Asking About You

Hook

Now you know be, countries and numbers. Put them together and you can have your first real conversation: the questions people ask when they meet you at school, at work or at a hotel desk.

Notice

  • What’s your name? — My name’s Leo.
  • How old are you? — I’m 22.
  • Where are you from? — I’m from Italy.
  • What’s your phone number? — It’s 0791 234 567.
  • What’s your email address? — It’s [email protected].
  • Are you a student? — Yes, I am. / No, I’m not. I’m a waiter.

Which questions start with a question word? Which start with Are?

Rule

There are two kinds of question:

  1. Wh- questions ask for information: question word + be + subject.
    What is (What’s) your name? · Where are you from? · How old is your brother?
  2. Yes/No questions: be + subject. Are you a student? · Is she married? Answer with a short answer: Yes, I am. / No, she isn’t.
Question wordAsks aboutExample
Whata thing / informationWhat’s your job?
Wherea placeWhere are you from?
How oldageHow old are you?
Whoa personWho’s your teacher?

Email addresses: @ = “at”, . = “dot”: [email protected] = “leo twenty-two at mail dot com”.

Watch Out

  • ✗ What is you name? → ✓ What is your name? (your = belongs to you)
  • ✗ How many years you have? → ✓ How old are you?
  • ✗ Where you are from? → ✓ Where are you from? (the verb comes before the subject)

Practice

  1. “___ old are you?”
  2. “What’s your name?” = “What ___ your name?”
  3. Match the answer: “Where are you from?” a) I’m 30. b) I’m from Peru. c) It’s Ana.
  4. Write the question for the answer: “I’m 19.”
  5. Write the question for the answer: “It’s 0751 998 211.”
  6. Short answer: “Are you a teacher?” (yes)
  7. Put in order: from / is / where / she?
  8. How do you say “[email protected]”?
Show the answers
  1. How
  2. is
  3. b)
  4. How old are you?
  5. What’s your phone number?
  6. Yes, I am.
  7. Where is she from?
  8. maria dot k at post dot com

Your Turn

Write five questions you would ask a new classmate. Then answer all five about yourself. If you can, ask a friend or family member the questions in English.

Connect

Build question sentences word by word in our Sentence Builder: a great way to get the word order right.

Try our Sentence Builder →

Our Grammar Quiz has A1 questions on be, question words and more.

Try our Grammar Quiz →

CEFR A1 — Spoken Interaction: I can ask and answer simple questions about personal details, such as where I live, people I know and things I have.

Azizul Hakim
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