Learn Basic English: Questions, Verbs, and Descriptions

Essential English Questions for Personal Data

Basic Personal Information

• What is your name?
• What is your last name?
• What is your ID Card Number?
• What is your nationality?
• Where are you from? (Example Answer: I am from Chile.)
• What is your telephone number?
• What is your address?
• Where do you live?

How to state your address:

• I live at (complete address)
• I live in (city or district)
• I live on (street or avenue)

• How old are you?
• What is your marital status? (Options: Married, Separated, Divorced, Widowed, Single)
• Are you married?
• What is your profession / occupation?
• What do you do?

Mastering the Verb "To Be" and Possessives

Conjugation of "To Be"

• I = AM
• HE, SHE, IT = IS
• WE, YOU, THEY = ARE

Possessive Adjectives

• I = MY
• YOU (Singular) = YOUR
• HE = HIS
• SHE = HER
• IT = ITS
• WE = OUR
• YOU (Plural) = YOUR
• THEY = THEIR

Classroom and Office Vocabulary

Common items and their Spanish translations:

• Teacher: Profesor/a
• Blackboard / Whiteboard: Pizarrón
• Desk: Escritorio
• Magnifying Glass: Lupa
• Scissors: Tijeras
• Stapler: Corchetera
• Liquid Paper: Corrector
• Marker: Plumón, Marcador
• Ruler: Regla
• Pen / Pencil: Lápiz Pasta, Lápiz Grafito
• Glue Stick: Pegamento
• Pencil Case: Estuche
• Eraser: Goma de Borrar, Borrador
• Folder: Carpeta
• Backpack: Mochila
• Laptop: Computadora Portátil
• Calculator: Calculadora
• Notebook: Cuaderno

Demonstrative Pronouns (This, That, These, Those)

• THIS: Este, Esta, Esto (Used for objects NEAR)
• THAT: Eso, Esa, Ese (Used for objects FAR)
• THESE: Estos, Estas (Used for plural objects NEAR)
• THOSE: Esos, Esas (Used for plural objects FAR)

Identifying Objects

Singular Questions:

• What's this? / What's that?
• Answer Example: It's a dictionary.

Plural Questions:

• What are these? / What are those?
• Answer Example: They're dictionaries.

Detailed Examples:

What's This?

• This is a camera (Cámara)
• It's an earring (Aro)

What Are These?

Note: The verb 'to be' must agree with the plural subject.

• These are cameras
• They're earrings

Common Objects and Prepositions of Place

Everyday Vocabulary

• Sunglasses: Anteojos de Sol
• Keys: Llaves
• Books: Libros
• Newspaper: Diario
• Watch: Reloj Pulsera
• Clock: Reloj Despertador
• Briefcase: Maleta
• Wallet: Billetera
• Chair: Silla
• Hairbrush: Peineta
• Purse: Cartera
• Table: Mesa

Prepositions of Place

• In Front Of: En Frente De
• On: Sobre
• Next To: Al Lado De
• Under: Debajo De
• In: Dentro De
• Behind: Atrás De

Countries, Nationalities, and Languages

Describing People and Places (Adjectives)

Positive and Neutral Traits

What are you like? (¿Cómo eres?)

• Beautiful
• Clean
• Entertaining
• Thin (Delgada)
• Nice
• Intelligent
• Interesting
• Introverted
• Talkative
• Friendly
• Tall
• Empty
• Heavy (Pesado de peso)
• Permissive
• Kind (Considerable)
• Crazy / Insane

Negative and Opposing Traits

• Unfriendly
• Crowded (Repleto de gente)
• Extroverted
• Taciturn
• Light
• Ugly
• Sane
• Boring (Aburrido)
• Unkind (Cruel)
• Authoritarian
• Uninteresting
• Dirty (Sucio)
• Fat
• Nasty (Desagradable)
• Stupid
• Short (Bajito, Corto)

Descriptive Examples

Example: What is Casper like? He is friendly and cute (Tierno). Is Casper black? No, he isn’t. He’s white.

Practice Questions:

• What are you like?
• What is your boyfriend / girlfriend like?
• Is your hometown clean?
• What is your family like?
• Is your life interesting?
• Are your friends crazy?
• What is your best friend like?

Essential WH-Questions

• WHAT: Qué, Cuál
• WHERE: Dónde
• WHO: Quién
• WHEN: Cuándo
• HOW: Cómo