Past Simple- Small Talk Questions

Past Simple small talk questions

Choose one of the questions below which is really suitable to ask your partner. Ask a grammatically correct version of the question that you have chosen, adding “you” if necessary. If there is no wh- question word, you need to make a yes/ no question. Listen to the (true) response and ask follow-up questions if you like. Switch roles, then take turns asking and answering those questions. Don’t write anything yet.

Probably realistic questions in this situation

How ___________________________________________________ (be) your weekend?

That’s a nice… Where ______________________________________________ (buy) it?

What time ___________________________________________ (finish) work last night?

What time _____________________________________________(get home) last night?

What time ______________________________________________ (get to) work today?

When ______________________________________________ (start) your present job?

Where ______________________________________ (last go) on holiday (= vacation)?

___________________________________________________ (have) a good weekend?

___________________________________________________ (do) the last homework?

________________________________________ (have) time for breakfast this morning?

__________________________________________________ (hear) the news about…?

________________________________________ (go out) for dinner/ drinks/… last night?

_________________________________________ (see) anything good on TV last night?

How ___________________________________________ (be) your journey here today?

 

Possibly realistic but possibly unrealistic questions for this situation

_______________________________________________________________ (see) the game/ match between… and … at the weekend/ last night/ yesterday/ on Saturday?

___________________________ (go) to the meeting about… yesterday/ on Monday?

___________________________________________________ (come) to the last class?

 

Questions which probably aren’t suitable for this situation but are suitable for other situations

______________________________________________ (have) any trouble finding us?

___________________________________________ (have) any problems getting here?

______________________________________________________ (have) a good flight?

Who ___________________________________________________________(fly) with?

When ___________________________________________________ (arrive) in Tokyo?

When _________________________________________________ (get back) from…?

 

Ask about any questions you couldn’t make or couldn’t answers. Then do the same with the less realistic questions above, this time using your imagination when you answer.

Work together to fill the gaps above with the correct tenses and “you”.

Check your answers as a class, then ask each other any questions that you got wrong or didn’t ask before.

Use similar small talk questions about the past as you roleplay the beginning of a meeting, starting from “Hello” and continuing until you get down to business.