English grammar
It's made of wood — describing an object
Describe an object: what it's made of, its shape, its condition.
From the scene The wooden clue
In short
Use be for size, shape and state: it's small, it's broken. For material, say made of wood or a wooden button.
Your turn
Which one goes with material: made of?
Options: a wooden button · it's made of wood (NOT "it's of wood") · it's small and round
Show answer
material: made of → it's made of wood (NOT "it's of wood")
How it works
Use be to describe both what something is like and what state it's in: it's small, it's old, it's broken.
Good to know
For the material, say made of + material: it's made of wood, NOT "it's of wood". Or put the material before the noun: a wooden button.
size and shape it's small and round
Nuria
Let me see. It's small and round.
¿A ver? Es pequeño y redondo.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Let me see. (blank).
Options: A wooden button · It's small and round · It's made of wood
Show answer
Nuria
Let me see. It's small and round.
¿A ver? Es pequeño y redondo.
material: made of it's made of wood (NOT "it's of wood")
Elena
And it's made of wood. It's not plastic.
Y es de madera. No es de plástico.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
And (blank). It's not plastic.
Options: it's made of wood · it's small and round · a wooden button
Show answer
Elena
And it's made of wood. It's not plastic.
Y es de madera. No es de plástico.
material before the noun a wooden button
its state: same verb, be it's broken
Elena
Yes, and it's broken.
Sí, y está roto.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Yes, and (blank).
Options: it's made of wood · it's broken · it's small and round
Show answer
Elena
Yes, and it's broken.
Sí, y está roto.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| size and shape | it's small and round |
|---|---|
| material: made of | it's made of wood (NOT "it's of wood") |
| material before the noun | a wooden button |
| its state: same verb, be | it's broken |
More lines from the story
- ElenaYes, but mine has gold buttons.Sí, pero el mío tiene botones de oro.
- ElenaFrom an old coat... like the shadow's.De un abrigo viejo... como el de la sombra.
- ElenaLook, Nuria. The button from the stairs.Mira, Nuria. El botón de la escalera.