English for Speakers of Other Languages

4. Ask and Answer Clarifying & Informational Questions

Level: Beginner/Early Intermediate

Supporting Materials

How to Teach

How to Assess


Corresponding State Language Forms

Simple questions about familiar or concrete subjects

Present or present progressive tense questions with to be

Formula questions clarifying classroom procedures, rules and routines

At the end of this language function, students will be able to...

  • Ask personal information
  • Ask for directions
  • Request permission
  • Ask questions to seek information about objects
  • Use simple present tense
  • Use present progressive questions with the verb “to be”
  • Ask questions to clarify classroom procedures

Sample Language Patterns:

Ask personal information:
  • What is your name?
  • My name is ___.
  • How old are you?
  • I am ___.
  • How are you today?
  • Do you have ___? (a brother, a sister, any siblings…)
  • Yes, I have ___. Or No, I don’t have ___.
  • Where do you live?
  • What is your address?
  • How do you come to school?
  • Do you like school?
  • Who is your teacher?
  • How do you say___.
  • What is this/that?
Ask for directions:
  • Where is the ___ (article + noun).
  • Is it next to the store? Is it ___ (preposition) + ___ (article + noun).
Request permission:
  • May I go to the ___ (article + noun).
  • May I have ___ (article + noun).
  • Can I ___ (verb) with ___ (pronoun).
Ask questions to seek information about objects:
  • Is/are ___ (pronoun) ___ (progressive verb) or ___?
  • ___ (pronoun) is/are ___ (progressive verb).
  • Is this ___ (article + noun)?
  • This is ___ (article + noun).
  • Yes. It is ___ (article + noun).
  • No. It is not ___ (article + noun).
  • Is this ___ (article + noun) or ___ (article + noun).
  • It is ___ (article + noun).
  • Is/are there ___ (article + noun).
  • There is/are ___ (article + noun).