Flat Fields & Quiet Towns: Describing Denmark
CEFR: B1
Read/Listen first
Driving across Denmark, we passed field after field with almost no hills or forests. Towns felt small and very quiet, even in the afternoon. We hardly saw any cars, and supermarket car parks had only one or two vehicles. Compared to home, it seemed calmer and less crowded. The scenery was simple, flat, and open, with long views and big skies.⚡ Learning goals
- Describe key details from the scene using precise nouns and adjectives.
- Compare two places using clear contrasts and simple reasons.
- Share a short personal reaction using natural speaking phrases.
✨ Key language
- It feels/looks … “It feels very quiet and open.”
- You can see … “You can see fields for miles.”
- Compared to … “Compared to home, it’s flatter.”
⚙️ Rules & Grammar — 4 Structures
1️⃣ Descriptive noun + prepositional phrase
Rule: Use a concrete noun followed by a precise place phrase to anchor the image.Examples: a meadow by the sea; quiet towns in the south; card payments at small shops
Common pitfall + fix: Using vague fillers like ‘things there’. — Name the thing and add a preposition of place..
Choose the most descriptive phrase.
Tip: Prefer concrete nouns plus place phrases.
Fill with the best answer: ________________
Tip: Use the target structure from the rule.
2️⃣ Contrast with ‘but/while/whereas’
Rule: Link two facts to show difference.Examples: It’s flat, but the coast is beautiful.; Payments are easy, whereas cash is rare.; I was nervous, while the talk was short.
Common pitfall + fix: Listing facts without cohesion. — Add a contrast linker once per sentence..
Choose the most descriptive phrase.
Tip: Prefer concrete nouns plus place phrases.
Fill with the best answer: ________________
Tip: Use the target structure from the rule.
3️⃣ Past simple for travel experiences
Rule: Use past simple to recount what you saw and did.Examples: We saw pheasants near the house.; We paid by card everywhere.; I gave a short AI talk.
Common pitfall + fix: Overusing present for finished trips. — Switch to past simple for completed events..
Choose the most descriptive phrase.
Tip: Prefer concrete nouns plus place phrases.
Fill with the best answer: ________________
Tip: Use the target structure from the rule.
4️⃣ Hedging with ‘seems/feels/looks’
Rule: Use softeners to express impressions.Examples: It seems quieter than Berlin.; The landscape feels endless.; The rules look strict.
Common pitfall + fix: Stating opinions as facts. — Add a hedging verb to moderate claims..
Choose the most descriptive phrase.
Tip: Prefer concrete nouns plus place phrases.
Fill with the best answer: ________________
Tip: Use the target structure from the rule.
✍️ Vocabulary
flat
Meaning: without hills; level.Synonyms: even, level.
Chunk/Idiom: a flat landscape.
Example: Denmark looked flat for miles..
Morphology: adjective.
Self-practice: Compare a flat place with a hilly one..
field
Meaning: open land used for crops or grass.Synonyms: meadow, farmland.
Chunk/Idiom: endless fields.
Example: We drove past wide fields..
Morphology: noun.
Self-practice: List three things grown in fields..
quiet
Meaning: with little noise or activity.Synonyms: calm, peaceful.
Chunk/Idiom: a quiet town centre.
Example: The towns were very quiet..
Morphology: adjective.
Self-practice: Write two quiet activities you enjoy..
forests
Meaning: large areas filled with trees.Synonyms: woods, woodland.
Chunk/Idiom: no forests nearby.
Example: There were few forests around..
Morphology: noun (plural).
Self-practice: Name a forest you have visited..
population
Meaning: the number of people in a place.Synonyms: inhabitants, residents.
Chunk/Idiom: a small population.
Example: The country has a small population..
Morphology: noun.
Self-practice: Describe your city’s population..
countryside
Meaning: land away from cities and towns.Synonyms: rural area, country.
Chunk/Idiom: Danish countryside.
Example: We drove through the countryside..
Morphology: noun.
Self-practice: Say why you like the countryside..
☁️ Examples (+ audio)
Driving across Denmark, we passed field after field with almost no hills or forests.
It felt quiet and open, with long views.
We spoke about costs, travel, and daily routines.
Small details brought the scene to life.
✏️ Exercises
Grammar
Choose the best contrast sentence.
Tip: Use a linker like but to contrast.
Pick the correct past simple sentence.
Tip: For a finished trip, use past simple.
Fill with the best answer:
It ______ quieter than Berlin.Tip: Hedge opinions with seems/feels/looks.
Fill with the best answer:
We ____ pheasants near the house.Tip: Use a past simple verb.
Vocabulary & Comprehension
Which word best describes the towns?
Tip: Scan the mini text for adjectives.
How did they usually pay?
Tip: Look for payment methods in the story.
Fill with the best answer:
They saw ________ near the house.Tip: Two kinds of animals are named.
Fill with the best answer:
Denmark looked like ________.Tip: Use an adjective + noun from the text.
✅ Guided practice
Mini-dialogue:
A: It feels so quiet here, doesn’t it?B: Yes. You can see fields for miles.
Why this matters:
Noticing concrete details builds clear descriptions. It helps your audience imagine the scene and follow your story.Verb & Adjective Pack:
notice — Notice the long, open views.compare — Compare Denmark with the Netherlands.
seem — It seems quieter than Berlin.
quiet — a quiet town
flat — a flat coastline
Try & compare:
Fill with the best answer: It ______ open and very quiet.
Tip: Use a hedging verb.
Self-correction: Fix the sentence: We see pheasants near house.
Tip: Use past simple and the article.
Practice aloud: Listen, repeat, then type the sentence.
You can pay by card everywhere.
Tip: Keep the sentence short and clear.