Speaking Situations: Giving Information

Speaking Situations: Giving Information

Suggested words:

• Phrases for these situations
• Vocabulary for these situations

Wh-word		(Usage)		(Example)
Who		(to inquire about person or people)		Who is that?
What		(to inquire about things)		What is this?
When		(to inquire about times)		When will you go?
Where		(to inquire about locations)		Where will you be?
Why		(to inquire about reasons)		Why are you crying?
How		(to inquire about manner)		How did you do that?
Which		(to inquire about a specific member of a group)		Which one was it?
Whom		(formal objective case for persons)		Whom do you seek?
Whose		(to inquire about ownership)		Whose are these?
How much		(to inquire about amount)		How much does it cost?
How many		(to inquire about number)		How many are there?
How long		(to inquire about duration of time)		How long have you been here?
How far		(to inquire about distance)		How far is it to the station?
How often		(to inquire about frequency)		How often do you come here?
How do you		(to inquire about method)		How do you say it in English?
What...do		(to inquire about occupation)		What do you do?
		(to inquire about activities)		What did you do last night?
What...for		(to inquire about reason)		What did you do that for?
How come		(informal: to ask for a reason)		How come (I can't go)?

Here are some sample sentences and phrases for giving information in English

1. Jeremy is from Ohio. 2. Kelly is a saleswoman. 3. He's a university student. 4. Ronda lives in Texas. 5. I work at a restaurant. 6. I live in Florida. 8. Where are you from? 9. What is your occupation?

Oh really? What part of Ohio? Is that right? What company? Oh. What university? Really? What city (in Texas)? Oh really? Which restaurant? Oh yeah? Where in Florida? I'm from Delaware. I'm a police officer.

Columbus. Microsoft. Harvard. Dallas. Angelo Meroni's Orlando.

Where are you from?
I'm from Wisconsin.
Oh really? What part of Wisconsin?
Waukesha. It's near Milwaukee.

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 Conversation Practice

With a partner, practice giving and responding to information.

1. When your partner tells you something about himself/herself, say "Really?" and ask a related question.

For example,

I'm from Nepal.

Really? Is this your first time here?

I live in Cincinnati.

Really? Is that near Cleveland?

I'm an engineer.

Oh really? Which train?

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2. When your partner tells you something, say "Really?" then make a related statement.

For example,

I'm from Ireland.

Oh really? My grandfather is Irish.

I live in Tokyo.

Really? My sister lives in Osaka.

I'm a student at Forbes University.

Really? I study at Gates College.

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3. Ask wh- questions to find out information about your partner. Then respond to the information.

For example,

Where do you work?

I work at May Bee's

Really? What do you do there?

I'm a sales clerk.