Giving Information & Asking Questions
Section: Speaking | Syllabus: Cambridge Primary English as a Second Language (0057)
Giving Detailed Information About Yourself and Others
- When you talk about yourself or someone else, give more than a one-word or one-fact answer - add reasons, examples and detail.
- Extend a short answer using because, and, also: turn "I like football" into "I like football because I play it every weekend with my friends at the park."
- Useful detail to add about a person: their age, where they live, what they enjoy doing, why they enjoy it, how often they do it.
- Speak in full sentences rather than single words, even when answering a simple question.
Describing People, Places, Objects and Routines
- Give a general impression first, then add specific details - for example, describe a person's appearance first, then their personality.
- Useful language:
- For people: adjectives of appearance (tall, curly-haired) and personality (friendly, hard-working)
- For places: prepositions of position (next to, opposite, between, in the corner of)
- For objects: shape, size, material and purpose (a round, wooden table used for eating)
- For routine actions: present simple with frequency adverbs (usually, every day, twice a week)
- Organise your description logically, moving from general to specific, or from one side of a place to the other, rather than jumping between ideas.
Move from a general impression to specific, organised detail when describing a place
Worked Example: Giving a Detailed DescriptionQuestion: Describe your school library, adding organised detail.
Step 1 - Start with a general impression: "My school library is a large, quiet room." Step 2 - Add specific detail using prepositions of place: "The fiction books are on the left, and the reference books are in the corner near the window." Step 3 - Add a routine detail using present simple and a frequency adverb: "I usually visit twice a week to borrow new books." Answer"My school library is a large, quiet room. The fiction books are on the left, and the reference books are in the corner near the window. I usually visit twice a week to borrow new books."
Asking Questions to Find Information or Clarify Meaning
- Use question words to ask for specific information: who, what, when, where, why, how, and how many / how often / how long for more precise detail.
- Word order for questions with an auxiliary verb: question word + auxiliary (do/does/did, is/are, can) + subject + main verb. "What does she do after school?"
- If you do not understand something, ask a clarifying question rather than guessing:
- "Could you repeat that, please?"
- "What do you mean by...?"
- "Sorry, did you say...?"
- Clarifying questions keep a conversation going smoothly and show the listener is actively trying to understand.
Giving a Sequence of Spoken Instructions
- Use imperative (command) verbs at the start of each step: "turn," "press," "mix," "fold."
- Link steps with sequencing words: first, next, then, after that, finally.
- Keep each step short, with one action per step, and include a precise detail (a direction, number or place) rather than vague language.
- Pause briefly between steps when speaking, so the listener has time to follow each instruction before the next one begins.
Question: Give spoken instructions for making a simple sandwich.
Step 1 - Start with the first imperative verb and sequencing word: "First, spread butter on one slice of bread." Step 2 - Add each following step with a sequencing word and one precise action: "Next, add a slice of cheese. Then, place the second slice of bread on top." Step 3 - Finish with a final sequencing word: "Finally, cut the sandwich in half." Answer"First, spread butter on one slice of bread. Next, add a slice of cheese. Then, place the second slice of bread on top. Finally, cut the sandwich in half."
Common Mistakes
MistakeAnswering questions about yourself with single words or very short phrases.
FixExtend your answers with reasons, examples or extra detail, using words like because, and, also.
MistakeDescribing a person, place or object with details in a random order.
FixMove from a general impression to specific details in a logical order, such as appearance then personality, or one side of a place to the other.
MistakeGuessing what someone meant instead of asking for clarification.
FixUse a clarifying question such as "Could you repeat that, please?" rather than guessing and possibly misunderstanding.
Interactive revision notes, videos and practice questions load below.