DEB SCOTTS

FIFTY QUESTION

ACTIVITIES
make questions
?

Beginner to
Advanced

answer questions

information
questions

choice
questions

yes or no
questions

???

???

???

who?

what?

when?

???

???

???

where?

why?

how?

DEB SCOTTS

50
QUESTION
ACTIVITIES

Copyright Notice
Copyright2013 Canadian Resources for ESL, All Rights Reserved
All rights reserved. This book may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, in any form or by any means
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval
system now known or hereafter invented, without permission from the publisher, Canadian Resources
for ESL/ ESL Resources.
This book may be photocopied in part under the following conditions:

1. Purchasing Teacher (One Teacher Permission)

A purchasing teacher is granted permission to photocopy this book for use by his/her ESL/literacy
students only (not for education students). You can be an itinerant teacher at several sites or based
at one site. Photocopies are not for resale.

2. Purchasing School/Address (One Address Permission)

Photocopy permission for one address. The photocopies are for ESL/literacy students (not for
education students) attending classes at the purchasing address only.

Important Notice - Servicing More Than One Address

If these books will service more than one address, contact the publisher for a multi-site license.
thane@eslresources.com
Printed in Canada

Canadian Resources for ESL

15 Ravina Crescent Toronto Ontario Canada M4J 3L9
tel 416-466-7875 toll free tel 866-833-9485
fax 416-466-4383 toll free fax 888-342-7657
www.eslresources.com
email thane@eslresources.com
ISBN 978-1-894799-66-9

Other books by Deb Scott

50 Listening and Speaking Activities for ESL
50 Reading and Writing Activities for ESL
50 Story Boards for ESL - Six Pictures Tell a Story
50 ESL Board Games in a Book
Read more about these books and order at ESLRESOURCES.COM
or email Thane@eslresources.com

Introduction
Too often students get plenty of time to practice answering questions, but not
enough time forming questions and asking them. In this book students will get to
practice making, asking and answering questions.
Lessons in this book are designed to be used in a regular classroom with small
groups of students or in an E.S.L. class or withdrawal situation. All activities have
been tested in North American classrooms as well as in E.F.L. classes in several
other countries. The students found them fun and educational. All the activities
are ready-to-use. The activities can be easily adapted to the vocabulary being
taught in class or with a course textbook being used. Youll find the exercises
ready-to-go and easy-to-use. This book is appropriate for children, teen and
adult ESL students. The levels vary from beginner to advanced. You will be able
to use the lessons as they are, or easily adapt them to specific needs of your students.

About the Author

Deb Scott has 30 years experience in education. She is an elementary teacher
in Winnipeg, Canada, and has taught grades 1 through 9. She has had many E.S.L.
students in her classes over the years. She has also given a number of E.F.L.
in-services to teachers in Thailand.

Dedication
Dedicated to my students in Winnipeg, Canada and Bangkok, Thailand. Many
thanks to my friends Jock McKeen and Ben Wong for all their love and support.

Deb Scott

A Short Lesson About Questions

What is a question?
A statement is a sentence that gives information.
A question is a sentence that asks for information.
Statement: I like apples.
Question: Do you like apples?
Statement: I like oranges.
Question: Do you like oranges?
A written question in English always ends with a question mark. (?)

Basic Question Structure

The basic structure of a question in English is very simple:
auxiliary verb + subject + main verb

auxiliary verb

subject

main verb

Do

you

like

apples?

Are

they

playing

soccer?

Will

Sue

go

to Winnipeg?

Have

you

seen

a horse?

Exception
For the verb be in simple present and simple past, we do not use an auxiliary verb. We simply
reverse the positions of be and subject:
Statement:

She

is

Canadian.

Question:

Is

she

Canadian?

Basic Question Types

There are 3 basic types of questions:
1. Yes/No Questions (the answer to the question is "Yes" or "No")
Answer
Yes or No

auxiliary verb

subject

main verb

Do

you

want

Can

you

swim?

Has

she

finished

her book?

Yes.

Did

they

go

away?

No.

breakfast?

Yes.
No.

Exception: verb be simple present and simple past.

Is

Tom

American?

Yes.

Was

Deb

at work?

No.

2. Question Word Questions (the answer to the question is "Information")

question
word

auxiliary verb

subject

main verb

Answer
Information

Where

do

you

live?

In Paris.

When

will

we

have

Who

did

he

see?

Why

hasn't

Sue

done

dinner?

At 7 p.m.
He saw Sue.

it?

She is too busy.

Exception: verb be simple present and simple past.

Where

is

New York?

In America.

How

was

she?

Very sick.

3. Choice Questions (the answer to the question is "in the question")

Answer
in the
question

auxiliary
verb

subject

main verb

Do

you

want

coffee

or

tea?

Coffee.

Will

we

see

Pam

or

Juan?

Pam.

Did

she

travel

by car

or

plane?

By car.

OR

Exception: verb be simple present and simple past.

verb

subject

OR

Is

your house

small

or

large?

It's large.

Were

they

$20

or

$30?

$30.

CONTENTS (Levels: B = beginner. I = intermediate. A = Advanced.)

PAGE ACTIVITY TIME
# & LEVEL

TITLE

TOPIC

20

YES? NO?

Making & answering yes/no

questions.

B-I

20

INFORMATION QUESTIONS

Asking & answering

information questions.

B-I

20

CHOICE QUESTIONS

Asking & answering choice

questions.

11

B-I

20

QUESTIONS BOARD GAME Everyday activities.

15

B-I

30

READ AND MAKE

QUESTIONS

Renting a house.

17

10

WHO IS ______?

Clothing, the body, & people.

21

15

WHAT IS THE SAME/

DIFFERENT?

Comparisons; dogs, cats, picnics,

children, fishing etc.

26

30

WHAT IS YOUR DAD LIKE? Attributes of family members

or possessions.

29

15

WHERE DO YOU LIKE TO

_______?

Personal preferences for

shopping/travel/entertainment.

31

10

30

DO YOU HAVE ______?

Family, cultural & religious

traditions.

33

11

40

DO YOU LIKE _______?

Food, music, & movies.

37

12

15

WHEN DO ________?

Schedule of activities for a day.

39

13

20

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

The zoo & after school.

44

14

B-I

25

DO YOU HAVE _______?

Things found in a desk, pocket,

backpack or purse.

46

15

15

WHOS THAT?

Describing people.

49

16

20

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE?

Restaurant menu.

53

17

20

HOW DO I GET TO ____?

Maps & directions.

57

18

10

WILL THEY SAY YES?

Small talk.

CONTENTS (Levels: B = beginner. I = intermediate. A = Advanced.)

PAGE ACTIVITY TIME
# & LEVEL

TITLE

TOPIC

59

19

20

WHAT ARE YOU SCARED

OF?

Fears.

61

20

15

HOW DO YOU SHOW?

Gestures, body language &

sounds.

62

21

30

HOW DO YOU ______IN

CANADA?

Services, products &

activities.

64

22

15

WHAT DOES IT COST?

Money & the cost of items.

66

23

15

WHAT DOES A ______

SAY?

Animals & the sounds they

make.

68

24

30

WHERE DO YOU GO TO
_______?

Supplies, services &

appointments.

70

25

30

WHATS NEXT?

Food & simple arithmetic.

74

26

20

DO YOU BELIEVE ____?

Superstitions.

76

27

10

WHO CAN _____? CAN

YOU?

Talents, abilities & skills.

80

28

20

IF YOU COULD ______?

Questions with a choice.

82

29

20

WHAT WOULD YOU DO

IF_____?

What if questions.

84

30

30

WHAT DO WE NEED FOR

THE TRIP?

Items to take on a trip.

87

31

15

CAN I FIND THE

_________?

Services and things in the

community.

90

32

30

WHO, WHAT, WHEN,

WHERE, WHY AND HOW?

Going to the circus, & making

apple pie.

92

33

10

WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE _____?

Childhood or life in a different

place.

94

34

15

SAME AND DIFFERENT

Possessions, also known as

stuff.

PAGE ACTIVITY TIME

# & LEVEL

TITLE

TOPIC

95

35

15

DO YOU THINK YOU ARE

_______ OR NOT?

Personal attributes.

98

36

15

WHAT WAS/IS YOUR JOB? Present or past occupations.

100

37

B-I

15

WHAT IS THE ANSWER?

Job interview & small talk.

103

38

20

HOW DO I FIND IT?

Services in the community.

105

39

15

DO YOU AGREE WITH ME?

DO YOU BELIEVE ___?

Similar beliefs.

107

40

15

ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10?

Like/Dislike Survey: fruit,

beverages, sports/exercise,
meat, & leisure time.

114

41

B-I

30

HAVE YOU GOT THE

________?

How I Feel, The Body, Classroom Actions, & Everyday

Activities.

118

42

30

ARE YOU SICK OR WELL?

Health & body.

120

43

30

WILL YOU CALL BINGO?

Personal information.

123

44

B-I

30

WHO IS YOUR GRANDMOTHER?

Family members &

relationships.

125

45

15

WHICH __________ IS
YOUR
FAVOURITE?

Favourite activities, things &

places.

127

46

15

HOW DO YOU PREFER

________?

Individual preferences.

130

47

20

HAVE YOU EVER ____?

Unique experiences.

131

48

30

WHERE DOES A ________

WORK?

Occupations & places people

work.

133

49

30

WHEN IS __________?

Calendar & ordinal numbers.

136

50

B-I

30

CAN YOU MAKE 5 W AND

1 H STORY?

5 W and 1 H questions.

BEGINNER

YES? NO?
THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION IS YES OR NO
TOPIC
Making and answering yes/no questions.

OBJECTIVE
Students work in pairs learning how to make and answer yes/no questions on a variety of
themes.
TIME NEEDED
20 minutes.
GROUPING
Pairs.
STRUCTURES
See the chart on the next page.
VOCABULARY
Varied.
PRE-TEACHING
Review the chart on the next page to teach yes/no questions.
DIRECTIONS
Have the students work in pairs to ask and answer questions on the next page.
VARIATIONS
1. Students cut out pictures from a magazine (or use the pictures on page 3) and write five
yes/no questions about each picture. Work with another student asking and answering each
other the questions.
2. Do the interview exercise on page 4.
3. Extend the answers from Yes and No to Yes, I do. Yes, I can. etc.

Deb Scotts Question Book 2013 www.eslresources.com 1-866-833-9485

Photocopiable by Purchasing Teacher for Her/His Students Only

YES/NO QUESTIONS STRUCTURE CHART AND QUESTIONS

Yes/No Questions (The answer to the question is Yes or No.)
AUXILIARY
VERB

SUBJECT MAIN VERB

Do

you

want

Can

you

swim?

Has

she

finished

Did

they

go

SIMPLE
ANSWER

EXTENDED
ANSWER

Yes.

Yes, I do.

No.

No, I can't.

her book?

Yes.

Yes, she has.

away?

No.

No, they didn't.

breakfast?

Exception: verb be simple present and simple past.

Is

Frank

Italian?

Yes.

Yes, he is.

Was

Sarah

late?

No.

No, she wasn't.

Work with a partner. Take turns asking each other the following questions and answering with
simple answers and then extended answers.
1. Do you walk to school?
2. Can you speak French?
3. Has the teacher left?
4. Did you bring a pencil and a notebook?
5. Is the teacher a man?
6. Was it snowing this morning?
7. Do you have a pen?
8. Can you ride a bicycle?
9. Has the lesson started?
10. Did the teacher wear pants today?
11. Is there a dog in the classroom?
12. Was there a test yesterday?
13. Do you like apples?
14. Can you lend me $5?
15. Was it cold this morning?
16. Do you like eating bananas?
2

Deb Scotts Question Book 2013 www.eslresources.com 1-866-833-9485

Photocopiable by Purchasing Teacher for Her/His Students Use Only

Picture 1

Picture 2

Picture 3

Picture 4

Deb Scotts Question Book 2013 www.eslresources.com 1-866-833-9485

Photocopiable by Purchasing Teacher for Her/His Students Only

YES/NO QUESTIONS - INTERVIEW YOUR CLASSMATES

#

QUESTION

Are you married?

Do you like spicy food?

Can you ice-skate?

Has the teacher given homework today?

Did you have swimming lessons when you were young?

Is your father a doctor?

Was the teacher here yesterday?

Are you from France?

Do you like to dance?

10

Can you read without glasses?

11

Has the sun set?

12

Did you take the bus to school?

13

Is your father bald?

14

Are you coming to school tomorrow?

NAME 1

NAME 2

NAME 3

Deb Scotts Question Book 2013 www.eslresources.com 1-866-833-9485

Photocopiable by Purchasing Teacher for Her/His Students Use Only

BEGINNER - INTERMEDIATE

INFORMATION QUESTIONS
THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION IS INFORMATION
TOPIC
Asking and answering information questions.

OBJECTIVE
Students work in pairs to ask and answer questions.
TIME NEEDED
20 minutes.
GROUPING
Pairs.
STRUCTURES
See the next page.
VOCABULARY
Varied.
PRE-TEACHING
Review the Information Chart on the next page.
DIRECTIONS
Have the students work in pairs asking each other the questions on the next page.
VARIATIONS
1. Have the students cut out pictures from a magazine and write five information questions
about the picture. Work with another student asking and answering each others questions.
2. Do the reading exercise on page 7.

Deb Scotts Question Book 2013 www.eslresources.com 1-866-833-9485

Photocopiable by Purchasing Teacher for Her/His Students Only

INFORMATION QUESTION CHART

The answer to the question is information.
QUESTION
WORD

AUXILIARY
VERB

SUBJECT

MAIN VERB

Where

do

you

live?

When

will

we

have

Who

did

he

see?

Why

hasn't

Sue

done

What

is

your

name?

How

did

he

get

ANSWER
In Calgary.
dinner?

At 7 p.m.
He saw Sue.

it?

She is sick.
Deb Scott.

here?

By car.

Exception: verb be simple present and simple past.

Where

is

New York?

In America.

How

was

she?

Very sick.

Work with a partner. Take turns asking each other the following questions.
1. Where do you live?
2. When did you wake up this morning?
3. Who did you talk to last night?
4. Why did you come here today?
5. What is your mothers name?
6. Where is Ottawa?
7. How did you travel to school?
8. Where do you buy groceries?
9. When do you wash your clothes?
10. Who is your teacher?
11. Why do you go to the library?
12. What is your favourite TV program?
13. Where do you do your homework?
14. How many toes do you have?
6

Deb Scotts Question Book 2013 www.eslresources.com 1-866-833-9485

Photocopiable by Purchasing Teacher for Her/His Students Use Only

INFORMATION QUESTIONS EXERCISE - STORY

Read the story and answer the information questions.
Atif Awan is a sports medicine doctor. He became a doctor because he wanted to help people.
He grew up in Ottawa, Ontario. He graduated from the University of Alberta. He is 33 years
old. He is married. His wifes name is Sharon Adams. Sharon is an accountant. He has two
children; Sarah is 4 and Gabriel is 2. He opened a clinic called the Wellness Place. The address
of the clinic is 423 Belleville Street, Victoria, BC V8V 2L8. The phone number is (250) 3873046. The hours of business and services are listed below.

Hours of Operation

Services

Monday to Thursday

7:30am to 8pm

Walk-in Clinic

Physiotherapy

Friday

7:30am to 6:00pm

Sports Medicine

Chiropractic

Saturday

9 am to 5 pm

Acupuncture

Yoga Classes

Sunday

Closed

Pilates

Chiropody

1. What kind of doctor is Atif Awan?

2. Why did Atif become a doctor?
3. Where did he grow up?
4. Where did he study?
5. Who is his wife?
6. What is her profession?
7. How may children does he have?
8. When does the clinic close on Tuesday?
9. Where is the clinic?
10. How can you contact the clinic?
11. What day is the clinic closed?
12. What are three services offered at the clinic?

Deb Scotts Question Book 2013 www.eslresources.com 1-866-833-9485

Photocopiable by Purchasing Teacher for Her/His Students Only

BEGINNER - INTERMEDIATE

CHOICE QUESTIONS
THE ANSWER IS IN THE QUESTION
TOPIC
Choice questions.

OBJECTIVE
Students work in pairs asking and answering questions.
TIME NEEDED
20 minutes.
GROUPING
Pairs.
STRUCTURES
See the next page.
VOCABULARY
Varied.
PRE-TEACHING
Review the chart on the next page.
DIRECTIONS
Have the students work in pairs asking and answering questions on the next page.
VARIATIONS
1. Use the Card Activity on page 10.

Deb Scotts Question Book 2013 www.eslresources.com 1-866-833-9485

Photocopiable by Purchasing Teacher for Her/His Students Use Only

CHOICE QUESTIONS CHART

The answer is in the question.
ANSWER
IN THE
QUESTION

AUXILIARY
VERB

SUBJECT

MAIN VERB

Do

you

want

coffee

or

tea?

Coffee.

Will

we

see

Pam

or

Sue?

Sue.

Did

she

travel

by car

or

plane?

By car.

OR

Exception: verb be simple present and simple past.

verb

subject

OR

Is

your house

small

or

large?

Large.

Were

the shoes

$20

or

$30?

$30.

Work with a partner. Asking each other the following questions.

1. Do you like cats or dogs better?
2. Would you like to travel to Florida or California?
3. Do you want to pay with a credit card or cash?
4. Did Maria eat the beef or the chicken?
5. Were the shoes high heels or flats?
6. Is your car red or blue?
7. Do you want to play tennis or watch a movie?
8. Is your computer a laptop or a desktop?
9. Will she be arriving on the morning or evening bus?
10. Would you like ice cream or cake?
11. Do you want lemonade or orange juice?
12. Would you like to eat dinner in or go out to a restaurant?

Deb Scotts Question Book 2013 www.eslresources.com 1-866-833-9485

Photocopiable by Purchasing Teacher for Her/His Students Only

CHOICE QUESTIONS CARD ACTIVITY

Cut out the cards. Give each student a card, they mingle, and ask each other the question on
their card. Remember, the answer is in the question.

Do you want a
small ice cream cone
or a large one?

Would you like to travel

by car or by plane?

Do you like apples or

peaches better?

Is your umbrella
black or another colour?

Would you rather drive a

pickup truck or a car?

Did the teacher wear

pants or a dress today?

Would you like to

watch TV or sleep?

Will you spend the

summer working or
on vacation?

Do you prefer
fish or beef?

Are you married

or single?

Did you ride a

bike to school or travel
some other way?

Would you rather

read a book or
go for a hike?

Do you like Chinese or

Japanese food better?

Do you like hamburgers

or hotdogs better?

Are you going to the

library or home
after school?

Do you want to go
to the mall or
the beach?

Are your shoes

size 2 or larger?

Did you sleep for

10 hours last night
or less than 10?

Would you like to go to

the park or stay home?

Is Pat a mans name?

Is Pat a womans name?
Both?

Would you rather work

from an office or work
from home?

10

Deb Scotts Question Book 2013 www.eslresources.com 1-866-833-9485

Photocopiable by Purchasing Teacher for Her/His Students Use Only