Talking about age, height and weight

To talk about a person’s age, height and weight we usually use a form of be.

He is eighteen. OR He is eighteen years old.

I am thirty-two. OR I am thirty-two years of age. (NOT I am thirty-two years.)

We do not normally ask ‘What is your age?’ Instead we use the expression ‘How old are you?’

‘How old are you?’ ‘I’m twenty-five.’ OR ‘I’m twenty-five years old.’

She is my age.

Talking about height

In measurements we use tall for people and high for things.

He is nearly six feet tall. (NOT He is nearly six feet high.)
She is the same height as her husband.
He is six feet tall.
That tree is about sixty feet high.

To ask about a person’s height, we use tall, not high.

How tall is he? (NOT How high is he?)
Parts of the body can be long, but not tall.
She has got lovely long legs. (NOT She has got lovely tall legs.)

To talk about weight, we use the verb weigh.

He weighs 90 kilos. (NOT He is weighing 90 kilos.) (NOT He is 90 kilos.) (NOT He is 90 kilos heavy.)

To talk about physical conditions we do not use have + noun. For example, it is wrong to say:
He has six feet.
He has 80 kilos.
He has 19 years.

Share |

More English speaking lessons

How to improve your English speaking skills?
Meeting people
Telephoning
Telling time
Asking about health
Asking people to repeat
Getting people's attention and offering apologies
Names and titles
Wishing people
Saying Thanks
Saying Please
Meals, drinking
Persuading

Subscribe and win a Grammar eBook