Meeting People and Small Talk Yes/No Questions Games

Meeting people and small talk yes no questions games

Take turns asking and answering questions below, using your imagination if you need to in order to have a good mix of positive and negative responses that are the right length (not too short and not too long).

Starting conversations yes/ no questions

• (Excuse me) I’m supposed to meet John Smith. Is that you, by any chance?
• (Excuse me), (are you) John?
• (Excuse me.) Is anyone sitting here?
• (Sorry.) Is this seat free?
• (Excuse me/ Sorry) (I’m a bit lost) do you know where the restroom/ night market/ nearest bank/ taxi rank/…is?
• (Hi.) You must be John.
• (Sorry) do you speak English?
• (Sorry,) is this the right place/ room for…?
• (Sorry,) is this where… is being held?
• (Sorry/ Excuse me.) Are you (also) waiting for…?
• (Sorry/ Excuse me.) Do you have a light?
• (Sorry/ Excuse me.) Do you have the time?/ Do you know what time it is?
• (Sorry/ Excuse me.) Do you know what time… starts/ ends/ leaves/ arrives/…?
• Are you lost?
• Are you looking for…?
• Going up?
• Going down?
• Hi, I’m here to see John Smith. (I’m guessing that’s you.)
• Is it okay to smoke here (do you know)?
• Sorry, have you been waiting long?

 

Meeting again after a long time yes/ no questions

• It’s John, right?
• I don’t know if you remember me, but we met last year/ we worked together…/ we…
• Have we met before?

 

Small talk when meeting for the first time yes/ no questions

• Have you (ever) heard of ABC Limited/ of … city/ of us/ of…?
• Do you do much business in… prefecture/ in the… region/ in South(east)…/ in…?
• Is this your first time here?/ Is this your first time in…?
• Are you from (around) here?
• Are you travelling far?
• Are you going all the way to…?
• I’ve met your colleague… (a few times)./ I know… Does (s)he work with you?

 

Small talk with people you’ve met before yes/ no questions

• Are you (still) in touch with Jane?/ Are you (still) in contact with Jane?
• Did you enjoy your break/ the conference/…?
• Did you go anywhere (nice) on holiday/ for the long weekend/ over the holiday/ at the weekend/ last night/ for lunch/…?
• Did you have a good/ nice weekend?/ Did you do anything (special/ interesting/ nice) at the weekend?
• Did you hear (the rumour/ the gossip/ the news) about…?
• (I know you like/ support…) Did you see the game/ match (between… and…)/ Did you see… (last night)?
• Do you (still) work with John?
• (Have you) been busy (lately/ recently/ today/ this week)?
• Have you changed your hair?/ Have you had your hair cut?/ Have you lost weight?/ Have you…?
• (Wow/ Oh dear/ Oh my goodness!) Have you had an accident?/ Have you broken your arm?/ Have you got hay fever?/ Have you caught a cold?/ Are you alright?
• Have you heard from John (recently)?/ Have you been in touch with John (recently)?
• Have you read any good books/ seen any good movies/… any good… recently?
• (I know you’re interested in…) Have you seen/ read/ heard (the new/ the latest)… (yet)?
• I guess you have been really busy since…/ with…/ because of…
• You’re looking good/ healthy/ tanned/…. Have you been on holiday/ Have you been working out?/ Have you lost weight?/ Have you…?

 

Small talk when meeting for the first time or again yes/ no questions

• Are you coping with the heat/ the crowds/ the traffic/ the taxis/ the subway/ travelling around/ the beggars/…?
• Are there any (good)… near here?/ Can you recommend… near here?/ Is there anywhere good to eat/ to get a coffee/ to… around here/ near here?
• Are you planning to visit…/ to… (during your stay)?
• Did you have any problems getting here?/ Did you have any trouble finding us?
• Did you hear the weather forecast (for today/ for tonight/ for this weekend/ for…)?
• Do you follow any (football/ Spanish/ Premiership/ J League/ baseball) team(s)/…?
• Do you have any plans for the weekend?
• Do you know John Smith?
• Do you know where the restroom/ night market/ nearest bank/ taxi rank/…is?
• Do you live near here?
• Do you need any recommendations for restaurants/ foods to try/ hawkers to try/ things to see/ things to do/ nightlife/… (while you are here)?
• Have you been watching Game of Thrones/ the Champions League/…?
• Have you come far (today)?
• Have you ever been to…?/ Have you ever visited…?
• Have you ever read/ seen…?
• Have you had a chance to visit…/ try…/ see…/ meet…/… (yet)?
• Have you tried… (food)?
• I guess it’s (a bit/ much)… er/ much more… (than this) (back) where you come from (now).
• Is it going to rain/ snow/…?/ Is it going to stop raining/ stop…ing, do you think?
• Is it usually this rainy/ snowy/ cold/ hot/ humid/… (do you know)?
• Is that a…?/ the (new)…? (Is it any good?)
• Is the weather usually like this (in...)?
• Is… popular in your country?
• It’s (a bit/ rather/ quite/ really/ so) humid/ cold/ hot/ grey/ crowded/ busy/…, isn’t it? Is it usually like this (at this time of year)?
• It’s so… round here./ I’m surprised how…/ I expected it to be more… Is this typical?
• Was the map (that I sent) okay?
• Are you staying near here?/ Is your hotel near here?

 

Offers/ Helping (making a guest comfortable, etc) yes/ no questions

• Would you like something to drink?/ Can I get you anything to drink (before we start)?/ Tea or coffee?
• (Do you take) milk or sugar?
• Can I take your bag(s)/ your coat(s)/ your…?
• Do you need any help (with…)?/ Do you need a hand (with…)?
• Would you like to freshen up first?
• Shall I take that (for you)?
• Let me take that for you./ Let me get you a/ some…/ Let me…
• You can leave your coat/ bag/ stuff/… here/ over there/… (if you like).

 

Discussing business cards yes/ no questions

• Do you have a business card (on you)?/ Perhaps we should exchange business cards.

 

Moving to another place/ Directing people/ Giving directions/ Leading people somewhere yes/ no questions

• Shall we make a move?
• Shall I take you to…?
• Shall I walk you to the elevator?
• Can you remember the way out?
• Are you okay getting back to your hotel?
• Shall I call you a taxi?
• Do you need a ride to the station?
• Would you like me to take you to the airport?

 

Introducing other people yes/ no questions

• Have you met…?
• Have you two met?
• You probably know (my colleague)…

 

Small talk at the end of a conversation yes/ no questions

• Are you finished/ Have you finished (for the day/ for the day/ for the week)?
• Do you have (m)any more meetings (today)?
• Do you have to go straight back to your office?
• Do you have any plans for this evening?
• Do you have any plans for the weekend?

 

Ask about any questions above that you don’t understand, couldn’t answer, etc, working together to answer them each time.

 

Brainstorming stage

Without looking above, write as many suitable Yes/ No questions as you can in each gap below. Many questions not above are also possible.

Starting conversations yes/ no questions

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meeting again after a long time yes/ no questions

 

 

 

 

 

 

Small talk when meeting for the first time yes/ no questions

 

 

 

 

 

 

Small talk with people you’ve met before yes/ no questions

 

 

 

 

 

 

Small talk when meeting for the first time or again yes/ no questions

 

 

 

 

 

 

Offers/ Helping (making a guest comfortable, etc) yes/ no questions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Discussing business cards yes/ no questions

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moving to another place/ Directing people/ Giving directions/ Leading people somewhere yes/ no questions

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introducing other people yes/ no questions

 

 

 

 

 

 

Small talk at the end of a conversation yes/ no questions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Compare with the questions above. Many more questions could be suitable, so please check if you wrote something different.

Change partners. Take turns asking and answering Yes/ No questions like before, but this time with your own ideas for questions.

Do the same, but this time flipping a coin to see if your response should be positive (heads) or negative (tails).