Module code: 2109
◀ Image AImage B ▶
↑×📐 Positional language (foreground, top left corner, in the distance…) is the same on every image lesson — see Where things are at the end.
Two Sites, Many Differences
You are going to look at two construction sites and compare them. Study the key words first, then listen to the descriptions. Each task teaches you something new — a word, a grammar pattern, or a way to describe what you see — and you use it in the next task.
📚 Key Vocabulary
Learn these words before you listen — they appear in both descriptions.
scaffolding — metal frame that supports workers at heightpylon — tall concrete tower that holds up a bridgesuspension cable — thick steel rope that carries the bridge deckbridge deck — flat surface that people and vehicles cross onconcrete mixer — orange machine that mixes wet concretesuspended platform — work platform hanging from a structure abovehigh-visibility vest — bright vest so workers are easy to seehard hat — protective helmet worn on a building sitecrane — tall machine that lifts heavy objectswheelbarrow — small one-wheeled cart for carrying materialsworkforce — all the workers on a site at one timelumber — cut pieces of wood used in building
🎧 Listen and read
Before: Look at the key words above and try to guess which ones belong to Image A and which to Image B.
While listening: Listen for words that describe size, height, and equipment — notice how the two sites are compared.
After: Think about the biggest difference between the two sites and try to say it in one sentence.
💡 Press play, then scroll back up to the photo. If the photo is off-screen, a copy floats at the bottom — tap it to enlarge.
×🎧 1 · Short description
📖 1 · Short description — read along
In this picture, both Image A and Image B show active construction sites on a sunny day, but the scale is very different.
Image A shows a two-storey house being built in a suburban neighbourhood, where three workers are laying bricks, handling timber, and assembling the roof frame.
Image B shows a suspension bridge being built over open water, and it is far more complex than the house — tall concrete pylons rise above the deck, thick steel cables hang between them, and a much larger workforce is spread across the site.
While Image A relies on simple tools like a concrete mixer and a wheelbarrow, Image B uses large yellow cranes and heavy vehicles on the bridge deck.
🎧 2 · Full description
📖 2 · Full description — read along
In this picture, both Image A and Image B capture busy construction sites in clear daylight, and in both scenes the workers are wearing high-visibility vests and hard hats. Scaffolding is erected around the structure in Image A and below the bridge deck in Image B, and grey concrete is a key material in each. These are the similarities, but the differences are striking.
In Image A, a two-storey residential building is under construction in a suburban neighbourhood. The lower walls are built from grey concrete blocks and red brick, and three workers are active at different levels — one is working on the timber roof frame at the top, one is laying bricks at mid-level, and one is handling materials at ground level. The foreground is cluttered with stacked lumber, cement bags, a wheelbarrow, and an orange concrete mixer. The setting feels familiar and small-scale.
Image B is a much larger project. A suspension bridge is being built over a wide body of calm blue water, and the scene is far more industrial than Image A. Two tall concrete pylons dominate the centre, with thick steel suspension cables curving down from their tops to the bridge deck below. On the deck, yellow cranes and construction vehicles are operating, and approximately fifteen workers are visible — a lot more than the three workers in Image A. Some workers are standing on suspended platforms attached to the pylons, which is slightly higher than the roof level in Image A, though the pylons themselves are vastly taller. In the background, a green hillside and a coastal town are visible beyond the water.
The equipment in the two images is also noticeably different. Image A uses hand-scale tools — a mixer, a barrow, a ladder — while Image B depends on large cranes and heavy machinery. The structural systems are different too: Image A uses load-bearing brick and block walls with a timber roof frame, while Image B uses a suspension cable system to hold up the concrete deck. Both sites are clearly active and well-organised, but Image B is operating on a much greater scale than Image A.
🎧 3 · The story behind the picture
📖 3 · The story behind the picture — read along
In Image A, the workers must have already completed the foundations and the lower walls before this moment, and the building is now moving into its upper stages. The roof frame is going up, which means the structure is getting closer to being weatherproof.
In Image B, the pylons are already standing and the main cables are in place, so the team is probably now working on completing the deck sections between the towers. Once the deck is finished, the hangers and road surface will follow.
Both projects are at an active mid-stage — enough has been built to see the final shape, but there is still a great deal of work to do.
🧰 Your word bank
All the target words for this picture.
📚 Word bank
All the target words for this picture. Tap a word to hear it.
📝 Key Vocabulary Recap29 terms from this lesson
◆ scaffolding
A temporary structure of metal poles and wooden boards erected around a building under construction to support workers and materials at height.
Register: technical
Common collocations: erect scaffolding, put up scaffolding, scaffolding pole, scaffolding tower, remove scaffolding
Example: The workers climbed the scaffolding to reach the upper floors of the building.
Usage notes: Uncountable noun — never used with 'a' or in plural form. Often paired with 'erect', 'put up', or 'take down'. Do not confuse with the platforms themselves; the word refers to the whole temporary structure.
Often confused with: suspended platform, timber frame, crane
◆ pylon
A tall concrete or steel tower that supports the cables of a suspension bridge.
General meaning: A tall vertical structure used to support cables, wires, or other overhead elements — also used for electricity pylons.
Register: technical
Common collocations: bridge pylon, concrete pylon, steel pylon, suspension bridge pylon
Example: The pylon rose more than 150 metres above the river to support the bridge cables.
Usage notes: In a bridge context, refers specifically to the tall support towers. In everyday British English, also commonly used for the tall metal structures carrying electricity lines — a different but related meaning.
Often confused with: suspension cable, hanger, crane
◆ suspension cable
A thick steel cable stretched between the pylons of a suspension bridge that bears the weight of the bridge deck below.
Register: technical
Common collocations: main suspension cable, steel suspension cable, attach a suspension cable, suspension cable sag
Example: Each suspension cable on the bridge contains thousands of individual steel wires twisted together.
Usage notes: Always refers to the primary load-bearing cable, not the vertical hangers. Do not confuse with 'hanger', which connects the main cable to the deck, or 'catenary', which describes the cable's curved shape.
Often confused with: hanger, catenary, pylon
◆ bridge deck
The flat horizontal surface of a bridge that carries vehicles or people across the gap it spans.
Register: technical
Common collocations: support the bridge deck, construct the bridge deck, bridge deck surface, bridge deck loading
Example: The bridge deck was still being constructed, so vehicles could not yet cross the river.
Usage notes: A compound noun — both words are needed to distinguish it from a ship's deck or a floor inside a building. In a suspension bridge, the deck hangs below the main cables via hangers.
Often confused with: span, hanger, reinforced concrete
◆ hanger
A vertical cable connecting the main suspension cable of a bridge down to the bridge deck, transferring the deck's weight upward to the cable.
Register: technical
Common collocations: bridge hanger, vertical hanger, steel hanger, hanger cable
Example: Dozens of steel hangers connect the main cable to the bridge deck, spreading the load evenly.
Usage notes: In bridge engineering, always refers to the vertical connecting cables — not the curved main cable (that is the suspension cable). Everyday uses of this word (coat hanger, aircraft hangar — different spelling) are unrelated.
Often confused with: suspension cable, catenary, pylon
◆ timber frame
The structural skeleton of a building made from sawn wooden beams and posts, which supports walls, floors, and the roof.
Register: technical
Common collocations: timber frame construction, erect a timber frame, timber frame house, traditional timber frame
Example: The timber frame of the new house was visible before the brickwork was added around it.
Usage notes: Refers to the wooden structural skeleton, not the finished walls. Common in residential construction. Compare with 'rafter', which is a specific element within the frame (roof only). Often hyphenated as a modifier: 'a timber-frame building'.
Often confused with: rafter, lumber, scaffolding
◆ rafter
One of the sloping wooden beams that run from the ridge of a roof down to the wall plate, forming the roof's framework.
Register: technical
Common collocations: roof rafter, exposed rafter, rafter beam, install rafters, timber rafter
Example: You could see the rafters clearly before the roof tiles were laid on top.
Usage notes: Always refers to roof beams specifically — not walls or floors. Usually seen in plural ('the rafters') because a roof requires many of them working together. Part of the broader timber frame of a building.
Often confused with: timber frame, lumber, brickwork
◆ concrete block
A rectangular block made from concrete, used to build walls — similar in shape to a brick but larger and made from a different material.
Register: neutral
Common collocations: lay concrete blocks, concrete block wall, breeze block, concrete block construction
Example: The workers laid concrete blocks to build the outer walls of the new warehouse.
Usage notes: In British English, also commonly called a 'breeze block'. Larger and heavier than a fired clay brick. Often used for load-bearing walls in commercial or industrial buildings. Always used with 'lay' as the construction verb.
Often confused with: brickwork, masonry, reinforced concrete
◆ brickwork
The part of a structure built from individual fired clay bricks laid in overlapping rows and bonded together with mortar.
Register: neutral
Common collocations: exposed brickwork, decorative brickwork, brickwork wall, lay brickwork, pointing brickwork
Example: The brickwork on the lower floors was complete, but the upper levels were still being built.
Usage notes: Uncountable noun — no plural form. Refers to the finished construction, not the bricks themselves. Similar to 'masonry' but specifically implies clay bricks, whereas masonry can include stone or concrete blocks.
Often confused with: masonry, concrete block, mortar
◆ concrete mixer
A machine with a rotating drum, used on construction sites to combine cement, sand, water, and aggregate into wet concrete ready for pouring.
Register: neutral
Common collocations: portable concrete mixer, operate a concrete mixer, load a concrete mixer, concrete mixer drum
Example: The builder loaded sand, cement, and water into the concrete mixer to prepare the foundation.
Usage notes: Refers to the portable site machine, not large factory mixing plants or the lorries (called 'cement mixers' or 'ready-mix trucks') that deliver pre-mixed concrete. A key piece of equipment on smaller residential construction sites.
Often confused with: wheelbarrow, reinforced concrete, crane
◆ suspended platform
A work platform hung from cables or a structure above, giving workers access to high or difficult-to-reach areas of a building or bridge.
Register: technical
Common collocations: suspended work platform, lower a suspended platform, access via suspended platform, suspended scaffolding platform
Example: The engineers used a suspended platform to inspect and work on the underside of the bridge deck.
Usage notes: Different from fixed scaffolding in that it can be raised and lowered. Commonly used on bridge maintenance and high-rise building work. 'Suspended' is key — the platform hangs rather than stands on supports.
Often confused with: scaffolding, hanger, elevated
◆ high-visibility vest
A brightly coloured garment (usually yellow or orange) worn over clothing by construction workers so they can be clearly seen on a busy or dangerous site.
Register: neutral
Common collocations: wear a high-visibility vest, safety vest, reflective vest, hi-vis clothing
Example: All workers on the construction site were required to wear a high-visibility vest at all times.
Usage notes: Commonly shortened to 'hi-vis vest' or 'hi-viz' in everyday British English. Always worn as a safety requirement on construction sites, roads, and warehouses. Often used together with 'hard hat' as a pair of mandatory safety items.
Often confused with: hard hat, site barrier, workforce
◆ hard hat
A rigid protective helmet worn on construction sites to protect the head from falling objects, debris, or contact with overhead structures.
Register: neutral
Common collocations: wear a hard hat, safety hard hat, construction hard hat, hard hat zone
Example: You must put on a hard hat before entering the construction site.
Usage notes: Standard safety equipment on all construction sites in most countries — wearing one is a legal requirement in many jurisdictions. Often mentioned alongside 'high-visibility vest' as compulsory personal protective equipment (PPE).
Often confused with: high-visibility vest, site barrier, scaffolding
◆ crane
A large machine with a long horizontal arm, used on construction sites to lift and move very heavy materials and components to height.
Register: neutral
Common collocations: tower crane, operate a crane, crane operator, crane lift, mobile crane
Example: The crane lifted the steel beams into position on the upper floors of the building.
Usage notes: The word also refers to a type of bird (a large wading bird), so context is important. On construction sites, 'tower crane' refers to the tall fixed type, while 'mobile crane' can move around the site.
Often confused with: scaffolding, suspended platform, concrete mixer
◆ wheelbarrow
A small, open cart with a single wheel at the front and two handles at the back, used on construction sites to carry loose materials such as sand, rubble, or wet concrete.
Register: neutral
Common collocations: push a wheelbarrow, load a wheelbarrow, tip a wheelbarrow, wheelbarrow of sand
Example: The labourer used a wheelbarrow to move the rubble from the demolition area to the skip.
Usage notes: Always one word. Distinct from larger motorised equipment — it is pushed by hand and used for small-scale material transport. Very common on residential construction sites.
Often confused with: concrete mixer, crane, lumber
◆ reinforced concrete
Concrete that has been strengthened by embedding steel bars or mesh inside it, combining concrete's ability to resist crushing with steel's ability to resist bending.
Register: technical
Common collocations: reinforced concrete structure, pour reinforced concrete, reinforced concrete beam, reinforced concrete foundation, reinforced concrete slab
Example: The bridge pylon was built from reinforced concrete to withstand enormous loads.
Usage notes: Always two words — 'reinforced' is an adjective describing the type of concrete. The steel inside is called 'rebar' (reinforcing bar). Uncountable noun — no plural form. Used in both bridge and building construction.
Often confused with: concrete block, masonry, civil engineering
◆ civil engineering
The branch of engineering concerned with designing and building large public infrastructure such as bridges, roads, tunnels, and dams.
Register: formal
Common collocations: civil engineering project, civil engineering firm, study civil engineering, civil engineering works, civil engineering graduate
Example: The construction of a suspension bridge is one of the greatest challenges in civil engineering.
Usage notes: Used as an uncountable noun when referring to the discipline. 'Civil' here does not mean 'polite' — it derives from Latin 'civilis' (relating to citizens). Distinct from mechanical, electrical, or structural engineering, though these fields overlap on large projects.
Often confused with: masonry, reinforced concrete, span
◆ span
To extend across a distance or gap — used especially to describe a bridge reaching from one side to the other across a river, valley, or road.
General meaning: As a noun, 'span' also means the total distance a bridge covers from one end to the other.
Register: formal
Common collocations: span a river, span a gap, span a distance, span hundreds of metres
Example: The new bridge will span the river at its widest point.
Usage notes: Used both as a verb (the bridge spans the river) and as a noun (a span of 500 metres). As a verb, typically followed by a noun referring to what is crossed. Also used figuratively for time: 'a career spanning 30 years'.
Often confused with: bridge deck, suspend, elevated
◆ erect
To build or put up a structure, particularly a tall or complex one such as scaffolding, a framework, or a tower.
Register: formal
Common collocations: erect scaffolding, erect a structure, erect a framework, erect a pylon, erect barriers
Example: The construction team began to erect scaffolding around the entire building.
Usage notes: More formal than 'build' or 'put up'. Often used for structures that are assembled from separate components and raised upright. Typically followed by a direct object. Common in formal reports, planning documents, and technical descriptions.
Often confused with: build, suspend, lay
◆ suspend
To hang something from a fixed point above so that it hangs freely in the air without resting on the ground.
Register: formal
Common collocations: suspend a cable, suspend a platform, suspend the deck, suspend from above, suspend in the air
Example: The engineers chose to suspend the bridge deck from the main cables using vertical hangers.
Usage notes: Followed by 'from' to indicate what the object hangs from: 'suspended from the cables'. The adjective form 'suspended' is very common in this construction context. Also has a completely different meaning in other contexts (to suspend a student = to temporarily ban them from school).
Often confused with: erect, elevated, hanger
◆ lay
To place bricks, blocks, tiles, or cables flat in position one by one as part of building a wall, surface, or structure.
Register: neutral
Common collocations: lay bricks, lay concrete blocks, lay cables, lay foundations, lay tiles, lay pipes
Example: The bricklayer worked steadily to lay each row of bricks perfectly level.
Usage notes: Takes a direct object — you always lay SOMETHING. Do not confuse with 'lie' (to recline), which is intransitive and does not take an object. Common learner error: 'He lied the bricks' — incorrect. Past tense and past participle are both 'laid'.
Often confused with: erect, suspend, brickwork
◆ residential
Relating to housing and the areas where people live, as opposed to commercial, industrial, or public areas.
Register: neutral
Common collocations: residential area, residential building, residential construction, residential development, residential street
Example: The timber-frame construction method is common in residential buildings but less often used for large commercial structures.
Usage notes: Attributive adjective — comes before the noun it describes: 'a residential area', not 'an area that is residential' (though predicative use is possible). Contrasts with 'commercial' (shops, offices) and 'industrial' (factories, warehouses).
Often confused with: civil engineering, workforce, site barrier
◆ partially built
Describing a structure that is still under construction and not yet finished — some parts are complete but the building as a whole is incomplete.
Register: neutral
Common collocations: partially built structure, partially built bridge, partially built house, partially completed
Example: The image shows a partially built house with the timber frame visible but no roof yet in place.
Usage notes: A compound adjective made from an adverb ('partially') and a past participle ('built'). 'Partially' means 'not completely' — it is more precise than 'half-built', which implies exactly 50% completion. Synonymous with 'under construction' in many contexts.
Often confused with: elevated, under construction, timber frame
◆ elevated
Raised above the surrounding ground level or normal height — used to describe structures, roads, or platforms that are positioned higher than usual.
Register: neutral
Common collocations: elevated structure, elevated platform, elevated road, elevated bridge deck, elevated position
Example: The workers on the elevated section of the bridge had a clear view of the entire construction site below.
Usage notes: Used as an attributive adjective before a noun ('an elevated platform') or predicatively after a verb ('the platform is elevated'). Also used figuratively to mean 'high in status' or 'raised in tone', but in construction contexts always refers to physical height.
Often confused with: suspended platform, span, partially built
◆ workforce
All the workers employed on a construction site or project at a particular time, considered as a group.
Register: neutral
Common collocations: skilled workforce, site workforce, employ a workforce, manage a workforce, construction workforce
Example: The construction company needed a large workforce to complete the bridge within the agreed deadline.
Usage notes: Usually singular even when referring to many people: 'The workforce is on site' (not 'are', in formal British English, though plural agreement is also used colloquially). Broader than 'team' — refers to all workers, not a specific group.
Often confused with: site barrier, residential, civil engineering
◆ site barrier
A portable fence or panel placed around the perimeter of a construction site to mark its boundaries and prevent unauthorised people from entering.
Register: technical
Common collocations: erect a site barrier, temporary site barrier, site barrier panels, install site barriers
Example: Site barriers surrounded the construction area to protect pedestrians from falling debris.
Usage notes: Refers specifically to the temporary fencing around a construction site — not permanent walls or barriers. Often made of steel panels or plastic mesh. Sometimes called 'hoarding' (a solid wooden or metal fence) or 'temporary fencing' in wider British English usage.
Often confused with: scaffolding, high-visibility vest, hard hat
◆ lumber
Sawn timber cut into planks or beams and ready for use in construction (the standard term in American English; British English prefers 'timber').
Register: neutral
Common collocations: lumber yard, stack of lumber, cut lumber, structural lumber, lumber supply
Example: Stacks of lumber were delivered to the site ready for the carpenters to begin framing the walls.
Usage notes: Uncountable noun in this construction meaning — no plural form. Primarily American English; British English speakers use 'timber' for the same meaning. In British English, 'lumber' has a different meaning — to move heavily and clumsily, or to burden someone with an unwanted task.
Often confused with: timber frame, rafter, masonry
◆ catenary
The natural curved shape that a heavy cable or chain forms when it hangs freely between two fixed points under its own weight.
Register: technical
Common collocations: catenary curve, catenary shape, catenary cable, natural catenary, catenary arch
Example: The main cables of the bridge hung in a natural catenary between the two pylons.
Usage notes: A technical mathematics and engineering term — unlikely to appear in everyday conversation. In bridge engineering, the main cables approximate a catenary shape under their own weight. Useful for describing the visible curved droop of suspension cables.
Often confused with: suspension cable, hanger, span
◆ masonry
The craft or result of constructing walls and structures using stone, brick, or concrete blocks bonded together with mortar.
Register: technical
Common collocations: masonry wall, stone masonry, brick masonry, masonry construction, load-bearing masonry
Example: The lower part of the structure was built using traditional masonry, while the upper sections used a steel frame.
Usage notes: Uncountable noun — no plural form. Broader than 'brickwork' because it includes stone and concrete block construction, not just clay bricks. A 'mason' is the skilled worker who performs masonry. Can refer to both the technique and the finished wall or structure.
Often confused with: brickwork, concrete block, reinforced concrete
✍️ First look
Before you start the tasks, write what you can see in your own words — no help, no notes. You will come back to this later and see how much your writing has improved.
Task 1 · First Look: What Can You See?Vocabulary
👀 Look at both images
Look at both images. In no more than 60 words, describe what you can see in Image A and Image B.
Language focus: general description
0 words / ~60 target
1Showing Big and Small Differences: Comparative Adjectives with Modifiers→ Task 2
Step 1 · Showing Big and Small Differences: Comparative Adjectives with Modifiers
🔧 Grammar — comparative adjectives, modifiers for comparative adjectivesTo do this task, you need comparative adjectives and modifiers. A modifier tells the reader how big the difference is. Use much, far, or a lot for a big difference. Use slightly or a little for a small difference. Always use than after the comparative adjective. Look at these examples from the two images. Image B is far more complex than Image A — this is a very big difference. The workforce in Image B is a lot larger than in Image A — fifteen workers compared to three. The suspended platforms are slightly higher than the roof level in Image A — a small difference. Be careful: do not use very with a comparative. Say much larger, not very larger. Also, do not double-mark: say much better, not much more better. Open the Compare toggle for more patterns, then write your 5–7 sentences.
much / far / a lot + comparative adjective + than | slightly / a little + comparative adjective + than
- Image B is far more complex than Image A.
- The workforce in Image B is a lot larger than the three workers in Image A.
- The suspended platforms are slightly higher than the roof level in Image A.
⚠️ Watch out: Image B is very more industrial than Image A. → Image B is much more industrial than Image A. — very cannot modify a comparative — use much, far, or a lot instead
💬 Dialogue 1: Help with Task two — Bigger, Taller, More Complex: Comparing the Two Sites
Sofia wants to write her comparison paragraph but is not sure how to use the modifiers correctly with comparative adjectives.
Sofia: “Hi Jenny, can you help me with Task two? I need to compare the two images, but I am not sure how to show that some differences are big and some are small.”
Jenny: “Of course. The task wants you to use a modifier before your comparative adjective. A modifier is a word that tells the reader how big or small the difference is. So you do not just say something is bigger — you say how much bigger it is.”
Sofia: “OK, so the modifier goes before the comparative adjective? Like before words ending in -er, or before more?”
Jenny: “Exactly right. Open the compare toggle on the page and you will find the modifiers listed there. For a big difference, use much or far. For a small difference, use slightly or a little. Now look at the two sites — the number of workers is a very big difference between the images, and the platform height is a smaller one. Which modifier would you use for the workers?”
Sofia: “I think I would use much or far, because the difference in the number of workers is very big. So — the workforce in Image B is far larger than in Image A?”
Jenny: “That is a good sentence. You can make it even stronger by adding detail. Here is one example that is true of the picture: the workforce in Image B is a lot larger than the three workers in Image A. The phrase a lot works the same way as much and far — it shows a big difference. Now try writing a sentence about the whole site. What is your impression of Image B compared to Image A?”
Sofia: “OK, I will try. Image B is very more industrial than Image A because it has cranes and a large workforce on the bridge deck.”
Jenny: “Good idea, but watch out — we cannot put very before a comparative adjective. Very works before a base adjective, like very industrial, but not before more industrial. Use much or far instead. So the corrected sentence is: Image B is far more industrial than Image A because it has cranes and a large workforce on the bridge deck.”
Sofia: “I see — very industrial is fine, but very more industrial is wrong. I need much or far before more. Can I try a sentence with a small difference now? The suspended platforms in Image B are slightly higher than the roof level in Image A.”
Jenny: “That is exactly right. Slightly shows the reader that the difference is there, but it is not dramatic. You could also say a little higher and the meaning would be the same. So you now have four modifiers to work with: much, far, and a lot for big differences, and slightly and a little for small ones. The one rule to keep in mind is this — never use very before a comparative. Use it only before a base adjective.”
Sofia: “Thank you. So I check two things: first, is the difference big or small, and then I choose the right modifier. I will go through the rest of my sentences now.”
Jenny: “That is a good way to approach it. Check the difference first, then choose the modifier. Keep going with that confidence.”
🧰 Open the 'Compare' toggle for a full list of comparative adjectives and modifiers you can use.
→ Now write 5–7 sentences comparing the scale, height, equipment, and number of workers in the two images.
⇄ Comparing Image A and Image B
In both images
active construction work in progressworkers wearing high-visibility vests and hard hatsscaffolding systems visibleblue sky backgroundgrey concrete as a primary structural materialdaytime natural lightingconstruction equipment and machinery presentmultiple workers visible
Only in Image A
timber roof frame and raftersbrick and concrete block wall constructionconcrete mixerwheelbarrowred plastic site barriersstacked lumberstacked brickscement bagstoolboxesresidential suburban settingladder leaning against scaffoldingneighbouring houses and trees
Only in Image B
suspension bridge pylonsmain suspension cablesvertical hanger cablesbridge deck spanning over watersuspended work platformsyellow hydraulic cranes on deckopen water beneath structuresupport boats on watercoastal hillside in backgroundmultiple bridge spans receding into distanceconstruction vehicles on deck
Differences
- Image A shows a small domestic structure, whereas Image B shows a massive civil engineering project spanning open water.
- Image A is set in a suburban neighbourhood on land, while Image B is located over a wide body of water.
- Image A features timber framing and brick, whereas Image B is dominated by reinforced concrete and steel cable.
- Workers in Image A are at most two storeys high, whereas in Image B they operate at great heights above the water on pylons and suspended platforms.
- Image A relies on small-scale equipment such as a concrete mixer, whereas Image B employs large cranes and heavy machinery.
- Image A shows three workers, whereas Image B shows a much larger workforce spread across the deck and pylons.
- Image A uses conventional load-bearing wall construction, whereas Image B uses a suspension cable system.
- Image A shows bricklaying and carpentry, whereas Image B shows large-scale deck assembly and cable rigging.
Useful comparing language
whereaswhilein contrast tomuch larger thanfar more workers thanboth sites featureunlike Image A, Image B showssimilar in that bothon a much greater scale thanin comparison with
Task 2 · Bigger, Taller, More Complex: Comparing the Two SitesGrammar
👀 Look at both images
Compare Image A and Image B. Write 5–7 sentences. Focus on differences in scale, height, equipment, and number of workers. Use comparative adjectives with modifiers such as much, far, a lot, slightly, and a little to show how big or small the differences are. For example: 'Image B is much larger than Image A.'
Language focus: comparative adjectives, modifiers for comparative adjectives
0 words / ~90 target
2Similarities and Differences: Both, Neither, Whereas, and While→ Task 3
Step 2 · Similarities and Differences: Both, Neither, Whereas, and While
🔧 Grammar — both and neither with noun phrases; contrast conjunctions whereas and whileTo do this task, you need four useful words: both, neither, whereas, and while. Use both when something is true in Image A and Image B. Use neither when something is true in neither image. Use whereas or while to contrast two different things in one sentence. Both sites have scaffolding — this is a similarity. Image A has a concrete mixer, whereas Image B does not — this is a difference. Image A is set on land, while Image B is located over open water — another contrast. Both and neither come before a noun phrase. Whereas and while connect two contrasting clauses. Be careful: do not use whereas at the start of a sentence without a second clause to contrast it with. Open the ‘Compare’ toggle for more examples, then write your 4–6 sentences.
Both + noun phrase + verb | Neither + noun phrase + verb | clause + whereas / while + contrasting clause
- Both sites have scaffolding erected around the structure.
- Image A relies on a concrete mixer and a wheelbarrow, whereas Image B uses large cranes and heavy machinery.
- Image A is set in a suburban neighbourhood, while Image B is located over a wide body of water.
⚠️ Watch out: Whereas Image B is larger. → Image A is small, whereas Image B is much larger. — whereas must connect two clauses — it cannot stand alone with only one idea
🧰 Open the 'Compare' toggle for more sentence frames using both, neither, whereas, and while.
→ Now write 4–6 sentences about what the two sites share and what is different — use all four of the words above.
⇄ Comparing Image A and Image B
In both images
active construction work in progressworkers wearing high-visibility vests and hard hatsscaffolding systems visibleblue sky backgroundgrey concrete as a primary structural materialdaytime natural lightingconstruction equipment and machinery presentmultiple workers visible
Only in Image A
timber roof frame and raftersbrick and concrete block wall constructionconcrete mixerwheelbarrowred plastic site barriersstacked lumberstacked brickscement bagstoolboxesresidential suburban settingladder leaning against scaffoldingneighbouring houses and trees
Only in Image B
suspension bridge pylonsmain suspension cablesvertical hanger cablesbridge deck spanning over watersuspended work platformsyellow hydraulic cranes on deckopen water beneath structuresupport boats on watercoastal hillside in backgroundmultiple bridge spans receding into distanceconstruction vehicles on deck
Differences
- Image A shows a small domestic structure, whereas Image B shows a massive civil engineering project spanning open water.
- Image A is set in a suburban neighbourhood on land, while Image B is located over a wide body of water.
- Image A features timber framing and brick, whereas Image B is dominated by reinforced concrete and steel cable.
- Workers in Image A are at most two storeys high, whereas in Image B they operate at great heights above the water on pylons and suspended platforms.
- Image A relies on small-scale equipment such as a concrete mixer, whereas Image B employs large cranes and heavy machinery.
- Image A shows three workers, whereas Image B shows a much larger workforce spread across the deck and pylons.
- Image A uses conventional load-bearing wall construction, whereas Image B uses a suspension cable system.
- Image A shows bricklaying and carpentry, whereas Image B shows large-scale deck assembly and cable rigging.
Useful comparing language
whereaswhilein contrast tomuch larger thanfar more workers thanboth sites featureunlike Image A, Image B showssimilar in that bothon a much greater scale thanin comparison with
Task 3 · What They Share — and What They Don'tGrammar
👀 Look at both images
Look at both images. Write 4–6 sentences about what the two sites have in common and what is only in one of them. Use both, neither, whereas, and while to connect your ideas. For example: 'Both sites have scaffolding.' or 'Image A has a concrete mixer, whereas Image B does not.'
Language focus: both / neither / whereas / while for similarities and differences
0 words / ~80 target
3Describing Materials and Colours: Is Made Of and Is Built From→ Task 4
Step 3 · Describing Materials and Colours: Is Made Of and Is Built From
🔧 Grammar — describe_with_passives: is made of, is built from, is covered inTo do this task, you need to describe what things are made of and what colour they are. Use is made of or is built from before the material. Put the colour adjective before the noun. Look at these examples from the images. The pylon is made of reinforced concrete and is grey. The roof frame is built from timber and is pale tan in colour. The suspension cables are made of steel and hang in diagonal lines between the pylons. Colour adjectives come first: grey concrete block wall, yellow hydraulic crane, red brick coursework. Be careful: do not confuse made of and made from — both are correct, but is made of is more common for describing materials you can still see. Open the ‘Palette’ toggle for colour and material words, then write your five sentences.
Object + is made of / is built from + material | colour adjective + noun
- The pylon is made of reinforced concrete and is grey.
- The roof frame is built from timber.
- The suspension cables are made of steel and hang diagonally between the pylons.
⚠️ Watch out: The wall is make of concrete block. → The wall is made of concrete block. — is made of uses the past participle made, not the base form make
🧰 Open the 'Palette' toggle for a full list of colour and material adjectives from both images.
→ Now choose five objects — at least two from each image — and write one sentence about the colour and material of each one.
🎨 Language palette
Two active construction sites at vastly different scales — a modest residential house and a large suspension bridge — both captured during daylight with workers, scaffolding, and structural materials prominently visible.
The things you must name
pylonscaffoldingdeckframecableworker
Useful supporting words
cranewallbrickworkmixerplatformbarrierladderrafterhanger
In the background
hillsidewaterskyboatvehiclelumbertoolboxbag
Describing words — Colour
greyred-orangeyellowpale tanwhiteblueorange
Describing words — Size and shape
tallwidemulti-storeylarge-scalehorizontalverticaldiagonalrectangular
Describing words — Texture and material
concretetimbersteelbrickreinforcedsawncastmodular
Describing words — Condition
partially builtunder constructionassembledsuspendederectedincomplete
Describing words — Overall feel
busyactiveindustriallarge-scalecluttered
Saying where things are
above the deckbelow the bridge deckaround the buildingon the bridge deckfrom the pylon topsleaning against the scaffolding
More position phrases
along the perimeterbeside the mixeracross the deck surfaceon the water belowreceding into the distance
What things are doing
risesspanshangsleansstandsextendsrecedessitsis suspendedis erectedis laidis assembled
Words that go together
reinforced concrete pylonsuspension cable systemtimber roof framered brick courseworkhigh-visibility vestbridge deck surfacesuspended work platformyellow hydraulic craneconcrete block wallerected scaffoldingstacked lumberrotating concrete mixervertical hanger cablemodular scaffold frame
Compound nouns
roof framebridge deckwork platformsite barrierhard hathigh-visibility vestconcrete mixersuspension cablehanger cablewindow opening
Task 4 · Materials and Colours: What Are They Made Of?Vocabulary
👀 Look at both images
Look at both images. Choose five objects — at least two from Image A and two from Image B. For each one, write a sentence that describes its colour and the material it is made of. For example: 'The scaffolding in Image A is made of grey steel tubes.'
- Choose an object from Image A and describe its colour and material.
- Choose a second object from Image A and describe its colour and material.
- Choose an object from Image B and describe its colour and material.
- Choose a second object from Image B and describe its colour and material.
- Choose any object from either image and describe its colour and material.
Language focus: colour and material adjectives; is made of / is built from
0 words / ~70 target
4Describing Actions Right Now: The Present Continuous→ Task 5
Step 4 · Describing Actions Right Now: The Present Continuous
🔧 Grammar — present continuous for ongoing actionsTo do this task, you need the present continuous tense. Use it to describe what workers are doing at this moment in the image. The form is: subject + is/are + verb-ing. Always say where the worker is as well as what they are doing. One worker is laying bricks at mid-level on the wall. Another worker is working on the timber roof frame at the top of the building. In Image B, workers are standing on suspended platforms attached to the pylons. Use is for one person and are for more than one. Be careful: do not use the present simple for actions you can see happening right now. Say a worker is handling materials, not a worker handles materials. Open the ‘Palette’ toggle for action verbs and location phrases, then write your 5–6 sentences.
subject + is / are + verb-ing + place phrase
- One worker is laying bricks at mid-level on the wall.
- A worker is working on the timber roof frame at the top of the building.
- Workers are standing on suspended platforms attached to the pylons high above the water.
⚠️ Watch out: A worker lays bricks on the wall right now. → A worker is laying bricks on the wall. — for actions visible in the image right now, use is/are + verb-ing, not the present simple
🧰 Open the 'Palette' toggle for action verbs and place phrases to help you say exactly where each worker is.
→ Now write 5–6 sentences about what the workers in both images are doing — describe the action and the location for each one.
🎨 Language palette
Two active construction sites at vastly different scales — a modest residential house and a large suspension bridge — both captured during daylight with workers, scaffolding, and structural materials prominently visible.
The things you must name
pylonscaffoldingdeckframecableworker
Useful supporting words
cranewallbrickworkmixerplatformbarrierladderrafterhanger
In the background
hillsidewaterskyboatvehiclelumbertoolboxbag
Describing words — Colour
greyred-orangeyellowpale tanwhiteblueorange
Describing words — Size and shape
tallwidemulti-storeylarge-scalehorizontalverticaldiagonalrectangular
Describing words — Texture and material
concretetimbersteelbrickreinforcedsawncastmodular
Describing words — Condition
partially builtunder constructionassembledsuspendederectedincomplete
Describing words — Overall feel
busyactiveindustriallarge-scalecluttered
Saying where things are
above the deckbelow the bridge deckaround the buildingon the bridge deckfrom the pylon topsleaning against the scaffolding
More position phrases
along the perimeterbeside the mixeracross the deck surfaceon the water belowreceding into the distance
What things are doing
risesspanshangsleansstandsextendsrecedessitsis suspendedis erectedis laidis assembled
Words that go together
reinforced concrete pylonsuspension cable systemtimber roof framered brick courseworkhigh-visibility vestbridge deck surfacesuspended work platformyellow hydraulic craneconcrete block wallerected scaffoldingstacked lumberrotating concrete mixervertical hanger cablemodular scaffold frame
Compound nouns
roof framebridge deckwork platformsite barrierhard hathigh-visibility vestconcrete mixersuspension cablehanger cablewindow opening
Task 5 · What Are the Workers Doing?Grammar
👀 Look at both images
Look at the workers in both images. Write 5–6 sentences about what they are doing right now. Use the present continuous tense for every action. For example: 'A worker is laying bricks on the wall.' Say where each worker is as well as what they are doing.
Language focus: present continuous for visible ongoing actions
0 words / ~85 target
🏁 Put It All Together
You have practised four things: comparing with adjectives and modifiers, using both and whereas to show similarities and differences, describing materials and colours, and using the present continuous for actions. Now use all of these in one longer description of both images.
- ☐ Use much, far, a lot, slightly, or a little with every comparative adjective.
- ☐ Use both or whereas at least once to connect a similarity or difference.
- ☐ Describe the colour and material of at least two objects.
- ☐ Use the present continuous for every worker action you describe.
Task 6 · Full Description: Bring It All TogetherGrammar
👀 Look at both images
Now describe both images again in 120–160 words. Use what you have learnt: the vocabulary, the describing phrases, and the sentence patterns from the tasks above. Compare the two sites, describe what the workers are doing, mention materials and colours, and show what the sites share and how they differ. Use comparative adjectives with modifiers such as much, far, a lot, slightly, and a little to show the differences clearly.
Language focus: comparative adjectives with modifiers; present continuous; both/whereas/while; colour and material description
0 words / ~140 target
💬 Discussion
• Would you prefer to work on a small residential site like Image A or a large civil engineering project like Image B — and why?
• What do you think is the most important piece of equipment on a construction site — a crane, a concrete mixer, or something else?
• Have you ever seen scaffolding or a suspension cable system near where you live — what was being built?
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Explore Membership Benefits📐 Where things are — positional language for images
📝 Key Vocabulary Recap25 terms from this lesson
◆ the top
The highest part of an image.
Register: neutral
Common collocations: at the top, the top of the image, the top of the frame, along the top
Example: There are clouds at the top of the painting.
Usage notes: Always used with 'at' or 'along' when describing position: 'at the top of the picture.' Not used with 'in' in this context.
Often confused with: the upper half, the top left corner, the top right corner, the foreground
◆ the bottom
The lowest part of an image.
Register: neutral
Common collocations: at the bottom, the bottom of the image, the bottom of the frame, along the bottom
Example: You can see a river at the bottom of the photograph.
Usage notes: Always used with 'at' or 'along' when describing position: 'at the bottom of the picture.' Similar to 'the lower half' but refers to the edge area, not fifty percent of the image.
Often confused with: the lower half, the bottom left corner, the bottom right corner, the foreground
◆ the left
The left side of an image, as the viewer sees it.
Register: neutral
Common collocations: on the left, to the left, on the left side, on the left of the image
Example: There is a tree on the left of the painting.
Usage notes: Used with 'on' or 'to' for position: 'on the left', 'to the left of the subject.' The viewer's left, not the subject's left — important when describing portraits.
Often confused with: the left half, the top left corner, the bottom left corner, the right
◆ the right
The right side of an image, as the viewer sees it.
Register: neutral
Common collocations: on the right, to the right, on the right side, on the right of the image
Example: A woman is standing on the right of the photo.
Usage notes: Used with 'on' or 'to' for position: 'on the right', 'to the right of the subject.' Always the viewer's right, not the subject's.
Often confused with: the right half, the top right corner, the bottom right corner, the left
◆ the centre
The middle area of an image, with equal space around it on all sides.
Register: neutral
Common collocations: in the centre, at the centre, in the centre of the image, dead centre, off-centre
Example: The main subject is placed in the centre of the photograph.
Usage notes: Used with 'in' for position: 'in the centre of the picture.' British spelling is 'centre'; American spelling is 'center.' Related terms 'dead centre' (exactly in the middle) and 'off-centre' (not quite in the middle) are built from this word.
Often confused with: dead centre, off-centre, the middle ground, the frame
◆ the top left corner
The corner of an image where the top edge and the left edge meet.
Register: neutral
Common collocations: in the top left corner, at the top left corner, in the top left corner of the image
Example: There is a small bird in the top left corner of the painting.
Usage notes: Used with 'in' for position: 'in the top left corner.' One of four corners of an image; the others are top right, bottom left, bottom right.
Often confused with: the top right corner, the bottom left corner, the top, the left
◆ the top right corner
The corner of an image where the top edge and the right edge meet.
Register: neutral
Common collocations: in the top right corner, at the top right corner, in the top right corner of the image
Example: The sun appears in the top right corner of the landscape.
Usage notes: Used with 'in' for position: 'in the top right corner.' One of four corners of an image.
Often confused with: the top left corner, the bottom right corner, the top, the right
◆ the bottom left corner
The corner of an image where the bottom edge and the left edge meet.
Register: neutral
Common collocations: in the bottom left corner, at the bottom left corner, in the bottom left corner of the image
Example: The artist signed the painting in the bottom left corner.
Usage notes: Used with 'in' for position: 'in the bottom left corner.' One of four corners of an image.
Often confused with: the bottom right corner, the top left corner, the bottom, the left
◆ the bottom right corner
The corner of an image where the bottom edge and the right edge meet.
Register: neutral
Common collocations: in the bottom right corner, at the bottom right corner, in the bottom right corner of the image
Example: A small boat is visible in the bottom right corner of the photo.
Usage notes: Used with 'in' for position: 'in the bottom right corner.' One of four corners of an image.
Often confused with: the bottom left corner, the top right corner, the bottom, the right
◆ the edge of the frame
The very outer limit of a picture — the line where the image ends.
Register: neutral
Common collocations: at the edge of the frame, near the edge of the frame, cut off at the edge of the frame
Example: Part of the building is cut off at the edge of the frame.
Usage notes: Used with 'at' or 'near': 'at the edge of the frame.' Often used when an object is only partly visible because it reaches the boundary of the image. Similar to 'the frame' but more specific — it refers to the line itself, not the whole border area.
Often confused with: the frame, cropped, the foreground, the background
◆ the foreground
The part of an image that looks closest to you, at the front.
Register: neutral
Common collocations: in the foreground, in the immediate foreground, in the far foreground
Example: There are some large rocks in the foreground of the landscape photo.
Usage notes: Used with 'in': 'in the foreground.' Objects here appear large and clear. The opposite is 'the background.' Between these two is 'the middle ground.'
Often confused with: the background, the middle ground, the distance, the bottom
◆ the middle ground
The area between the front and back of an image — the middle layer of depth.
Register: neutral
Common collocations: in the middle ground, in the midground
Example: A group of people can be seen in the middle ground of the painting.
Usage notes: Used with 'in': 'in the middle ground.' This is one of three depth layers in an image: foreground (front), middle ground (middle), background (back). Less commonly used than the other two, but important for describing paintings and landscapes.
Often confused with: the foreground, the background, the centre, the distance
◆ the background
The part of an image that looks furthest away, at the back.
Register: neutral
Common collocations: in the background, in the far background, fade into the background, blurred background
Example: There are mountains in the background of the photograph.
Usage notes: Used with 'in': 'in the background.' Objects here appear small and less clear. The opposite is 'the foreground.' Do not confuse with 'the distance' — the background is the rear area of the whole image; the distance refers specifically to the area that looks very far away.
Often confused with: the foreground, the middle ground, the distance, the horizon
◆ the distance
The area in an image that looks very far away from the viewer.
Register: neutral
Common collocations: in the distance, far in the distance, visible in the distance
Example: You can see a small village in the distance in the painting.
Usage notes: Always used with 'in': 'in the distance.' Similar to 'the background' but focuses on how far away something looks, not just where it sits in the image. Often used with the verb 'see' or 'make out': 'you can see X in the distance.'
Often confused with: the background, the horizon, the middle ground, the foreground
◆ the horizon
The line in an image where the land or sea appears to meet the sky.
Register: neutral
Common collocations: on the horizon, at the horizon, the horizon line, just above the horizon, below the horizon
Example: A ship is visible on the horizon in this seascape painting.
Usage notes: Used with 'on' or 'at': 'on the horizon.' Most common in outdoor scenes — landscapes, seascapes, and cityscapes. Closely related to 'the skyline', but they are different: the horizon is always a flat line between sky and earth or water; a skyline includes the shapes of buildings or hills seen against the sky.
Often confused with: the skyline, the background, the distance, the vanishing point
◆ the upper half
The top fifty percent of an image.
Register: neutral
Common collocations: in the upper half, the upper half of the image, fills the upper half, dominates the upper half
Example: The sky fills the upper half of the landscape painting.
Usage notes: Used with 'in': 'in the upper half of the image.' Describes exactly fifty percent of the picture from the middle upwards. Similar to 'the top', but 'the top' refers to the area near the top edge, while this phrase refers to the entire upper section.
Often confused with: the top, the lower half, the background, the foreground
◆ the lower half
The bottom fifty percent of an image.
Register: neutral
Common collocations: in the lower half, the lower half of the image, fills the lower half, dominates the lower half
Example: The water covers the lower half of the photograph.
Usage notes: Used with 'in': 'in the lower half of the image.' Describes exactly fifty percent of the picture from the middle downwards. Similar to 'the bottom', but 'the bottom' refers to the area near the bottom edge, while this phrase refers to the entire lower section.
Often confused with: the bottom, the upper half, the foreground, the background
◆ the left half
The left fifty percent of an image, as seen by the viewer.
Register: neutral
Common collocations: in the left half, the left half of the image, fills the left half, dominates the left half
Example: The main figure takes up the left half of the portrait.
Usage notes: Used with 'in': 'in the left half of the image.' Describes exactly fifty percent of the picture from the centre to the left edge. More precise than 'the left', which refers to the general left area rather than exactly half.
Often confused with: the left, the right half, the top left corner, the bottom left corner
◆ the right half
The right fifty percent of an image, as seen by the viewer.
Register: neutral
Common collocations: in the right half, the right half of the image, fills the right half, dominates the right half
Example: The open doorway is in the right half of the painting.
Usage notes: Used with 'in': 'in the right half of the image.' Describes exactly fifty percent of the picture from the centre to the right edge. More precise than 'the right', which refers to the general right area rather than exactly half.
Often confused with: the right, the left half, the top right corner, the bottom right corner
◆ off-centre
Not in the middle of an image — placed to one side.
Register: neutral
Common collocations: slightly off-centre, positioned off-centre, placed off-centre
Example: The subject is slightly off-centre, which makes the photo more interesting.
Usage notes: Used as an adjective after a verb: 'the subject is off-centre.' The opposite is 'dead centre.' A small but important difference: 'off-centre' means not quite in the middle; 'dead centre' means exactly in the middle.
Often confused with: dead centre, the centre, the left, the right
◆ dead centre
Positioned exactly in the middle of an image, with equal space on all sides.
Register: neutral
Common collocations: placed dead centre, positioned dead centre, sits dead centre
Example: The tower is placed dead centre in this photograph.
Usage notes: The word 'dead' here means 'exactly' or 'perfectly' — it makes the meaning stronger. Used as an adverb-adjective pair after a verb. The opposite is 'off-centre'. Do not confuse with 'the centre', which is a noun naming the middle area; this phrase describes being perfectly positioned there.
Often confused with: off-centre, the centre, the middle ground, the frame
◆ cropped
Describes an image that has had its edges cut to show only part of the original.
Register: neutral
Common collocations: tightly cropped, heavily cropped, closely cropped, cropped image, cropped photo
Example: The figure on the right is cropped — you can only see half of her body.
Usage notes: Used as an adjective: 'the image is cropped', or 'a cropped photo.' It can also be used as a verb: 'the photographer cropped the image.' Often used when part of a subject is cut off at the edge of the frame.
Often confused with: the edge of the frame, the frame, off-centre, the foreground
◆ the vanishing point
The point in an image where lines that are parallel appear to meet, making the scene look deep and far away.
Register: technical
Common collocations: at the vanishing point, the vanishing point is on the horizon, converge at the vanishing point, single vanishing point
Example: The road in the painting leads the eye to the vanishing point in the distance.
Usage notes: Used with 'at': 'at the vanishing point.' Common in art and photography discussions. Often found on or near the horizon line in outdoor scenes. A technical term from art and perspective drawing, but useful for describing paintings and photographs.
Often confused with: the horizon, the distance, the background, the centre
◆ the skyline
The shape made by buildings, hills, or trees seen against the sky in an image.
Register: neutral
Common collocations: the city skyline, a dramatic skyline, on the skyline, silhouetted against the skyline, the skyline of
Example: The city skyline is visible in the background of the photograph.
Usage notes: Used with 'on' or 'against': 'on the skyline', 'against the skyline.' Similar to 'the horizon' but different in an important way — the horizon is a flat line between sky and earth or water; a skyline has a jagged or uneven outline created by buildings, trees, or hills. A skyline can only exist where there are objects rising above the ground level.
Often confused with: the horizon, the background, the distance, the upper half
◆ the frame
The total area of an image — everything that is visible in the picture.
Register: neutral
Common collocations: within the frame, fill the frame, inside the frame, outside the frame, enter the frame, leave the frame
Example: The tree fills almost the entire frame of the photograph.
Usage notes: Used with 'within', 'inside', or 'fill': 'within the frame', 'fill the frame.' Similar to 'the edge of the frame' but different — 'the frame' refers to the whole visible area of the image, while 'the edge of the frame' refers specifically to the outer boundary line where the image ends.
Often confused with: the edge of the frame, cropped, the foreground, the centre