{"id":28017,"date":"2019-12-29T16:00:44","date_gmt":"2019-12-29T16:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.englishforums.com\/news\/?p=28017"},"modified":"2019-12-29T16:00:44","modified_gmt":"2019-12-29T16:00:44","slug":"50-most-common-questions-in-english","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.englishforward.com\/news\/50-most-common-questions-in-english\/","title":{"rendered":"50 Most common questions in English, 50+ basic sample answers"},"content":{"rendered":"

How to answer most common questions in English requires essential skills. Anyone first needs to master basic questions for simple situations when learning a new language. <\/span>
\nTo help out with this quest, we\u2019ve selected the <\/span>50 most common questions in English<\/b>, and how to answer them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Greetings and Introductions<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Greetings and introductions are the start of any conversation, which is\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

1. How are you?\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

This is the first greeting question you can ask, in order to find out about the other person or people\u2019s days. Here is a sample conversation:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  • How are you<\/b> today?<\/span><\/li>\n
  • I\u2019m fine thanks! How are you doing?<\/span><\/li>\n
  • There are several more informal ways to ask How are you?<\/b> You can see them below:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    2. How\u2019s it going?\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

    If someone asks you, “How’s it going?” Your answer can be very short: Fine. Technically, “going good” is incorrect grammar; you should use “going well”. The “proper” answer is Fine. or Just fine, thank you. <\/span>The question is almost the same as how do you do which is a way of a greeting and doesn’t really want an honest answer, especially if things are not going well. At most you might reply “Great!” if it’s true, “Pretty good” if not quite great but good.<\/span><\/p>\n

    3. What\u2019s up?\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

    The phrase is supposedly derived from <\/span>“What’s the update?”<\/b> which is basically checking up how things are going. It has however fallen into common usage both in the US (I think) and the UK as a short means of greeting of keeping up to date.<\/span>
    \nAs a greeting:<\/b>
    \n“What’s up?” or here (West Midlands of England) commonly just “sup” is a general greeting, you can respond with answers like “Not much”, “Nothing”, “Alright” etc.<\/span>
    \nIn this context, the response is just a return of the greeting or confirmation that all is going normally. This phrase is similar to “Hello” or “How are you” in common usage.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Personal Information Questions<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Getting to know the people you\u2019re talking with is important. The easiest way to get to know someone is to ask them. Here are some important questions you need to know, in order to get to know someone personally:<\/span><\/p>\n

    4. What is your name?\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

    This is the question you need to ask if you want to know someone\u2019s name. Here is a sample conversation:<\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    • Hello, <\/span>what\u2019s your name?<\/b><\/li>\n
    • Hello, I\u2019m Mike. <\/span>What is your name?<\/b><\/li>\n
    • I\u2019m Jake.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      5. How old are you?\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

      Asking to know someone\u2019s age is another important part of making conversation with a person you don\u2019t know. Here is a sample conversation:<\/span><\/p>\n

        \n
      • Hey, <\/span>how old are you?<\/b><\/li>\n
      • I\u2019m 23. What about you?<\/span><\/li>\n
      • Oh, I\u2019m 25.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        6. Where are you from?<\/span><\/h3>\n

        When meeting new people who speak different languages it is interesting to find out more about the nationality and home country of these people. Here is a sample conversation:<\/span><\/p>\n

          \n
        • Hello, nice to meet you! <\/span>Where are you from?<\/b><\/li>\n
        • Hey, I come from England. <\/span>Where are you from?<\/b><\/li>\n
        • I\u2019m from Romania.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          7. Where do you live?\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

          Another personal information question you can ask during a conversation is <\/span>where do you live? <\/b>Here is a sample conversation:<\/span><\/p>\n

            \n
          • Hey, <\/span>where do you live<\/b> currently?<\/span><\/li>\n
          • Oh, I live in a small flat in London.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            8. What is your phone number\/email?\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

            Asking about a person\u2019s telephone or email is a great way to stay in touch, and to continue talking after meeting for the first time. Here is a sample conversation:<\/span><\/p>\n

              \n
            • Hey, <\/span>what\u2019s your phone number?<\/b><\/li>\n
            • It\u2019s 0845738787. <\/span>Do you have an email address?<\/b><\/li>\n
            • Yeah, here it is.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              9. Are you married?\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

              One of the topics usually covered once you\u2019ve talked to someone for a while is marital status. Here is a sample conversation:<\/span><\/p>\n

                \n
              • Hey, <\/span>are you married?<\/b><\/li>\n
              • Yes, my wife is called Mindy, and we\u2019ve been together for 12 years. How about you?<\/span><\/li>\n
              • No, I\u2019m not married.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                10. Do you have children?\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

                On the topic of marital status, the next big question is if your conversation partner has children. Here is a sample conversation:<\/span><\/p>\n

                  \n
                • So, <\/span>do you and your wife have children?<\/b><\/li>\n
                • Yes, we have two daughters, Alice and Emily.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                  11. What do you do for a living?\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

                  This is one way of asking what someone\u2019s professional occupation is. Here is a sample conversation:<\/span><\/p>\n

                    \n
                  • Hey, <\/span>what do you do for a living?<\/b><\/li>\n
                  • I am a graphic designer.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                    12. What is your job?\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

                    This is the most straightforward way to ask someone what they do for a living. Here is a sample conversation:<\/span><\/p>\n

                      \n
                    • Hey, <\/span>what is your job?<\/b><\/li>\n
                    • I am a graphic designer.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                      13. What are your hobbies?\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

                      Talking about your interests is one of the more fruitful topics you can cover. Here is a sample conversation:<\/span><\/p>\n

                        \n
                      • Hey, <\/span>what are your hobbies?<\/b><\/li>\n
                      • I like hiking and traveling.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                        14. What are your career goals?<\/span><\/h3>\n

                        Asking about someone\u2019s professional aspirations is a good way to get to know them. Here is a sample conversation:<\/span><\/p>\n

                          \n
                        • You said you like your job, but <\/span>what are your career goals?<\/b><\/li>\n
                        • I would like to become a manager one day.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                          General Questions<\/strong><\/h3>\n

                          Being able to have a conversation or even just a friendly banter means you need to know how to ask general questions. Below you will see some examples.<\/span><\/p>\n

                          15. How have you been?\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

                          Asking someone about their general state of mind over the past few days, weeks or months is always a good conversation starter. Here is an example:<\/span><\/p>\n

                            \n
                          • Hey, <\/span>how have you been the past couple of weeks?<\/b><\/li>\n
                          • I\u2019m doing good. I just got promoted.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                            16. Where were you?\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

                            If you want to know where someone went, this is the question to ask. Here is a sample conversation:<\/span><\/p>\n

                              \n
                            • Hey, <\/span>where were you last night?<\/b><\/li>\n
                            • Oh, I went to a bar with some of my colleagues.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                              17. What did you do?\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

                              If you want to know what someone did over the weekend, or during their holiday this is the right question. Here is a sample conversation:<\/span><\/p>\n

                                \n
                              • What did you do last weekend? <\/b><\/li>\n
                              • My family and I went skiing.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                18. Do you have a car\/bike?\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

                                Transportation is an important part of everyday life and a good conversation topic. Here is a sample conversation:<\/span><\/p>\n

                                  \n
                                • Hey, <\/span>do you have a car?<\/b><\/li>\n
                                • No, I use my bike to go around the city.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                  19. Do you have a pet?\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

                                  Pets are an amazing conversation topic, as they usually bring up fond memories. Here is a sample conversation:<\/span><\/p>\n

                                    \n
                                  • Hey, <\/span>do you have a cat or a dog?<\/b><\/li>\n
                                  • No, I actually have two parrots.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                    20. Do you speak another language?\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

                                    In an environment where everyone is speaking in English, it is always interesting to know if people know other languages. Here is a sample conversation:<\/span><\/p>\n

                                      \n
                                    • Hey, <\/span>do you speak another language<\/b> besides English?<\/span><\/li>\n
                                    • Yes, I know Spanish and a little bit of Italian.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                      Shopping Questions<\/strong><\/h3>\n

                                      Being able to ask and answer questions while at the shop is one of the essential skills one has to master when studying a new question. Below you\u2019ll see examples of the most common questions you can ask, or be asked while shopping.<\/span><\/p>\n

                                      21. How much does this cost?\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

                                      This is the most important question in a shop setting. Wondering about the price of an item is one of the most common situations you end up in while shopping. Here is a sample conversation:<\/span><\/p>\n

                                        \n
                                      • Hello, <\/span>how much does an ice cream cost?<\/b><\/li>\n
                                      • Hello, a small cup costs two dollars.<\/span><\/li>\n
                                      • Thank you!<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                        22. Can I try this on?<\/span><\/h3>\n

                                        When shopping for clothes it is important to know if you can try them on before buying them. Here is a sample conversation:<\/span><\/p>\n

                                          \n
                                        • Hello, <\/span>can I try this blouse?<\/b><\/li>\n
                                        • Yes, of course, it looks like a good fit for you!<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                          23. Do you have this in another size?\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

                                          Sometimes, what you see is not what you\u2019re looking for. Asking for different sizes or colors of a given item is a necessity when going to the shop. Here is a sample conversation:<\/span><\/p>\n

                                            \n
                                          • Hello, <\/span>do you have this shirt in another size?<\/b><\/li>\n
                                          • Yes, we have it in four different sizes. What size do you need?<\/span><\/li>\n
                                          • An M would be great!<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                            24. Can I pay by card?\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

                                            In this day and age, most retailers and shops are equipped to accept card payments. Yet, it is always good to be informed if you can pay by card before selecting your items for purchase. Here is a sample conversation:<\/span><\/p>\n

                                              \n
                                            • Hello, <\/span>can I pay by card for these items?<\/b><\/li>\n
                                            • Of course, we accept cash, card, and cheque payments.<\/span><\/li>\n
                                            • Perfect, thank you!<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                              Questions Asking for Directions<\/strong><\/h3>\n

                                              Asking for directions is important when trying to navigate a new environment, which is why we\u2019ve selected some of the most important phrases you need to know.<\/span><\/p>\n

                                              25. Where is this place?\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

                                              Finding out the general area where a place is located, is the first step of actually getting there. Here is a sample conversation:<\/span><\/p>\n

                                                \n
                                              • Excuse me, <\/span>where is the shopping mall?<\/b><\/li>\n
                                              • It\u2019s located in the city center.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                                26. Can you show me where this place is on the map?\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

                                                Managing to navigate a new city is always easier with a map, but asking for directions is also helpful. Here is a sample conversation:<\/span><\/p>\n

                                                  \n
                                                • Excuse me, <\/span>can you show me where the shopping mall is on the map?<\/b><\/li>\n
                                                • Of course, here it is, in the very center of the city, right next to the train station.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                                  27. Should I go left, or right?\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

                                                  The basics of directions are essentially choosing between going left or right. Here is a sample conversation:<\/span><\/p>\n