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The language of evaluation

Throughout this section you will share your ideas and opinions about texts in informal and formal discussions, as well as in writing.

That was a great movie!

This book is terrific!

That's a really bad song!

That game is OK.

You can read it quickly.

In each of the above examples the speaker uses an adjective ('great', 'terrific', 'OK'), adjectival phrase (really bad) or adverb (quickly) to express a judgement or evaluation.

Select the link below for examples of positive and negative evaluative adjectives

Examples of positive and negative evaluative adjectives

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By now you will have received quite a few school reports in which your teachers have evaluated your work habits and achievements.

Select the best words from the word bank provided below to complete the following report.

You worked and completed many pieces of writing. Your speech was and . You were for drama activities. However, your report was because it was . You were and in class.


Word bank: creative, disappointing, entertaining, helpful, imaginative, incomplete, polite, quickly, well prepared

You worked quickly and completed many imaginative pieces of writing. Your speech was creative and entertaining. You were well prepared for drama activities. However, your report was disappointing because it was incomplete. You were polite and helpful in class.

Check your answer

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Practise using evaluative language.

  • Select three texts (books, songs, poems, films or games) or things (people, foods, hobbies and/or sports).
  • Write a short evaluative sentence about each.
  • Write both positive and negative evaluations.
  • Write a short report evaluating how quickly, effectively and/or accurately you worked on the above activity.

Use the worksheet at the link below to revise writing sentences.

Writing sentences

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Add at least three positive and three negative evaluative words from those you have learned and/or used to your vocabulary list.