Made of and Used for: Describe an Everyday Object
By the end: I can describe an object’s material and purpose.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Choose a short recording.
Name the material
Use is/are made of when naming a recognisable material.
The table is made of wood.
These cups are made of glass.
Name the purpose
Use is/are used for with an -ing activity or a noun. This says what the object is for.
This knife is used for cutting bread.
These boxes are used for storage.
Another purpose pattern
Used to plus a base verb also describes purpose here. Is used to cut is not past-habit used to.
The brush is used to clean shoes.
This bag is used to carry tools.
A present purpose and a past habit use different sentence shapes
Is used describes what people use the brush for.
There is no is before used; this describes something I regularly did before.
Guided practice
Say or write your answer first. Compare form and meaning with the model.
1. Complete: This chair is made ___ metal.
Compare a model and explanation
of
Made of names the recognisable material.
2. Complete: These bottles ___ made of glass.
Compare a model and explanation
are
Bottles is plural.
3. Complete: It’s used for ___ vegetables. Use cut.
Compare a model and explanation
cutting
For takes the -ing activity here.
4. Correct: It’s used for cut paper.
Compare a model and explanation
It’s used for cutting paper.
Use cutting after for.
5. Change to the to pattern: It’s used for opening bottles.
Compare a model and explanation
It’s used to open bottles.
Use a base verb after to.
6. Correct: The cups is made of glass.
Compare a model and explanation
The cups are made of glass.
Use plural agreement.
7. Does This tool is used to open cans describe an old habit?
Compare a model and explanation
No. It describes the tool’s purpose.
Is used to open is a passive purpose expression.
8. Describe a glass bottle and one use.
Compare a model and explanation
It’s made of glass. It’s used for holding water.
Other reasonable uses are acceptable.
A short conversation
Listen first, then open the transcript when useful.
Open the conversation transcript
A: What’s this object made of?
B: It’s made of wood.
A: What’s it used for?
B: It’s used for mixing food. It’s a wooden spoon.
Listening checks
Listen to each extract or open its transcript. These three questions have a separate score.
Mastery quiz
Choose the best answer for each situation. The score is out of eight.
Use it in your own words
Speaking 1
Describe the materials of two objects.
Reveal a possible response
The table is made of wood. The bottle is made of glass.
Success check: Use singular or plural be correctly.
Speaking 2
Explain two objects’ purposes using both patterns.
Reveal a possible response
The knife is used for cutting bread. The key is used to open the door.
Success check: Use -ing after for and a base verb after to.
Put it all together
Play a guessing game. Give material, purpose and one extra clue without naming the object.
Reveal a possible response
It’s made of metal. It’s used for opening bottles. It’s small enough to keep in a drawer.
Success check: Keep the clues consistent with one object.
Take it with you
I can describe an object’s material and purpose.