[Mastering Adjectives to Describe Personality and Behavior]-[Speak Better English with Harry | Episode 553]

Speak Better English with Harry · B1 · 2025-09-17

📋 Summary

Enhancing Your English: A Guide to Personality Adjectives

In this episode of Advanced English Lessons with Harry, the host explores a variety of adjectives used to describe human behavior and personality traits. Understanding these nuanced terms is essential for effective communication in both business and social settings. Below is a breakdown of the key adjectives discussed, categorized by their behavioral implications.

1. Describing Professional Competence and Reliability

Completely Incompetent: This term describes an individual who is fundamentally unable to perform basic tasks. Harry illustrates this by referencing a hypothetical workplace scenario where an employee lacks the stated computer skills required to complete simple spreadsheets or email tasks. It implies a total lack of capability.
Quite Absent-minded: This refers to someone who is prone to forgetting things easily. While often associated with high intelligence (the classic "absent-minded professor"), it manifests as a lack of attention to detail, such as forgetting car keys or leaving an oven on, which can lead to frustrating consequences.

2. Describing Social Interaction and Temperament

Very Direct: A direct person speaks their mind openly without hiding their intentions. Harry notes that while some value this transparency—sometimes described as giving it to someone "through both barrels"—it can occasionally be perceived as lacking sensitivity.
Quite Hard Work: This phrase does not mean the person is a "hard worker." Instead, it describes someone who is difficult to engage in conversation. They often provide "monosyllabic answers" (e.g., yes, no), making it challenging to establish a rapport or enjoy their company at social gatherings.
Very Laid Back: This describes a person who is exceptionally relaxed, often to the point where nothing seems to stress or worry them. Harry humorously notes that if they were any more laid back, they would be "horizontal." While often a positive trait, he warns that it can sometimes be misconstrued as laziness.

3. Describing Social Attitudes and Moral Stance

Such a Snob: A snob is someone who judges others based on social rank or material markers. They may obsess over brand labels or refuse to visit certain places, often walking around with their "nose in the air" to signal a sense of superiority.
Really Bitchy: This refers to someone who habitually makes snide, personal, or unkind comments about others. It is characterized by criticizing people's appearance, behavior, or lifestyle, often behind their backs.
Very Principled: A principled person acts according to a strong moral code. They consider the implications of their actions—such as refusing to buy products linked to child labor or exploitation—and remain steadfast in their values regarding religion and ethics.

4. Describing Inner Resilience

Very Strong-willed: This trait describes a determined individual who does not let others dictate their path. They are often stubborn or obstinate, but they possess the persistence necessary to achieve their goals despite obstacles.
Quite Thick-skinned: Being thick-skinned means one is impervious to insults or criticism. Drawing a comparison to the skin of a "rhinoceros or elephant," Harry explains that this quality is vital for professionals, such as those in sales or male-dominated industries, who must endure frequent rejection or harsh comments without letting it affect their morale.

By mastering these adjectives, learners can more precisely articulate their observations about the people they interact with, ultimately improving their descriptive fluency in English.

🎯Key Sentences

We're here to help.

some of them might be a little different

They don't know how to do it.

she speaks or he speaks exactly what is on their mind.

They don't hold back.

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📝Key Phrases

completely incompetent

get straight to the point

walk around with their nose in the air

absent-minded

quite hard work

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📖 Transcript

Hi there, this is Harry.

Welcome back to Advanced English Lessons with Harry, where I try to help you to get a better understanding of the English language, to help you with your conversational skills, your business English skills, interview skills, whatever your goals are.

We're here to help.

And for those of you and your friends or family who want one-to-one lessons well, you know what to do.

Just get in touch www.englishlessonviaskype.com and you can apply for a free trial lesson.

And we'd be very happy to hear from you and very happy to help you.

Or study on the web version →