Useful expressions and vocabulary for English composition
- Sabreena Nazimudeen
- 12 minutes ago
- 3 min read
✍️ Useful Expressions and Vocabulary for English Composition
At The Write Tribe, we often hear parents say:
“My child knows the grammar rules — but their writing still sounds flat.”
Here’s the good news:👉 Vocabulary can be trained.👉 Good expressions can be learnt.👉 And when used correctly, they elevate a child’s composition from average to impressive.
Below are some useful expressions and vocabulary for English composition, must-know expressions and vocabulary types to help students write with flair, emotion, and precision.
🎭 1. Emotional Adjectives
Help your child go beyond “happy” and “sad.”
Basic Word | Upgrade To |
Happy | Jubilant, elated, overjoyed |
Sad | Downcast, sorrowful, heartbroken |
Angry | Furious, fuming, livid |
Scared | Anxious, terrified, petrified |
✅ She was elated when she saw her exam results.
💪 2. Powerful Verbs
Use strong action words to create vivid scenes.
Basic Verb | Upgrade To |
Walk | Stroll, dash, limp, tiptoe |
Look | Glance, stare, glare, gaze |
Say | Whisper, mutter, exclaim, plead |
✅ He dashed across the road as the traffic light turned red.
💬 3. Dialogue Tags (Instead of Just “Said”)
Instead of “Said” | Use |
Said angrily | Snapped, barked |
Said softly | Murmured, whispered |
Said sadly | Sobbed, sighed |
Said excitedly | Exclaimed, gushed |
✅ “You’ll never catch me!” he sneered, sprinting away.
💡 4. Body Language and Facial Expression
These show emotion without telling it directly.
Her hands trembled as she reached for the phone.
His eyes widened in shock.
She bit her lip, trying to hold back tears.
He clenched his fists, struggling to stay calm.
✅ Remember: Show, don’t tell.
🌟 5. Similes and Metaphors
Use comparisons to paint a vivid picture.
Similes (using “like” or “as”):
As silent as a mouse
As fast as lightning
He was as nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs
Metaphors:
A volcano of anger erupted inside her.
His words were daggers to her heart.
The classroom was a zoo.
✅ Choose just 1–2 per composition to avoid overuse.
🔥 6. Idioms (Used Sparingly and Correctly)
Idiom | Meaning |
A blessing in disguise | Something good from a bad situation |
Break the ice | Start a conversation |
Hit the nail on the head | Say exactly the right thing |
A bitter pill to swallow | A hard truth to accept |
Face the music | Accept the consequences |
✅ Losing taught her a valuable lesson — it was a bitter pill to swallow, but she learnt from it.
✏️ 7. Sentence Starters to Vary Structure
Suddenly, a loud crash startled everyone.
Without hesitation, I ran towards the sound.
Just as I turned the corner, I saw something unexpected.
To my horror, the room was empty.
✅ This keeps your writing engaging and dynamic.
🚀 Final Tip: Learn By Applying
Vocabulary only becomes powerful when used well.At The Write Tribe, students learn, apply, and revise expressions in every lesson — ensuring real improvement.
If you want your child to:
Level up their writing
Prepare confidently for the PSLE
And gain creative confidence
📩 Book a trial with us today.
Trial lesson
We cover a lot more in our classes. Try first trial lesson for only 36SGD
💡 Pro Tip:Imagine having all the power tools above in a single cheatsheet where you can have all the tools at your disposal.
📥 Introducing our Ultimate PSLE Composition Cheat Sheet — your complete toolkit for scoring high in PSLE English composition!
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