If you see these words

- is a tangent
- cuts at exactly one point

or something similar, then the roots are real and equal so b2 - 4ac = 0.

If you see these words

- does not cut/meet
- lies completely above
- lies completely below

or something similar, then there are no real roots so b2 - 4ac < 0.

If you see these words

- cuts at two points

or something similar, then there are two real and distinct roots so b2 - 4ac > 0.

If you see these word

- cuts (but without indication of any other information)

then it can either cut at one point (real and equal) or two points (real and distinct) so b2 - 4ac >= 0.