June Ju

ly

Augus

t

Septem

ber

Octobe

r

Novem

ber

Decem

ber

100

110

120

130

140

150

160

170

180

Share price (pence)

Page 5 of 6 Created by Sandy Millin

Describing Graphs

Draw the graph according to the description below.

Janu

ary

Februa

ryMarc

hApri

lMay

June Ju

ly

Augus

t

Septem

ber

Octobe

r

Novem

ber

Decem

ber

3700

3900

4100

4300

4500

4700

4900

5100

Complaints

We had 4500 complaints in January. In February this reduced to 4300, and again to 3950 in March. The number of complaints remained constant in April and May. From June to September they increased steadily, reaching 4400 in September. They went up dramatically in October to 5000, after which they decreased consistently in November and December, standing at

Page 6 of 6 Created by Sandy Millin