Get to Know Someone

Grammar Exercises for Homework

We've described characters, where I was the one asking you questions... "What does she look like? What does he do for work? etc. This time, it can be your turn to ask the questions.

Below are a list of topics, your task is to create questions for each of them. For example: Name: "What is your name?" Profession: "What is your profession?"... but try to challenge yourself, by not using the given word. "What do you do for a living?" is more natural.


Name	Profession	Hobbies	Dreams
Food	Music	Goals	Fears
Achievements	Personality	Routine	Skills
Hometown	Location	Country	Places
Travel	Origin	Destination	Environment
Time	Date	Schedule	Birthdays
Timeline	Milestones	Motivation	Reason
Beliefs	Values	Preferences	Opinions
Family	Friends	Mentors	Role Models
Colleagues	Influences	Choices	Options
Favourites	Feelings	Methods	Processes
Experiences	Health	Lifestyle	Approach
Journey

To see example sentences for each topic: click to expand

Name

Sorry, how do you spell your name?
Is there a story behind your name?

Profession

So, what do you do for a living?
How did you get into that line of work?

Hobbies

What do you usually get up to in your free time?
Have you picked up any new hobbies recently?

Dreams

What’s something you’ve always wanted to do?
Do you think you’ll ever go after that dream?

Food

Are you more of a sweet or savoury person?
What’s your go-to comfort food?

Music

What kind of music are you into?
Been to any good gigs lately?

Goals

What are you working towards at the moment?
How do you usually stay motivated?

Fears

Is there anything that really makes you nervous?
Have you ever faced one of your fears head-on?

Achievements

What’s something you’re quite proud of?
Did it take you long to achieve that?

Personality

Would you say you’re more introverted or outgoing?
How do people usually describe you?

Routine

What’s a typical day like for you?
Do you prefer having a set routine or keeping things flexible?

Skills

Is there a skill you’ve worked hard to develop?
What’s something you’d still like to learn?

Hometown

What’s your hometown like?
Do you still go back there often?

Location

Where are you based these days?
What do you like most about living there?

Country

Have you always lived in this country?
Which part of the country do you like best?

Places

Is there a place you’ve always wanted to visit?
Where’s the nicest place you’ve been?

Travel

Do you enjoy travelling or prefer staying put?
Where’s the best holiday you’ve ever had?

Origin

Whereabouts are you originally from?
Do you still feel connected to your roots?

Destination

If you could fly anywhere tomorrow, where would you go?
Do you prefer cities or somewhere more peaceful?

Environment

Do you prefer being by the sea or in the countryside?
How’s the weather treating you where you are?

Time

Do you usually get up early or sleep in?
How do you like to spend your weekends?

Date

When was the last time you had a proper night out?
Do you like planning things in advance or being spontaneous?

Schedule

Is your week looking busy?
How do you usually fit everything in?

Birthdays

When’s your birthday?
Do you usually do anything special to celebrate?

Timeline

Looking back, what’s changed most over the years?
Do you remember when things really started to shift for you?

Milestones

What’s been a big milestone in your life so far?
Did you do anything special to mark the occasion?

Motivation

What keeps you going when things get tough?
Who or what inspires you most?

Reason

What made you decide to do that?
Do you usually act on instinct or think things through?

Beliefs

Do you believe everything happens for a reason?
Has your outlook on life changed much over time?

Values

What values do you think matter most?
Do you ever find your values clash with others’?

Preferences

Tea or coffee person?
Do you prefer quiet nights in or going out?

Opinions

What do you make of all this AI business?
Do you think people are more open-minded these days?

Family

Are you close with your family?
Do you see them often?

Friends

Do you tend to keep a small circle or a big group of mates?
How did you meet your closest friend?

Mentors

Has anyone ever guided or influenced you in a big way?
What’s the best advice a mentor’s given you?

Role Models

Who do you look up to?
Have your role models changed over time?

Colleagues

Do you get on well with the people you work with?
What’s the work atmosphere like where you are?

Influences

Who’s had the biggest influence on your life?
What kind of people tend to inspire you?

Choices

Was that an easy choice to make?
Do you ever wish you’d chosen differently?

Options

Did you have many options at the time?
How do you usually make decisions?

Favourites

Got a favourite film or series at the moment?
What’s your favourite season of the year?

Feelings

How have you been feeling lately?
Do you usually show how you feel or keep it to yourself?

Methods

How do you usually go about solving problems?
Do you like sticking to tried-and-tested methods or experimenting?

Processes

What’s your process when you start something new?
Do you plan everything or just see how it goes?

Experiences

Have you ever had an experience that changed you?
What’s something you’ve learned from experience?

Health

Do you try to stay active?
How do you usually relax or switch off?

Lifestyle

Would you say you live a busy life?
Do you prefer city life or something quieter?

Approach

How do you usually approach new challenges?
Do you like taking risks or playing it safe?

Journey

Looking back, how far do you think you’ve come?
Where do you see yourself heading next?

Writing Homework

The writing homework is a little unrelated to "Getting to know someone", but I think it makes for an interesting writing task nonetheless. It's about dreams, happinesss and regrets... There are a few things below for you to read and listen to, to help you get in the right headspace for this.

I'm sure you know what a bucket list is... the article and video below introduce the idea of a reverse bucket list, but with different definitions. The first is simply listing what you have done (instead of what you want to do) and the second is a deeper psychological idea which involves detaching yourself from your desires.

Lastly, the final article discusses regrets... which I suppose, is the opposite to wishes and dreams of the future, or things you've achieved. Dive into the resources below and you can find a writing task below.

Reverse Bucket Lists

Something to read: https://theuncagedlife.com/50-things-that-make-me-awesome/

Something to listen to:

Regrets of the Dying

Something else to read: An interview conducted by a nurse working in paliative care, was made into a book called: The Five Regrets of the Dying by Bronnie Ware

I always thought there were ten, not five... so I'm going to list the ten that I'm aware of, but you can read the article below too.

I wish I’d lived true to myself, not others’ expectations.
I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.
I wish I’d expressed my feelings more.
I wish I’d stayed in touch with friends.
I wish I’d let myself be happier.
I wish I’d spent more time with loved ones.
I wish I’d taken better care of my health.
I wish I’d taken more risks.
I wish I’d forgiven and let go of resentment.
I wish I’d lived more in the present moment.

Writing Task:

This week you have a choice...

Happiness is a choice. Agree or disagree?
Letter from Your Future Self
Imagine you're 85 years old, looking back on your life. What advice would you give your current self? What would you tell yourself to do more of… or less of?
Happiness shouldn't be the goal, meaning should be. Thoughts?

Tell me about a time when...
Do you have any...
Have you ever...
What kind of...
When was the last time...
Would you rather...
If you could...
Is there anyone who...
How often do you...
What do you usually do when...
What made you decide to...
Who do you know that...
Why do you think people...
Could you imagine...
What’s something that always...

...you started learning English?
...your favourite thing to do on the weekend?
...you last felt really proud of yourself?
...someone you admire?
...your dream job as a child?
...you do if you had a free day with no plans?
...the most interesting place you've ever visited?
...a habit you’re trying to change?
...makes you feel calm when you're stressed?
...the best advice you've ever received?
...a meal you could eat every day and not get bored of?
...you usually spend your holidays?
...something new you’ve learned recently?
...a tradition from your country that others might not know?
...something people often get wrong about you?

Answers

I’ve just got back from Japan.
I was cleaning the kitchen when it happened.
She’s going to quit her job.
I would have helped if I had known.
He’s been waiting for over an hour.
They had already left when we arrived.
I go jogging every morning.
She was born in 1995.
I’m having lunch with her tomorrow.
Yes, I’ve met him before.
It’s been cancelled due to rain.
I used to live in Canada.
No, but I had heard of it.
I’ll probably stay in and relax.
She’s been promoted.

Questions

Where have you been recently?
What were you doing when the fire started?
What’s she going to do next?
Why didn’t you help?
How long has he been waiting?
What happened when you got to the party?
What do you do to stay fit?
When was she born?
What are you doing tomorrow?
Have you ever met the Prime Minister?
Why isn’t the match happening?
Did you always live in Poland?
Had you seen that documentary before?
What will you do this weekend?
What happened to her at work?

🔹 Normal / Everyday Characters

A chef who works in a busy restaurant
A teacher who just started a new job
A police officer near retirement
A nurse working night shifts
A bus driver who’s driven the same route for 20 years
A university student preparing for exams
A parent with three young children
A barber who hears everyone’s secrets
A mechanic who loves poetry
A postman who walks 10 miles a day

🔹 Slightly Unusual / Curious Characters

Someone who has just won the lottery
A teacher who hates children
A chef who is allergic to most foods
A police officer who never makes arrests
A traveller who hasn’t been home in 15 years
A person who quits their job every Monday
A student who refuses to use the internet
A gardener who only grows black flowers
A delivery driver who always arrives too early
A librarian who never speaks above a whisper—even outside work