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in ESL Speaking Resources· Learn English

100 Common English Questions and How to Answer Them

Are you looking for some of the most common English questions asked and possible answers to those questions? If yes, then you’re at the right place. Improving English speaking or writing skills can take time. Learning how to answer these 100 common English questions will provide you with a good place to start and will help you in the future when answering more complicated questions.

basic english questions with answers

100 Common English Questions and Answers

Here are the 100 most common English questions and sample answers.

  1. Question: What is your name?
    Answer 1: My name is Sarah.
    Answer 2: I’m Tim.
  2. Question: Where are you from?
    Answer 1: I’m from Spain.
    Answer 2: I come from the U.S.A.
  3. Question: How old are you?
    Answer 1: I’m 23.
    Answer: 2: I’m 53 years old.
  4. Question: What do you do for a living?
    Answer 1: I’m a software developer.
    Answer 2: I’m currently unemployed.
    Answer 3: I work for a law firm.
    Answer 4: I’m still a student.
  5. Question: How are you?
    Answer: I’m doing well, thank you. How are you?
  6. Question: Do you have any siblings?
    Answer: I have one sister and two brothers.
  7. Question: What’s your hobby?
    Answer: I love to go for a long walk on the weekends.
  8. Question: What’s your favourite kind of music?
    Answer: I listen to hip-hop a lot.
  9. Question: Who’s your favourite singer?
    Answer: I’m a big fan of Taylor Swift.
  10. Question: How do you spend your weekends?
    Answer: I sleep in and binge-watch Netflix.
  11. Question: What kind of books do you read?
    Answer: I enjoy reading Sci-Fi.
  12. Question: Where do you live?
    Answer 1: I live on Yonge Street.
    Answer 2: I live in Vancouver.
  13. Question: What religion are you?
    Answer: I’m a Christian.
  14. Question: What is your marital status?
    Answer 1: I’m married.
    Answer 2: I’m single.
  15. Question: Are you married?
    Answer 1: Yes, I am.
    Answer 2: No, I’m not. But I’m seeing someone.
  16. Question: Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend?
    Answer 1: Yes, I do.
    Answer 2: No, I’m not dating right now.
  17. Question: Who do you live with?
    Answer 1: I live with my parents.
    Answer 2: I live by myself.
    Answer 3: I live with my cats.
  18. Question: What time do you wake up?
    Answer: I wake up at 7 a.m.
  19. Question: What time do you go to bed?
    Answer 1: I go to bed around 11 p.m.
    Answer 2: I try to go to sleep at 10 p.m.
  20. Question: Can you cook?
    Answer 1: I often cook for myself.
    Answer 2: I’m not good at cooking.
  21. Question: What’s your favourite dish?
    Answer: My favourite dish is lasagna.
  22. Question: What’s your favourite food?
    Answer 1: My favourite food is pizza.
    Answer 2: I love Korean food.
  23. Question: What’s your favourite colour?
    Answer 1: My favourite colour is yellow.
    Answer 2: I like green.
  24. Question: What’s your favourite drink?
    Answer 1: My favourite drink is Pepsi.
    Answer 2: I love Coca-Cola.
  25. Question: What’s your favourite movie?
    Answer: My favourite movie is The Dead Poets Society.
  26. Question: How was the movie?
    Answer 1: It was one of the best films I’ve seen this year!
    Answer 2: It was okay. The conclusion felt a little bit cliche.
  27. Question: What do you study?
    Answer 1: I study Biology.
    Answer 2: My major is Sociology.
  28. Question: Where do you go to school?
    Answer: I’m a student at the University of British Columbia.
  29. Question: Where’s your favourite place to study?
    Answer: I usually study at home or at the library.
  30. Question: What time do you go to school?
    Answer: I go to school at 7:30 a.m.
  31. Question: How do you get to school?
    Answer 1: I walk to school.
    Answer 2: I take the bus.
  32. Question: Why are you studying English?
    Answer 1: Because I think it is one of the most important languages in the world.
    Answer 2: I want to improve my English skills and find a better job.
  33. Question: How long have you been learning English?
    Answer 1: I’ve been learning English since 2022.
    Answer 2: I’ve been learning English for 5 years.
  34. Question: How did you learn English?
    Answer 1: I learned it at school.
    Answer 2: I watched a lot of American TV series with English subtitles.
  35. Question: What’s your vacation plan?
    Answer 1: I’m going back home for the winter.
    Answer 2: I’m travelling to Mexico with my friends.
  36. Question: Who’s your best friend?
    Answer: My best friend is Miley.
  37. Question: How many languages do you speak?
    Answer 1: I can only speak English.
    Answer 2: I speak three languages: English, Korean, and Japanese.
  38. Question: How do you handle stress?
    Answer 1: I try to avoid stress by sleeping.
    Answer 2: I listen to music and talk to friends.
  39. Question: What’s your favourite season?
    Answer 1: My favourite season is summer.
    Answer 2: I like winter.
  40. Question: What’s your favourite subject?
    Answer: My favourite subject is music.
  41. Question: What’s the weather like?
    Answer: It’s sunny and warm.
  42. Question: What’s the temperature?
    Answer: It’s 23 degrees Celsius.
  43. Question: What time is it?
    Answer 1: It’s 2 o’clock.
    Answer 2: It’s quarter to six.
  44. Question: What’s the date today?
    Answer: It’s December 6th.
  45. Question: What are you going to do today?
    Answer 1: I’m going to the beach with my family.
    Answer 2: I’ll study for the final exam.
  46. Question: What’s the matter?
    Answer 1: I’m feeling a bit sick.
    Answer 2: Nothing. I’m okay.
  47. Question: Is there anything I can do to help?
    Answer: Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.
  48. Question: What sports can you play?
    Answer: I can play soccer, tennis, badminton, and basketball.
  49. Question: What sports do you like to watch?
    Answer: I like to watch ice hockey.
  50. Question: Do you have a favourite sports team?
    Answer: I’m a huge fan of Toronto Blue Jays.
    common english questions
  51. Question: What would you like to order?
    Answer: I’d like to get a grande size iced americano, please.
  52. Question: Is your coffee for here or to go?
    Answer 1: For here, please.
    Answer 2: To go. I’ll be heading out right away.
  53. Question: What’s your dream job?
    Answer: I would love to be a nurse.
  54. Question: Do you exercise regularly?
    Answer: Yes, I go to the gym at least three times a week.
  55. Question: Are you a tea or coffee person?
    Answer: I’m definitely a coffee person. A cup of coffee is the first thing I need in the morning.
  56. Question: What’s your favourite app on your phone?
    Answer: My favourite app is Instagram. I use it every day.
  57. Question: Do you play computer games?
    Answer 1: Yes, I love to play Team of Tactics.
    Answer 2: No, but I do play console games sometimes.
  58. Question: What’s your favourite TV show?
    Answer: I used to love watching CSI.
  59. Question: What’s your favourite holiday?
    Answer: My favourite holiday is Christmas.
  60. Question: How would you like to pay?
    Answer: By cash/credit/debit.
  61. Question: Are you a night owl or an early bird?
    Answer 1: I’m a night owl. I go to bed around 3 a.m.
    Answer 2: I’m an early bird. I wake up at 5:30 a.m.
  62. Question: Are you an extrovert or introvert?
    Answer 1: I’m an extroverted person. I love meeting new people.
    Answer 2: I’m a bit introverted. I get shy around people.
  63. Question: What is he like?
    Answer: He’s handsome and nice.
  64. Question: How do you feel about him?
    Answer: Not sure. I’ll need to meet him a few more times.
  65. Question: How did you meet him?
    Answer: I met him on Hinge.
  66. Question: Are you hungry?
    Answer 1: Yes, I’m hungry.
    Answer 2: No, I’m still full.
  67. Question: What are your plans for the weekend?
    Answer: I’m going camping with my girlfriend.
  68. Question: Have you ever met a celebrity?
    Answer: I bumped into BTS at a mall in the United States.
  69. Question: Have you ever been to a concert?
    Answer: Yes, I went to Charlie Puth’s world tour concert in Canada.
  70. Question: What’s your favourite board game?
    Answer: I really enjoy playing Monopoly.
  71. Question: What’s your least favourite music genre?
    Answer: I rarely listen to heavy metal. Not a big fan of it.
  72. Question: Where’s your favourite place in the town?
    Answer: I love the park next to the public library.
  73. Question: Can I speak to Charles?
    Answer 1: Hi, this is Charles.
    Answer 2: Just a moment. Please stay on the line.
    Answer 3: I’m sorry. Charles is not here.
    Answer 4: Charles isn’t available at the moment.
  74. Question: Would you like to leave a message?
    Answer 1: Yes, please ask her to call me back.
    Answer 2: No, it’s okay. I’ll try calling her again later.
  75. Question: How long have you been working here?
    Answer: I’ve been working here for 10 years.
  76. Question: Excuse me. Do you know where the post office is?
    Answer: Go straight and turn right. You’ll see it on your right.
  77. Question: Do you have any allergies?
    Answer 1: No, I don’t.
    Answer 2: Yes, I’m allergic to nuts.
  78. Question: Would you like anything to drink?
    Answer 1: Water is fine.
    Answer 2: I’d like a sprite, please.
  79. Question: What time do you open?
    Answer: We open at 8 a.m.
  80. Question: What time do you close?
    Answer: We close at 10 p.m.
  81. Question: What is the most popular item on the menu?
    Answer: Our customers love the strawberry waffle, chocolate crepe, and banana smoothie.
  82. Question: Do you have a reservation?
    Answer 1: Yes, for two. My name’s Sarah.
    Answer 2: No, I don’t.
  83. Question: Would you like to make a reservation?
    Answer: Yes, I’d like to reserve a table for three for this coming Saturday at 6 p.m.
  84. Question: May I see your ID?
    Answer 1: For sure. Here it is.
    Answer 2: I don’t have it with me right now.
  85. Question: How long will you be staying?
    Answer 1: For a week.
    Answer 2: Until next Wednesday.
  86. Question: Do you enjoy traveling?
    Answer: Yes, I love traveling and exploring.
  87. Question: Where’s the most recent place you’ve traveled to?
    Answer: Last summer, I visited Cambodia to see the Angkor Wat.
  88. Question: What’s your favourite type of dessert?
    Answer: I love bubble tea.
  89. Question: Do you have any hidden talents?
    Answer: I’m actually pretty good at juggling.
  90. Question: What’s a fun fact about you?
    Answer: A fun fact about me is that I can ride a unicycle.
  91. Question: When is your birthday?
    Answer: My birthday is September 19th.
  92. Question: How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
    Answer: I like to throw a party at my place.
  93. Question: What do you want to get for your birthday?
    Answer: I would love to get a new iPhone!
  94. Question: Do you prefer cooking or eating out?
    Answer 1: I prefer cooking at home.
    Answer 2: I don’t enjoy cooking, so I prefer eating out.
  95. Question: What’s your favourite thing about yourself?
    Answer: I like that I have really good friends around me that I can rely on.
  96. Question: Do you play any musical instruments?
    Answer 1: No, I don’t.
    Answer 2: Yes, I play the violin.
  97. Question: Do you prefer reading e-books or physical books?
    Answer 1: I prefer reading e-books because it gives me easy access to a variety of books.
    Answer 2: I prefer reading physical books because I like the feeling of turning a page.
  98. Question: Do you prefer working onsite or remotely?
    Answer 1: I prefer working at the office with coworkers around me.
    Answer 2: I prefer working remotely so I can save commute time.
  99. Quesiton: What are your short-term goals?
    Answer: My short-term goals include finishing the book that I’m currently reading and getting a gym membership before next week.
  100. Question: What are your long-term goals?
    Answer: In the long-term, I want to buy a condo for my family in New York City.

most common questions and answers

How to Answer the Most Common English Questions

From the list above, we’ve shortlisted the most common questions.

How old are you

Question: How old are you?

Answer: 32.
Where do you live

Question: Where do you live?

Answer: Vancouver.

Where are you from

Question: Where are you from?

Answer: Canada.

When is your birthday

Question: When is your birthday?

Answer: May.

What’s your name

Question: What’s your name?

Answer: My name’s Jackie.

What is your marital status

Question: What is your marital status?

Answer: I’m married.

where are you going

Question: Where are you going?

Answer: To school.

how are you

Question: How are you?

Answer: Great.

what's the weather like

Question: What’s the weather like?

Answer: Sunny.

what languages do you speak

Question: What language do you speak?

Answer: Four.

what kinds of films do you like

Question: What kinds of films do you like?

Answer: Horror films.

what's your favorite color

Question: What’ your favorite color?

Answer: Green.

what's your favorite food

Question: What’s your favorite food?

Answer: Veggie dogs.

what's your hobby

Question: What’s your hobby?

Answer: Video games.

Who do you live with

Question: Who do you live with?

Answer: One roommate.

do you have any siblings

Question: Do you have any siblings?

Answer: Yes, two brothers.

are you single

Question: Are you single?

Answer: Yes.

What do you do

Question: What do you do?

Answer: I work full-time.

More English Questions

If you are looking for more English question resources, check out the following articles.

  • Family Feud Questions and Answers
  • Gross Would You Rather Questions
  • Would You Rather Questions About Manners
  • This or That Food Questions
  • Would You Rather? Dating & Marriage Questions

100 english questions and answers

FAQs About Common English Questions

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about commonly asked questions in English.

What are some basic English questions?

Some of the most basic and common English questions include the following:

  • How are you?
  • What’s your name?
  • What do you do?
  • Do you speak English?
  • Where are you from?

What are the 10 questions in English with answers?

Here are 10 common English questions with answers.

  1. Question: How are you?
    Answer: I’m doing well, thank you. How about you?
  2. Question: What’s your name?
    Answer: My name is Tom.
  3. Question: Where are you from?
    Answer: I’m from France.
  4. Question: What do you do for a living?
    Answer: I’m an accountant.
  5. Question: How old are you?
    Answer: I’m 55 years old.
  6. Question: Can you tell me about your family?
    Answer: I have 4 family members: mom, dad, sister, and myself.
  7. Question: What’s your favorite hobby?
    Answer: I enjoy doing yoga, it helps me relax.
  8. Question: What’s your favorite color?
    Answer: My favorite color is purple.
  9. Question: Do you have any siblings?
    Answer: Yes, I have 2 brothers.
  10. Question: What’s your favorite food?
    Answer: I love Italian food, especially pasta.

 

What types of questions are asked in English?

Here are the types of questions in English with examples:

  • Yes/No Questions: Do you like hamburgers? (Yes, I do. / No, I don’t.)
  • Wh- Questions: What is your favorite book? (My favourite book is…)
  • Open-ended Questions: How do you spend your weekends? (I like to do … during the weekends.)
  • Personal Questions: Can you tell me about your childhood? (During my childhood, I…)
  • Situational Questions: What would you do if you won the lottery? (If I won the lottery, I would…)

What is the most common question asked?

The most commonly asked question is “How are you?” which is also a type of greeting.

What are some good general questions?

Here are some general questions that are good for icebreaking:

  • How did you spend your weekend?
  • Do you have any upcoming travel plans?
  • If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be?
  • What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?
  • If you could choose one superpower, which one would you have?

Basic English Questions: Join the Conversation

Did our list of 100 common English questions and answers help? Try using some of these questions as conversation starters or icebreakers. If you are looking for more English learning resources, let us know in the comments! We’d love to hear from you.

About Jackie

Jackie Bolen has been teaching English for more than 20 years to students in South Korea and Canada. She's taught all ages, levels and kinds of TEFL classes. She holds an MA degree, along with the Celta and Delta English teaching certifications.

Jackie is the author of more than 100 books for English teachers and English learners, including 101 ESL Activities for Teenagers and Adults, Great Debates for ESL/EFL, and 1001 English Expressions and Phrases. She loves to share her ESL games, activities, teaching tips, and more with other teachers throughout the world.

You can find her on social media at:
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Comments

  1. Diva says

    at

    Wow, thank you so much for sharing this! I’ve been struggling to improve my English skills for a while now, and this post is incredibly helpful. The questions and answers are organized and easy to understand. I’ll definitely be referring back to this post often. You’re a lifesaver!

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