INSA Buildings

  • Applied Mathematics
  • Chemical engineering
  • Mechanical engineering
  • the Humanities department
  • the INSA Bar/Pub
  • the IT Helpdesk
  • the welcome desk
  • the library
  • the PE/Sports Centre
  • The University Restaurant
  • The student residences
  • the exam room
  • the common room / the recreational room
  • the undergraduate study building

NEW

  • recent
  • (well-) preserved
  • cutting-edge
  • innovative
  • modern
  • renovated

OLD

  • dated
  • abandoned
  • damaged
  • ancient
  • cracked / with cracks
  • crumbling = falling apart = falling into ruins
  • ruined
  • decrepit = dilapidated = rundown
  • medieval
  • neglected
  • old-fashioned
  • the oldest
  • quaint (=old-fashioned but charming)
  • timeless

SHAPE & SIZE

  • tiny / Small = compact = poky (inform.) = cramped
  • high ceilinged
  • huge
  • impressive
  • long
  • multi-storey / single-storey / two-storey
  • high-rise ≠ low rise
  • shell-shaped / U-shaped / square(-shaped)
  • spacious
  • tall / high
  • low-size / low-height
  • wide
  • narrow

DIFFERENT PARTS OF BUILDINGS

  • windows
  • doors
  • walls
  • basement
  • roof / rooftop
  • ceiling
  • oven
  • shutters
  • awning (store)
  • stairs / the staircase
  • the lift case
  • floor
  • room
  • corridor
  • paint
  • electrical equipment
  • it can host/accommodate a large number of people
  • It is visited / used by...
  • It welcomes...
  • it hosts
  • it is home to...

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

is made of... / is built with...
  • brick
  • sand
  • plastic
  • concrete
  • plaster
  • glass
  • marble
  • mock …
  • pebble-dash (crépi)
  • render (enduit)
  • plate glass (= strong glass for windows)
  • stained glass (windows)
  • tiles
  • timber / timbered
  • wood / wooden
  • plastic
  • stone
  • pebble stone
  • iron
  • corrugated iron
  • steel
  • copper
  • rock wool
  • fiber glass

    COLOURS

  • dark...
  • bright...
  • brightly coloured
  • light...
  • faded...
  • pale...

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

  • classic / classical
  • ecologically friendly/ green
  • gothic
  • influential
  • innovative
  • noisy
  • ornate
  • radical/ revolutionary
  • residential
  • sustainable
  • typical (of)
  • well-isolated

😃

  • awsome
  • beautiful
  • cosy
  • crazy-looking
  • cute
  • elegant
  • famous
  • fantastic
  • gorgeous
  • iconic
  • incredible
  • inspiring
  • jaw dropping = stunning
  • luxurious
  • unique
  • wonderful

☹️

  • bad taste
  • bland = boring = dull = plain
  • dingy = shabby
  • dusty
  • an eyesore = it stands/sticks out like a sore thumb
  • filthy = very dirty
  • hideous
  • horrible
  • infamous
  • kitsch
  • over-the-top (=exaggerated)
  • scary / intimidating
  • showy = ostentatious
  • soulless
  • terrible
  • ugly
  • unexceptional
  • uninspiring
  • weird


Suggested PASSIVE SENTENCES

FACTUAL DESCRIPTION: PASSIVE with BE in the PRESENT (is/are) + past participle

  • It is made of/ made from…
  • It is connected to…
  • It is decorated…
  • It is lit up…
  • It is located near …
  • It is opened to the public…
  • It is painted…
  • It is situated in…
  • It is surrounded by…
  • It is used for…

HISTORY: PASSIVE with BE in the SIMPLE PAST (was/were) + past participle

  • It was bought by…
  • It was built by / in…
  • It was damaged by…
  • It was destroyed…
  • It was designed by…
  • The design was based on…
  • It was knocked down…/ Part of it was knocked down…
  • It was moved…
  • It was named a World Heritage site…
  • It was renovated…
  • It was replaced by…
  • It was sold…
  • initially  / originally it was used as...

HISTORY UNTIL NOW: PASSIVE with BE in the PRESENT PERFECT (has been/ have been) + past participle

  • It has been there for 200 years.
  • It has been famous since…
  • It has been renovated… times

FUTURE: PASSIVE with BE in the FUTURE (will be) + past participle

  • It will be knocked down…
  • It will be renovated…
  • It will be used…

Modifié le: vendredi 30 janvier 2026, 15:19