Watch the video related to this resource, and do the quiz to test your understanding.
This page is intended to be a resource for English learners and teachers. You can practice answering these present simple discussion questions by yourself or with a partner. You can also write the answers in a notebook, in a digital document, or in the comments section below. To help learners feel more confident and to develop grammatical accuracy, the warm-up questions have some suggested answer beginnings, which makes them ideal for beginners. For more challenging questions, move on to the "Let's go!" section.
Warm-up
Hi. How are you?
I'm...
What's your name?
My name is...
Where do you live?
I live in...
Where were you born?* (This is not a present simple question, but it's an essential question for beginners to learn.)
I was born in...
How old are you?
I'm [number] (years old).
When is your birthday?
My birthday is on [date]. (example: "My birthday is on June twenty-fifth.")
Do you have any siblings, or are you an only child?
I have [number] brother(s)/sister(s).
I'm an only child.
What time do you usually go to bed?
I usually go to bed at/around...
What time do you usually wake up (in the morning)?
I usually wake up at/around...
What do you do? / What's your job?
I'm a/an/the...
Where do you work? / Where do you go to school?
I work at/for [name of your company].
I go to [name of your school].
What do you like to do in your free time? (Or, "spare time")
In my free time, I like to...
In my free time, I like [verb+ing]. (Both forms are correct and used)
What's your favourite sport/book/movie/food/show/place/restaurant/band/etc.?
My favourite...is...
Do you eat meat? (follow-up questions: Are you a vegetarian/vegan?)
Yes, I do.
No, I don't.
Do you have any allergies?
Yes, I do. I'm allergic to...
No, I don't. / I'm not allergic to anything.
Are you hungry?
Yes, I am.
No, I'm not.
Are you tired?
Yes, I am.
No, I'm not.
Do you have any pets?
Yes, I have a/an [animal/pet].
No, I don't.
Let's go!
Do you work out?
How much sleep do you usually get?
Do you still carry cash? (cash = physical currency/money)
What kind of music do you like listening to?
Where do you go if you want peace and quiet?
How do you get to work/school?
What's your favourite ice cream flavour?
When is the best time to visit [name of a city, your hometown, etc.]?
How much water do you usually drink every day?
Who's your favourite person in the whole world?
How much money do you usually spend on food every week?
Are you busy today? / What do you have to do today?
What time do you usually have dinner?
Do you have any bad habits?
What is something you should do every day but don't?
What is something you eat almost every day?
Is there something you only do once a year?
How often do you go out to eat?
What's your daily routine?
What do you usually do on weekends?
Do you listen to any podcasts?
What's your favourite fiction genre (thriller, horror, romance, drama, sci-fi, fantasy, etc.)?
Do you have a YouTube channel?
How many apps do you think you have on your phone?
How often do you check your email?
How much time do you spend on your phone every day?
What's the best thing and worst thing about social media?
How often do you go to the movies? (Or, "the (movie) theatre")
How much walking do you do every day? Do you have a step counter?
Do you prefer relaxing or adventurous vacations?
Do you prefer working at home or working at the office?
What's your favourite season? Why?
How many languages do you speak?
What's your hometown like? (Or, "Tell me about your hometown.")
Do you know any good places to eat around here?
What time do stores usually close in your area/city/town?
What's your favourite city in the world? Why?
Do you like playing video games, card games, or board games? If so, what are some of your favourites?
What takes a long time but is usually worth it in the end?
Do you know any jokes?
What's your favourite kind of day? (rainy, sunny, windy, cloudy, stormy, etc.)
What's something you want to do this week/month/year?
Do you have any long-term goals?
What's a food combination you like that other people might find weird?
Do you have any role models in your life?
What motivates you?
What makes you happy?
Who's the most creative person you know?
Do you have any strange talents?
What makes you feel old when you think about it?
Can you draw?
Can you play any musical instruments?
Which chores are you responsible for in your house?
What is something you are really bad at?
What's the most boring sport to watch? What's the most exciting?
What are you scared of?
What's a subject you'd like to study in more detail?
Is there anyone in your life who inspires you?
Are you a social person, or do you prefer to keep to yourself?
What's the capital city of your country?
Are you good at multitasking?
Agree or disagree: We should rely more on translators and interpreters instead of expecting people to learn English.
Who makes you laugh?
Do you think better in the morning, afternoon, or evening?
Do you think you sleep enough?
Which day of the week is your least favourite?
What's your favourite day of the week?
What do humans need to be mentally healthy?
Do you believe one person can make a difference in the world? How?
Do you prefer to talk or text?
Do you think it's possible for someone to always do their best?
What do you like to do on Friday nights?
What time do you usually finish school/work?
How much energy do you have these days?
What's the most expensive thing you own?
What is something you sometimes worry about?
Where does your extended family live? Do any of your family members live in other countries?
Agree or disagree: In general, people are kind.
What are some things people aren't allowed to do at your job/school?
What is a public behaviour that really turns you off? (repels or disgusts you; makes you react in a negative way)
What's the best way to learn a new skill?
What's something you usually try to avoid?
Are dress codes in workplaces important? Are there any benefits to dress codes?
What do you miss about being a child?
What are three things you hope to accomplish this year?
Who is the most organized person you know?
Is it okay for companies not to pay their interns/voluntary workers?
Are you a coffee drinker?
How do you cope with stress? (cope = deal with, handle, manage)
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To practice asking and answering some of the most common questions in this resource, watch this free video lesson, then do the quiz to check your understanding.
Did you like this resource? To support my work, and to continue improving your English vocabulary and speaking skills, pick up a copy of my book, 300 Practical English Words and Phrases. Thank you and good luck with your studies!