Describe a Gift You Would Like to Buy for Your Friend 🎁✨

Suggested Ideas for Each Part

  • When it happened

    • On my best friend’s birthday last year 🎂
    • Before my friend moved abroad ✈️
    • During a special occasion like graduation 🎓
  • What gift it was 🎁

    • A personalized photo album full of our memories 📸
    • A smartwatch to help with fitness goals
    • A book by their favorite author 📖
  • Who you gave it to 👤

    • My childhood best friend 👫
    • A close colleague who supported me at work 🤝
    • My cousin, who is like a sister to me 💕
  • Why you chose that gift 🎀

    • It had sentimental value and showed our friendship ❤️
    • It was something they had been wanting for a long time
    • It was useful and meaningful for their future 🚀

Useful Grammar Structures

  1. Past Simple & Past Continuous for storytelling

    • I was browsing through a shopping mall when I came across the perfect gift.
    • Last year, my friend turned 25, so I decided to buy something special for her.
  2. Relative Clauses for additional details

    • The book, which was written by their favorite author, was the perfect gift.
  3. Conditionals for reflection

    • If I had more money, I would have bought something even more special.
  4. Comparatives for describing gift choices

    • A smartwatch is more practical than a regular watch.

Collocations & Vietnamese Translations

  1. A thoughtful gift 🎁 (món quà chu đáo)
  2. A sentimental value 💖 (giá trị tinh thần)
  3. Go the extra mile 🏃 (cố gắng hết sức để làm điều gì đó tốt hơn)
  4. Make someone’s day 😊 (khiến ai đó vui cả ngày)
  5. A token of appreciation 🎖️ (món quà thể hiện sự trân trọng)
  6. Wrap up nicely 🎀 (gói quà đẹp đẽ)
  7. A memorable present 🎊 (món quà đáng nhớ)

Full Sample Answer (2 Minutes)

One of the most special gifts I have ever bought for a friend was a personalized photo album full of our memories together. It was for my best friend’s birthday last year, and I wanted to give her something that had sentimental value 💖 rather than just something expensive.

I remember I was browsing through an online gift shop when I came across the idea of a custom-made photo album. Since we had been friends for over 10 years, we had countless pictures together from school trips, birthdays, and late-night study sessions. I carefully selected the best moments and added little notes to each picture. To make it even more special, I included a heartfelt letter at the end of the album, expressing my gratitude for our friendship.

When I finally gave her the album, she was so surprised and even teared up a little. She told me it was one of the most meaningful gifts she had ever received. Seeing her reaction truly made my day 😊 and reminded me that gifts don’t have to be expensive to be valuable. If I had chosen something like jewelry, it wouldn’t have been as personal and touching. This experience taught me that the best gifts are the ones that come from the heart.

Part 3: Discussion Questions & Sample Answers

1. When do people normally send gifts to others? 🎉🎁

Ideas

  • On special occasions like birthdays, weddings, and graduations
  • During festivals such as Tết or Christmas
  • As a way to show appreciation or apologize

Collocations

  1. A heartfelt gesture ❤️ (hành động chân thành)
  2. Mark a special occasion 📅 (đánh dấu một dịp đặc biệt)
  3. A token of gratitude 🙏 (một món quà thể hiện lòng biết ơn)

Sample Answer

People usually send gifts on special occasions, such as birthdays, weddings, or graduations, to mark a special occasion 📅. In Vietnam, it is also common to exchange gifts during traditional festivals like Tết as a heartfelt gesture ❤️ of respect and good wishes. Sometimes, people give gifts to express appreciation or even as a token of gratitude 🙏 when someone has helped them.

2. Do people give gifts or red packets on traditional festivals? 🧧🎁

Ideas

  • Red packets (lì xì) are given during Lunar New Year, mainly to children
  • Gifts like food baskets or tea sets are exchanged among families and colleagues
  • Red packets symbolize good luck, while gifts show thoughtfulness

Collocations

  1. Symbolize prosperity and good fortune 🍀 (tượng trưng cho sự thịnh vượng và may mắn)
  2. A long-standing tradition 🏮 (một truyền thống lâu đời)
  3. A meaningful token 🎗️ (một món quà mang ý nghĩa đặc biệt)

Sample Answer

In Vietnam, people usually give red packets, or lì xì, during Tết as a way to symbolize prosperity and good fortune 🍀, especially to children and elderly family members. However, gifts are also popular, especially among colleagues and business partners. Giving tea sets, fruit baskets, or local delicacies is a long-standing tradition 🏮 that shows respect and good wishes. Whether it’s money or a gift, the most important thing is the thought behind it, making it a meaningful token 🎗️.

3. Is it easy to choose clothes as gifts? 👕🎀

Ideas

  • Not easy because size, style, and color preferences vary
  • Safer to choose accessories like scarves or watches
  • Some people prefer giving gift cards instead

Collocations

  1. A tricky choice 🤔 (một lựa chọn khó khăn)
  2. Fit someone’s personal style 👗 (phù hợp với phong cách cá nhân của ai đó)
  3. Play it safe 🎯 (chọn cách an toàn hơn)

Sample Answer

Buying clothes as gifts can be a tricky choice 🤔 because it’s hard to guess someone’s size or whether it will fit their personal style 👗. If the clothes don’t match their taste, they may never wear them. That’s why some people play it safe 🎯 by giving fashion accessories like scarves, bags, or even gift cards instead.

4. Will people feel happy when receiving an expensive gift? 💎💰

Ideas

  • Expensive gifts can be appreciated but not always necessary
  • Thoughtful gifts are often more meaningful than costly ones
  • Some may feel awkward receiving expensive gifts

Collocations

  1. A genuine expression of love/appreciation 💕 (sự thể hiện tình cảm chân thành)
  2. Create unnecessary pressure 🤯 (tạo áp lực không cần thiết)
  3. It’s the thought that counts 🧠 (quan trọng là tấm lòng)

Sample Answer

Receiving an expensive gift can make people happy, especially if it’s a genuine expression of love 💕. However, in some cases, it might create unnecessary pressure 🤯 on the receiver, especially if they feel obligated to return the favor. Personally, I believe it’s the thought that counts 🧠—even a small, meaningful gift can bring more joy than an expensive one.

By admin

Thầy Nguyễn Thanh Bình là 1 giáo viên Tiếng Anh, là đối tác đăng ký thi IELTS chính thức của IDP từ 2017 và PTE của Pearson từ 2025 tại Tiền Giang. Thầy Bình vận hành hệ thống mô phỏng bài thi IELTS tại https://EnglishUps.com