1.

First-class routine

The following routine is very useful for the first 10 minutes of the first class you give. It establishes an
immediate pace to the class. It usually surprises the students and immediately wakes them up to the belief
that their new teacher is quick, agile, and demanding.

The routine is a way for the teacher to introduce him or herself to the new class.

If there is only one student in the class: If there are two or more students in the class:

Ask me: Juan, tell María to ask me:

what my name is
where I’m from
if I’m an English teacher
if I like my job
if I live in Madrid
if I live alone
how long I’ve been in Spain
where I was born
when I was born
if I enjoy living in Spain
if I’m planning to stay for a long time
what time I get up in the morning
how long it takes me to get ready in the morning
what time I leave home in the morning
what time I get back in the evening
what time I usually go to bed
how many hours I sleep every night
if I have breakfast at home
if I have lunch at home
if I have dinner at home
if I know how to cook
if I know how to speak several languages
how many languages I speak fluently
if I have a degree in engineering
if I have a degree in business administration
what I have a degree in
how long I’ve been teaching English
how long I’ve been teaching in this company
if I have any brothers and sisters
how many brothers and sisters I have
if I attended public schools
how old I was when I finished secondary school
how old I was when I started teaching English
what time I got up this morning
how much time I spent preparing this class
what time I got here this morning/afternoon Etc. etc. etc.
Routine 2 – Present perfect– comparison between simple past & present perfect

This following is an active comparison between the present perfect and the simple past.

In Castilian Spanish, people use the present perfect quite often in situations where English-speaking people
employ the simple past. Here is a conversation in Spanish that takes place at 3:00 p.m.:

- Esta mañana me ha llamado mi jefe (Literally: My boss has

called me this morning.)

- ¿Qué te ha dicho?(What has he said to you)

- Me ha recordado que la reunión tendrá lugar la semana que

viene en vez de mañana.(He has reminded me that the
meeting will take place next week instead of tomorrow.)

In English, every verb that appears in the short dialogue would be in the simple past, not in the present
perfect, because the telephone conversation with the boss took place in the morning and the conversation at
hand took place in the afternoon.

It is very important to drill into Spanish speakers of English the importance of differentiating between periods
of time that have ended and periods of time that are still in force (todavía en vigor).

The following routine makes this attempt. In addition, it drills in the usage of irregular verbs in the participle
form.
Link this with Focused Language Review lists 51 and 52

Here is an example of the routine:

TEACHER: How many aspirins did you take last week?

STUDENT: I didn’t take any aspirins last week?

TEACHER: And so far this week?

STUDENT: I haven’t taken any aspirins so far this week?

Notice that the teacher leaves the second question completely open (And so far this week?). This way, the
student is completely on his own to produce the right auxiliary (have) and the participle form (taken).

You can also do this routine backwards in order to drill the simple past. Insist on a positive answer if the
student answers every one of the Simple Past questions in the negative as that is a way for the student to
avoid conjugating the verb.

1. How many financial reports did you read last year? And so far this year?
2. How many times did you see me last week? And so far this week?
3. How many profit and loss statements did you see last week? And so far this week?
4. How many times did you call/ring me last week? And so far this week?
5. How many board meetings were there in your company last week? And so far this week?
6. How many people did you interview last month? And so far this month?
7. How many whiskies/glasses of whiskey did you drink yesterday? And so far today?
8. How many cars did you lease last year? And so far this year?
9. How many emails did you write last month? And so far this month?
10. How many negotiations were there in this office last year? And so far this year?
11. How many sales records did you break last month? And so far this month?
12. How many checks/cheques did you sign yesterday? And so far today?
13. How many people did you headhunt last month? And so far this month?
14. How many times did you use LinkedIn last month? And so far this month?
15. How many office parties did you throw yesterday? And so far today?
16. How many times did you speak to your boss yesterday? And so far today?
17. How many strikes were there in this company last month? And so far this month?
18. How many Powerpoint presentations were there in this office last year? And so far this year?
19. How many stock market crashes were there last year? And so far this year?
20. How many wonderful meetings did you hold yesterday? And so far today?
21. How many times did you forget to come to this class last month? And so far this month?
22. How many e-mails did you read yesterday? And so far today?
23. How many legal letters did you send yesterday? And so far today?
24. How many white-collar crimes were committed in space last month? And so far this month?
25. How many industrial mergers were there in Spain last week? And so far this week?
26. How many banks crashed last year? And so far this year?
27. How many times did you go fishing for information last month? And so far this month?
28. How many times did you launch a product last month? And so far this month?
29. How many brands did you promote last year? And so far this year?
30. How many industrial slumps did Spain suffer last year? And so far this year?
31. How many people did you have to give written warnings to yesterday? And so far today?
32. How many customer complaints did you hear yesterday? And so far today?
33. How many times did you have to calm down your boss last week? And so far this week?
34. How many questions did you answer during the last class? And so far today?
35. How many times did you check the Dow Jones last month? And so far this month?
36. How many times did you challenge the status quo last week? And so far this week?
37. How many times did you write a new operations structure last year? And so far this year?
38. How many times did you bite your tongue (figuratively) yesterday? And so far today?
39. How many times did you bring me here last week? And so far this week?
40. How many budgets did you design last month? And so far this month?
41. How many sales objectives did you set last week? And so far this week?
42. How many Human Resources problems did you solve last month? And so far this month?
43. How many times did you come to class last week? And so far this week?
44. How many formal business plans did you draw up last week? And so far this week?
45. How many serious company problems did you deal with last week? And so far this week?
46. How many times did you cut staff last week? And so far this week?
47. How many important things did you do yesterday? And so far today?
48. How many times did you feel in control of your expenses yesterday? And so far today?
49. How many offers were there last year to buy this company? And so far this year?
50. How many times did you get up before 5:00 a.m. last week? And so far this week?
51. How much money did you save this company yesterday? And so far today?
52. How many times did you fly to France last year? And so far this year?
53. How many times did you fall for a good sales pitch last week? And so far this week?
54. How much humble pie did you have to eat last month? And so far this month?
55. How many times did you go to a Michelin star restaurant last month? And so far this month?
56. How many important gatherings were there in this room yesterday? And so far today?
57. How much money did this company you give away last month? And so far this month?
58. How many times did you go the U.K. last year? And so far this year?
59. How much did the company sales grow last year? And so far this year?
60. How many headaches (figuratively) did you have last week? And so far this week?
61. How many videoconference meetings did you attend yesterday? And so far today?
62. How much did you reduce Capital Expenditure by last year? And so far this year?
63. How many times did your company get hit with a lawsuit last month? And so far this month?
64. How many acquisition threats were there here last month? And so far this month?
65. How many times did you slap a lawsuit on your competitors last week? And so far this week?
66. How many times did you keep your boss waiting last week? And so far this week?
67. How many sales teams did you lead last year? And so far this year?
68. How many times did you leave Spain on business last month? And so far this month?
69. How many times did you give business tips to your colleagues last week? And so far this week?
70. How much money did you stake on a new business project last month? And so far this month?
71. How many times did you go against your gut instinct last week? And so far this week?
72. How much money was lost on Wall Street last month? And so far this month?
73. How many transport strikes were there in Madrid last week? And so far this week?
74. How many telephone conferences did you have yesterday? And so far today?
75. How many invoices did you dispute yesterday? And so far today?
76. How much money did you put on this table yesterday? And so far today?
77. How many financial reports did you edit last week? And so far this week?
78. How many times did you cut costs last month? And so far this month?
79. How many times did your telephone ring yesterday? And so far today?
80. How many times did the NASDAQ index rise yesterday? And so far today?
81. How many Americans were there in your office yesterday? And so far today?
82. How many marathons meetings did you hold last year? And so far this year?
83. How many times did you say “hello” in English yesterday? And so far today?
84. How many bear markets occurred last week? And so far this week?
85. How many bull markets occurred last week? And so far this year?
86. How many letters of credit did you send last year? And so far this year?
87. How many balance sheets did you show me last week? And so far this week?
88. How many E.G.M.s were there in this company last week? And so far this week?
89. How many times did your company shut down operations last year? And so far this year?
90. How many A.G.M.s were there in this company yesterday? And so far today?
91. How many times did you chair a meeting last week? And so far this week?
92. How many times did you convene a meeting last month? And so far this month?
93. How many times did you speak to me about office politics yesterday? And so far today?
94. How many fleet leasing contracts did you sign week? And so far this week?
95. How much American money did you spend last week? And so far this week?
96. How many rapid-fire promotions were there in your company last month? And so far this month?
97. How many times did I teach you about profit margins last week? And so far this week?
98. How many times did you take your work home last month? And so far this month?
99. How many expenses did you sign off on yesterday? And so far today?
100. How many times did you think about Elon Musk yesterday? And so far today?
101. How many important receipts did you throw away yesterday? And so far today?
102. How many times did you catch a red-eye flight last week? And so far this week?
103. How many mergers were there in the software sector last year? And so far this year?
104. How many different managerial hats did you wear last week? And so far this week?
105. How many boardroom battles did you win last month? And so far this month?
106. How many business expansion reports did you write last week? And so far this week?
107. How many industrial disputes did you avert yesterday? And so far today?
108. How many times did you drop off in a meeting last week? And so far this week?
109. How many times did you fight with your colleagues last week? And so far this week?
110. How many times did you drive a new initiative last year? And so far this year?
111. How many times did your colleagues drive you crazy last week? And so far this week?
112. How many times did you drive a product launch last month? And so far this month?
113. How many bad debtors did lawyers take to the cleaners last month? And so far this month?
114. How many times did you take me to the airport last year? And so far this year?
115. How many CFOs did you hire last month? And so far this month?
116. How many classes did you miss last week? And so far this week?
117. How many inspirational quotes did you hear yesterday? And so far today?
118. How many times did you put your foot in it (figuratively) last week? And so far this week?
119. How many times did you teach me Spanish business etiquette last year? And so far this year?
120. How many stunning sales pitches did you hear last week? And so far this week?
ROUTINE 3: Present perfect with “never” + irregular verb practice

Eliciting “have/has” never + participle”

This is an especially effective drill for improving students’ mastery of irregular verbs in participle form. In
addition, it elicits the use of “there has been” or “there have been”, a form that hardly anyone in Spain uses
or even knows.

First, start with something you know the student has done:

 When was the last time you went to a restaurant?

Student: The last time I went to a restaurant was....

 Ask two more questions about something you are sure the student has done.

From this point on, ask things you know they have never done (try eliciting both forms below):

 When was the last time you ate kangaroo meat?

I’ve never eaten kangaroo meat.

I haven’t ever eaten kangaroo meat.

 When did you last find a million dollars in the street?

I’ve never found a million dollars in the street.

I haven’t ever found a million dollars in (or on) the street.

The last two questions formulated above by the teacher are each worded differently. This is purposely
to avoid “giving away” the participle form of the verb. If in the second example the teacher had asked:
When was the last time you found a million dollars in the street?, the student would have heard the
form “found” and would not have been forced to come out with the right participle form on his or her
own.

The following sentences are for the teacher to ask. Remember that for students to really master a grammatical
form, they must say it hundreds and hundreds of times. Rafa Nadal says that the only way to develop a strong
forehand in tennis is to hit 10,000 forehands.
If you elicit both forms, 10 questions from you becomes 20 answers from them. 10 consecutive
questions should be your limit.

1. When was the last time you went to the North Pole? (The correct answer is “I’ve never gone…)
2. When was the last time you flew to Mongolia?
3. When did Ireland last win the football World Cup?
4. When was the last time you took me to the airport?
5. When was the last time there was a tornado in Madrid?
6. When was the last time you were an English teacher?
7. When was the last time you gave Shrek a tip?
8. When did you last have 4 doses of the flu at the same time?
9. When was the last time you were able to live without food and water?
10. When did you last have a 1,000º fever?

11. When was the last time there was a dead body in the trunk (boot) of your car?
12. When did you last have a cough that sounded like a piano?
13. When was the last time this class lasted 10 hours?
14. When did you last have an elephant on your head?
15. When did you last bring me a present?
16. When did you last fight in a war?
17. When did you last buy a Lamborghini?
18. When was the last time there were five general elections in the same year in Spain?
19. When did you last teach me the irregular verbs in English?
20. When was the last time you were able to use the irregular verbs perfectly?

21. When was the last time you saw a UFO?

22. When was the last time you spoke English as well as Barack Obama?
23. When was the last time you broke a world record?
24. When was the last time it took you 10 minutes to tell a joke?
25. When was the last time there was a giraffe in your family?
26. When was the last time this class began at 7:00 am?
27. When was the last time you were able to work and sleep at the same time?
28. When did you last bring a Cuban cigar to this class?
29. When did you last build an igloo?
30. When was the last time there were some famous actors in your house?

31. When did you last buy a Rolls Royce?

32. When did you last catch a train at 3:00 o’clock in the morning?
33. When was the last time you chose glass shoes instead of leather shoes?
34. When was the last time there was a Buddhist monk in your house?
35. When was the last time it took you a year to sell a car?
36. When was the last time you came here with Santa Claus?
37. When was the last time a paper clip cost a million dollars?
38. When was the last time you were injured while brushing your teeth?
39. When was the last time it took you five days to tie your laces?
40. When was the last time you did a favor for the Pope?

41. When was the last time you drew a picture of my shoe?
42. When was the last time you drove a racecar?
43. When was the last time you were able to see through solid matter?
44. When was the last time you ate 20 hamburgers in one day?
45. When was the last time you were told to kill a person?
46. When was the last time you fell in love with a letter box?
47. When did you last feel a burning sensation in your left ear?
48. When did you last find 20 dollars on a bus?
49. When was the last time you flew in a balloon?
50. When was the last time you forgot your own name?

51. When was the last time Spain was invaded by the Chinese?
52. When was the last time it took you 10 hours to drive to Segovia?
53. When did you last get here at 5:00 am?
54. When was the last time you were able to push a car up a steep hill?
55. When was the last time you gave money to Tom Cruise?
56. When was the last time you went to Italy in a rowboat?
57. When was the last time you grew 50 centimeters in one year?
58. When did you last have an offer to work on the moon?
59. When was the last time this company was investigated for selling polar bears?
60. When did you last hear the Pope tell a joke?

61. When did you last hear a song written by me?

62. When was the last time it took you four years to find a parking space?
63. When was the last time you hid money under your refrigerator?
64. When was the last time you hurt my feelings?
65. When was the last time your family was sent to the South Pole?
66. When did you last keep me waiting for two hours?
67. When was the last time you were able to live without working?
68. When was the last time you knew how to paint like Goya?
69. When did you last lead troops into battle?
70. When did you last lead a meeting on the subject of Albanian butterflies?

71. When did you last leave this class on a donkey?

72. When did you last lend me a million dollars?
73. When was the last time you let me use your car?
74. When was the last time there was a fire in your fridge?
75. When did you last lose all your fingernails in one day?
76. When did you last make an effort to learn Danish?
77. When did you last meet a man with three arms?
78. When was the last time it took you three years to find a pharmacy?
79. When did you last pay a bill in Danish crowns?
80. When was the last time there were 100 people in your house?

81. When was the last time you put your feet in boiling oil?
82. When was the last time you were able to find enough time to study English properly?
83. When did you last read a novel in Polish?
84. When did you last ring the bells in St. Peter’s Basilica?
85. When was the last time it took you two months to locate a plumber?
86. When was the last time there was a torture chamber in your company?
87. When was the last time prices rose by 300% in one year in Spain?
88. When was the last time you ran from your house to the office?
89. When did you last say something offensive to me?
90. When was the last time you saw someone flying on a magic carpet?

91. When did you last sell something for a million dollars?
92. When was the last time it took you 10 hours to cook a meal?
93. When was the last time there were some nuclear disasters in the Canary Islands?
94. When did you last send me a message by carrier pigeon?
95. When was the last time you showed me something worth a million dollars?
96. When was the last time you were able to read people’s minds?
97. When was the last time you shut a door on my finger?
98. When was the last time there was a major earthquake in Madrid?
99. When was the last time you sang something in Russian?
100. When did you last sit down on a chocolate cake?

101. When did you last sleep under a bridge?

102. When was the last time to spoke to someone about the current problems in Tanzania?
103. When did you last spend a pleasant day in Sacramento, California?
104. When did you last spend the day with a flock of seagulls?
105. When was the last time Brad Pitt stole money from the company safe?
106. When was the last time it took you an hour to wash your hair?
107. When was the last time you took someone to a Slovakian restaurant?
108. When did you last teach someone how to operate a printing press?
109. When did you last tell someone to grow pineapples?
110. When was the last time you were able to get to work in only five seconds?

111. When did you last think about the traffic problems in Helsinki?
112. When did you last think about investing in the Algerian stock market?
113. When was the last time there was a volcanic eruption in the Madrid area?
114. When did you last understand Lithuanian perfectly?
115. When did you last understand Quantum Physics perfectly?
116. When did you last wake up in a crystal palace?
117. When was the last time it took you three hours to find your nose?
118. When was the last time you wore something made in Alaska?
119. When did you last wear a tie made of steel?

120. When did you last win the first prize in the Christmas lottery?
121. When did you last win an archery contest?
122. When did you last write a letter to the president of Spain?
123. When did you last write a report on the influence of Eskimos on the Mexican economy?
124. When was the last time you did something for Zambian ambassador?
125. When was the last time you went to the Zambian embassy?
126. When were you last in a Malaysian pub?
127. When was the last time you became ill from eating almonds?
128. When did you last begin work at 5:00 am.?
129. When was the last time you blew up a bridge?

130. When did you last bring a gun to class?

131. When did you last build a house with your own hands?
132. When did you last buy a Persian rug for your bathroom?
133. When did you last catch a train to Copenhagen?
134. When did you last choose a squirrel as your personal chef?
135. When was the last time you came here by limousine?
136. When was the last time a Rolls Royce cost less than a refrigerator?
137. When did you last deal with a stockbroker while combing your hair?
138. When was the last time you did business with a Russian vodka dealer?
139. When was the last time you drove my car?
140. When did you last drink 10 liters of olive oil in one day?

141. When was the last time you ate a plate of spaghetti with your fingers?
142. When was the last time prices fell by 30% in one year?
143. When did you last feel hungry after eating an Irish Stew?
144. When did you last fight a gladiator?
145. When did you last find a 500 euro note in the street?
146. When did you last get a letter from the president of Italy?
147. When was the last time you went to New York by ship?
148. When was the last time you grew 40 centimeters in one month?
149. When did you last have lunch in a Bolivian restaurant?
150. When did you last hear me speak English with a Mississippi accent?

151. When did you last hold a meeting in the Royal Palace?
152. When did you last keep your money in a fireplace?
153. When was the last time you knew a person who had 25 children?
154. When did you last lead an army into battle?
155. When did you last leave your office at 4:00 am.
156. When did you last lend me your fountain pen?
157. When was the last time you let me drive your car?
158. When did you last meet the president of France?
159. When did you last lose a million euro in a casino?
160. When did you last pay for a car in Swedish crowns?

161. When was the last time you put a lemon in your coffee?
162. When did you last read a book written by a dog?
163. When was the last time the sun rose in the west?
164. When was the last time you ran 50 kilometers in one day?
165. When was the last time you saw an Indonesian calendar?
166. When did you last sell a Persian rug?
167. When did you last send a Christmas card to Taylor Swift?
168. When did you last set objectives for the Bank of Spain?
169. When did you last shut a door on my big toe?
170. When did you last sit on top of a single-decker bus?

171. When did you last sleep in a prison?

172. When did you last speak to me about the problems in Angola?
173. When did you last spend the night composing Mongolian music?
174. When did you last stand on this table?
175. When did you last steal a car?
176. When did you last take me to Toledo?
177. When did you last teach me Spanish?
178. When did you last tell me a joke about Liam Hemsworth?
179. When did you last think about the economic situation in Tunisia?

180. When was the last time you threw away a valuable painting?
181. When did you last understand English as well as Bruce Springsteen does?
182. When did you last wear a hat made of wood?
183. When did you last win a bridge tournament?
184. When did you last discuss politics with a rat?
185. When did you last fall from the top of a tall building?
186. When did you last fall on the stairs while climbing the Eiffel Tower?
187. When did you last fight an Alsatian?
188. When did you last seek a solution to drought?
189. When did you last catch a dragonfly?
190. When was the last time you beat the All Blacks?
Routine 4: Mastering the interrogative

Some easy modifications you can add to this old classic (particularly with higher levels):
1. Have them answer the question – e.g. Teacher: “It’s on the floor.” Maria: “Where is it?”
Paco: “It’s on the floor.”
2. Verb tense changes – e.g. Paco “Where is it?” Teacher. “Maria – yesterday!” Maria. “Where
was it?” Teacher: “Pepe, tomorrow with will!” Pepe: “Where will it be?” Teacher: Carmen:
“Tomorrow with going to!” Carmen: “Where is it going to be?”
3. Be ready to prompt with the first question word if it takes them more than 2 seconds to
reply to you.
4. Try have them change some questions into the negative: “Where isn’t it?” (Don’t worry if
the negative form is illogical – sell it to them as an agility drill.
5. Break these down into groups of 12 – 15 at a time – that way you keep it from dragging on
too long.
6. Use exaggerated intonation and a visual signal (tap the desk for example) when
enunciating the underlined part.
7. Insist, insist and insist again that the student uses proper intonation.

It’s on the floor. Where is it?

It’s a book. What is it?
It’s yellow. What color is it?
It’s mine. Whose is it?
It’s tomorrow. When is it?
It’s two o’clock. What time is it?
It’s from Japan. Where is it from?
It’s this one. Which one is it?
I’m John. Who are you?
I’m a teacher. What do you do?
I’m fine, thank you. How are you?
He’s working. What’s he doing?

He’s tall and slim. What does he look like?

He’s funny and easy to work with. What’s he like?
He comes here twice a week. How often does he come here?
He has lunch at two o’clock every day. What time does he have lunch every day?
There are two. How many are there?
She’s one meter, 74 centimeters. How tall is she?
They are studying. What are they doing?
She’s from Italy. Where is she from?
I see them about twice a week. How often do you see them?
He’ll be here tomorrow. When will he be here?
They’ll go there by train. How will they go there?
There are 7 people in the waiting room. How many people are there in the waiting room?

It’s 160 miles from Cork to Dublin. How far is it from Cork to Dublin?
It takes 3 hours to drive to Valencia. How long does it take to drive to Valencia?
My sister smokes Marlboro. What kind of cigarettes does your sister smoke?
My brother lives in Boston. Where does your brother live?
My uncle has three children. How many children does your uncle have?
My uncle’s wife is Japanese. What nationality is your uncle’s wife?
My uncle drives a BMW. What kind of car does your uncle drive?
It takes him 10 minutes to drive to work. How long does it take him to drive to work?
He works 10 hours a day. How many hours a day does he work?
He works in a bank. Where does he work?
The capital of Arizona is Phoenix. What’s the capital of Arizona?
It’s located in the center of the state. Where is it located?

How many people are there in Phoenix?

There are about 1.5 million people in Phoenix.
It has four art museums. How many art museums does it have?
There are three bedrooms in my house. How many bedrooms are there in your house?
Mine is the biggest one. Which one is yours?
That book is mine. Whose book is that?
Those documents are theirs. Whose documents are those?
She calls me twice a week. How often does she call you?
He’s coming later on this afternoon. When’s he coming?
I’ll contact him tomorrow morning. When will you contact him?
They’ll be here until 5:00 p.m. How long will they be here?
It takes 20 minutes to repair it. How long does it take to repair it?
He comes here because he likes the food. Why does he come here?

It rains here about twice a week. How often does it rain here?
He loses his voice at least twice a year. How often does he lose his voice?
He works with Mr. Smith. Who does he work with?
He’s from Toledo, Ohio. Where’s he from?
He comes to work by car. How does he come to work?
He listens to the classical music station. What radio station does he listen to?
They pay me 10 dollars a month. How much do they pay you?
He pays me once a month. How often does he pay you?
He’s tall, dark, and handsome. What does he look like?
He’s pleasant, intelligent, and hard-working. What is he like?
He shouts when he gets angry. What does he do when he gets angry?
She visits her sister when she finishes work. What does she do when she finishes work?

I read the newspaper when I get to work. What do you do when you get to work?
He takes an aspirin when he has a headache. What does he do when he has a headache?
He has headaches about once a month. How often does he have headaches?
We went to the restaurant last Saturday. When did you go to the restaurant?
I lost my money in the casino. Where did you lose your money?
I was at home last night. Where were you last night?
I was watching TV last night at 10 p.m. What were your doing last night at 10 p.m.?
I was with Pepe last night. Who were you with last night?
They were at the party for 2 hours. How long were they at the party?
I spent 100 dollars on gasoline. How much did you spend on gasoline?
He came to see me yesterday afternoon. When did he come to see you?
We won seven matches. How many matches did you win?

They lost two games. How many games did they lose?
I made only two mistakes. How many mistakes did you make?
He did it last night. When did he do it?
He did it because I paid him. Why did he do it?
Bronze is made from copper and tin. What is bronze made from?
I took Peter to the airport. Where did you take Peter?
I took Peter to the airport. Who did you take to the airport?
I took Peter to the airport. Who took Peter to the airport?
I take Peter to the airport every week. Who do you take to the airport every week?
I take Peter to the airport every week. Where do you take Peter every week?
I take Peter to the airport every week. How often do you take Peter to the airport?
I will take Peter to the airport. Who will you take to the airport?

I taught him three hours of class. How many hours of class did you teach him?
They lent me 100 dollars. How much did they lend you?
John F. Kennedy became president in 1960. When did John F. Kennedy become president?
The Second World War lasted 6 years. How long did the Second World War last?
The meeting lasted 3 hours. How long did the meeting last?
The house has 10 windows. How many windows does the house have?
I live on the second floor. Which floor do you live on?
I’m learning to fly. What are you doing?
I was born in the USA. Where were you born?
I’m on the highway to hell. Where are you?
I have a famous blue raincoat. What do you have?
You’re going to hear me roar. What am I going to hear you do?

I was 23 years old when I met her. How old were you when you met her?
I was 8 years old when Kennedy was killed. How old were you when Kennedy was killed?
I came to Spain when I was 22 years old. How old were you when you came to Spain?
I came to Spain with a friend of mine. Who did you come to Spain with?
I spoke to Peter last night. Who did you speak to last night?
My sister drives a Ford Fiesta. What kind of car does your sister drive?
I grew up in a semi-detached house. What kind of house did you grow up in?
The Shannon is the longest river in Britain and What is the longest river in Britain and Ireland?
Ireland.
Alaska is the biggest state in the United States. What is the biggest state in the United States?
Salem is the capital of Oregon. What is the capital of Oregon?
Albany is the capital of New York state. What is the capital of New York State?
Boston is the capital of the Commonwealth of What is the capital of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts. Massachusetts?

The plane took off at 2:30. What time did the plane take off?
He brought me a glass of water. What did he bring you?
There were 300 people at the wedding. How many people were there at the wedding?
He got here at 3 p.m. yesterday. What time did he get here yesterday?
I got married in 1977. When did you get married?
She found her handbag in her husband’s car. Where did she find her handbag?
I did it because I wanted to impress you. Why did you do it?
She left him because he was a bad cook. Why did she leave him?
I had lunch with him twice last week. How many times did you have lunch with him last week?
I gave it to her because it was hers. Why did you give it to her?
I went to the police station to report a crime. Why did you go to the police station?
It was difficult for me because I hadn’t studied. Why was it difficult for you?

I was angry because the food was bad. Why were you angry?
I was driving to work when I heard the news. What were you doing when you heard the news?
They were at home when it happened. Where were they when it happened?
I’ve seen him twice so far this week. How many times have you seen him so far this week?
I’ve spoken to him once today. How many times have you spoken to him today?
I speak to him about once a month. How often do you speak to him?
Christopher Columbus discovered America. Who discovered America?
He discovered America in 1492. When did he discover America?
It took him 2 months to reach the New World. How long did it take him to reach the New World?
He took 7 natives back to Spain. How many natives did he take back to Spain?
He made 3 more trips to America. How many more trips did he make to America?
He died when he was 67. How old was he when he died?
He was living in Valladolid when he died. Where was he living when he died?
He was married for 37 years. How long was he married?
His wife was 64 years old when he died. How old was his wife when he died?

It’s made of wood. What is it made of?

I feel fine, thank you. How do you feel?
Morgan did it. Who did it?
He did it last night. When did he do it?
I have 3 pages left. How many pages do you have left?
Two million dollars was donated to the fund. How much money was donated to the fund?
The police caught him in the train station. Where did the police catch him?
The meeting took place in the boardroom. Where did the meeting take place?
I’ll talk to him tomorrow. When will you talk to him?
Three bodies have been recovered so far. How many bodies have been rescued so far?
This letter is for Patricia. Who is this letter for?
This letter is addressed to Carol. Who is this letter addressed to?

I’ll be ready in 10 minutes. When will you be ready?

I didn’t go because I had to work. Why didn’t you go?
He’s working for Peter Jones. Who is he working for?
It will be finished next week. When will it be finished?
I saw a spider. What did you see?
This isn’t what I want. Is this what you want?
I’ve called her twice so far today. How many times have you called her so far today?
It will begin in three days. When will it begin?
I gave him a book. What did you give him?
I’m worried because I lost my job. Why are you worried?
It was canceled due to a lack of time. Why was it canceled?
I can throw a baseball 80 meters. How far can you throw a baseball?

I can run 100 meters in ten seconds. How fast can you run 100 meters?
I can climb up to 7 kilometers without oxygen. How high can you climb without oxygen?
I weigh 75 kilos. How much do you weigh?
The Picasso tower is 60 stories. How tall is the Picasso tower?
We’ll need 20 people for the project. How many people will you need for the project?
A final decision will be made next week. When will a final decision be made?
A bottle opener is for opening bottles. What’s a bottle opener for?
A cigarette lighter is for lighting cigarettes. What’s a cigarette lighter for?
I use a cigarette lighter to light fires. What do you use a cigarette lighter for?
The meeting is going to last for 50 minutes. How long is the meeting going to last for?
There are 5 candidates. How many candidates are there?
There were 3 people on the shortlist. How many people were there on the shortlist?

It took me 5 minutes to look up the word. How long did it take you to look up the word?
Birds migrate in autumn. What do birds do in autumn?
He died at 3 a.m. When did he die?
He died of a heart attack. How did he die?
I need about 4 hours. How much time do you need?
I was at home. Where were you?
I couldn’t do it because I didn’t have time. Why couldn’t you do it?
There will be a meeting next week. When will there be a meeting?
It was transferred to a secret account. Where was it transferred?
We’ve issued 37 invoices today. How many invoices have you issued today?
I’ve sent out 112 Christmas cards so far. How many Christmas cards have you sent out so far?
There have been 2 meetings this week How many meetings have there been this week?

I’ll be ready in 10 minutes. When will you be ready?

I can be there within 20 minutes. How soon can you be here?
I took her to a basketball game. Where did you take her?
I didn’t do anything to him. What did you do to him?
I chose the red one. Which one did you choose?
I met them in 1991. When did you meet them?
She became Prime Minister in 1980. When did she become Prime Minister?
He broke 2 world records. How many world records did he break?
Seven windows were broken during the fight. How many windows were broken during the fight?
She brought me a coffee and a piece of cake. What did she bring you?
It was built in 1990. When was it built?
I didn’t build it because I didn’t have a license. Why didn’t you build it?

They bought it in a shop near their house. Where did they buy it?
The thief was caught in the train station. Where was the thief caught?
I caught the fish with a net. How did you catch the fish?
The speech lasted 30 minutes. How long did the speech last?
The candidates were chosen by secret vote. How were the candidates chosen?
I chose that one because it was cheaper. Why did you choose that one?
I came by car. How did you come?
It’s mine. Whose is it?
The blue one belongs to me. Which one belongs to you?
Mine is the blue one. Which one is yours?
Mine is blue. What color is yours?
It’s in my car. Where is it?

It costs around $2,000. How much does it cost?

It cost around $2,000. How much did it cost?
It’s $20. How much is it?
It would cost $12 if you paid in cash. How much would it cost if I paid in cash?
It costs a lot because it’s made of gold. Why does it cost so much?
We’ll cut our prices 10% next year. How much will you cut your prices next year?
Our prices were cut by 5% last year. How much were your prices cut last year?
I deal with them almost every day. How often do you deal with them?
We dealt with that issue in the last meeting. When did you deal with that issue?
I did it yesterday. When did you do it?
It was done last week. When was it done?
It will be done next week. When will it be done?

It’s been done twice this week. How many times has it been done this week?
Peter did it. Who did it?
Peter did it because he knew the process. Why did Peter do it?
John usually does it. Who usually does it?
John does it because it’s his responsibility. Why does John do it?
John is a lawyer. What does John do?
I’ve drunk three beers so far today. How many beers have you drunk so far today?
I drink about four beers every day. How many beers do you drink every day?
I drank two beers before dinner last night. How many beers did you drink before dinner last night?
Four people got drunk at the party last night. How many people got drunk at the party last night?
Ten people voted in favour last year. How many people voted in favour last year?
They caught three burglars red-handed. How many burglars did they catch red-handed?

He drinks a lot because he’s unhappy. Why does he drink so much?

I drive a Mercedes. What kind of car do you drive?
My wife drives a Renault. What kind of car does your wife drive?
He drives me crazy because he talks too fast. Why does he drive you crazy?
She loves them because they’re her children. Why does she love them?
I’ve driven there twice so far this month. How many times have you driven there so far this month?
I ate an omelet for breakfast this morning. What did you eat for breakfast this morning?
He eats at home every day. Where does he eat every day?
Prices fell last year because of the recession. Why did prices fall last year?
I fell down because she pushed me. Why did you fall down?
My son has fallen from that tree three times. How many times has your son fallen from that tree?
Prices are falling because nobody is buying. Why are prices falling?

Interest rates fell 2% last year. How much did interest rates fall last year?
I feel better today, thank you. How do you feel today?
She feels optimistic about the prospects. How does she feel about the prospects?
I feel like staying at home. What do you feel like doing?
I feel afraid when I enter a hospital. How do you feel when you enter a hospital?
The battle was fought 9 miles east of Paris. Where was the battle fought?
We are fighting for our rights. What are you fighting for?
I found it in the kitchen. Where did you find it?
The boy was found near the supermarket. Where was the boy found?
He finds his customers through advertising. How does he find his customers?
You can find bargains in the Rastro. Where can I find bargains?
Peter found the report. Who found the report?

He flew to Paris last week. When did he fly to Paris?

He flies to Paris twice a month. How often does he fly to Paris?
I’ve flown to London twice this month. How many times have you flown to London this month?
I forgot it because I left home in a hurry. Why did you forget it?
I’ve forgotten it three times this month. How many times have you forgotten it this month?
We got four Christmas cards yesterday. How many Christmas cards did you get yesterday?
There were 40,000 people at the match. How many people were there at the match?
12 units of the fire brigade attended the scene. How many units of the fire brigade attended the scene?
The CEO presided over the meeting. Who presided over the meeting?
The project was delayed due to an objection. Why was the project delayed?
The European headquarters are in Dublin. Where are the European headquarters?

I got married in 1982. When did you get married?

He gets here at 8:00 every morning. What time does he get here every morning?
The party was last night. When was the party?
The last class was given last week. When was the last class given?
Peter gave the last class. Who gave the last class?
I didn’t give the last class because I was ill. Why didn’t you give the last class?
She usually gives me a tie for my birthday. What does she usually give you for your birthday?
I gave you two classes last week. How many classes did you give me last week?
She teaches 20 hours of class a week. How many hours of class does she teach a week?
I’m tired because this list is too long. Why are you tired?
It’s 11:20. What time is it?
He went to bed an hour ago. When did he go to bed?

I called you yesterday because it was your Why did you call me yesterday?
birthday.
I overslept twice last week. How many times did you oversleep last week?
If I had a choice, I would go there by car. How would you go there if you had a choice?
It will arrive tomorrow. When will it arrive?
I don’t have anything to do tomorrow. What do you have to do tomorrow?
I have to do it because it’s my duty. Why do you have to do it?
I told her the truth because I don’t like to lie. Why did you tell her the truth?
She’s tall, slim, and elegant. What does she look like?
She sings like an opera star. How does she sing?
She wears a dress when she goes out. What does she wear when she goes out?
She gets angry with her friends when they’re late. What does she do when her friends are late?
She likes Italian food. What kind of food does she like?

She walks to work every day. How does she go to work every day?
She’s from Argentina. Where is she from?
Her name is Pandora. What’s her name?
She’s pleasant, funny, and intelligent. What’s she like?
She’s tall, has dark eyes and dark hair. What does she look like?
She came to Spain 4 years ago. When did she come to Spain?
She was born in 1987. Where was she born?
She’s from the southern part of Argentina. Which part of Argentina is she from?
She has a degree in Civil Engineering. What does she have a degree in?
She’ll meet us in Bilbao tomorrow morning. When will she meet us in Bilbao?
The River Thames flows through London. What/which river flows through London? (have them say
both)
The US Tennis Open is played in New York. Where is the US Tennis Open played?

My first impression of her was good. What was your first impression of her?
I see her every day. How often do you see her?
The last time I saw her was last night. When was the last time you saw her?
He has four lists left. How many lists does he have left?
There are 15 minutes left. How much time is there left?
It’s been 4 months since I saw him. How long has it been since you saw him?
There have been 3 crash courses this month. How many crash courses have there been this month?
There was only one crash course last month. How many crash courses were there last month?
There are going to be 2 courses next month. How many courses are there going be next month?
The meeting was held last Tuesday. When was the meeting held?
Sales grew 47% last year. How much did sales grow last year?
We had to close 2 factories. How many factories did you have to close?
We had to lay off 300 workers. How many workers did you have to lay off?
37 people were killed in the accident. How many people were killed in the accident?
It was my fault. Whose fault was it?
They are coming later this afternoon. When are they coming?
The trade fair took place in early October. When did the trade fair take place?
I was at home when it happened. Where were you when it happened?
I would have fired him if he had done that. What would you have done if he had done that?
We sold 3 units last week. How many units did you sell last week?
“Talar” means to cut down trees. What does “talar” mean?
I looked up the word in the Collins dictionary. Where did you look up the word?
We started last week. When did you start?
Peter gave the opening speech. Who gave the opening speech?
It took him 20 minutes to cover that subject. How long did it take him to cover that subject?
It takes me five minutes to shave. How long does it take you to shave?
The price should be raised 10%. How much should the price be raised?
It costs $20. How much does it cost?
It’s worth only $10. How much is it worth?
It will be finished next week. When will it be finished?

Class 11

The subject of the meeting was bonuses. What was the subject of the meeting?
It lasted 45 minutes. How long did it last?
He used a knife to open the door. What did he use to open the door?
There are 6 people on the committee. How many people are there on the committee?
It sounds like a locomotive. What does it sound like?
It tastes like orange juice. What does it taste like?
It looks like a medieval castle. What does it look like?
It smells like cheap perfume. What does it smell like?
It feels like rabbit fur. What does it feel like?
I live on the north side of the street. Which side of the street do you live on?
They can’t come because they need more time. Why can’t they come?
They shouldn’t do it now because it’s too soon. Why shouldn’t they do it now?
I’m looking at a photograph. What are you looking at?
I’m talking to Peter. Who are you talking to?
I would like to speak to Jennifer, please. Who would you like to speak to?
I’m looking for my wallet. What are you looking for?
I’m waiting for Morgan. Who are you waiting for?
I’m looking forward to his visit. What are you looking forward to?
I’m listening to the radio. What are you listening to?
I’m taking care of my sister’s baby. Who are you taking care of?
I’m going out with Jennifer. Who are you going out with?
I’m having lunch with Fred tomorrow. Who are you having lunch with tomorrow?
I spoke to John yesterday. Who did you speak to yesterday?
I went out with Patricia last night. Who did you go out with last night?
The meeting was called off because of me. Why was the meeting called off?
I gave it to Mary. Who did you give it to?
I said hello to Nancy. Who did you say hello to?
I did it for Joseph. Who did you do it for?
I sent it to Sam. Who did you send it to?
I ordered it from Perkins Supplies. Who did you order it from?

Class 12
I called him from Burgos. Where did you call him from?
This package is for Pauline. Who is this package for?
That letter is from Andrew. Who is that letter from?
When you saw me, I was talking to Jennifer. Who were you talking to when I saw you?
I’m worried about the new project. What are you worried about?
I’m nervous about my presentation tomorrow. What are you nervous about?
I’m thinking about an old girlfriend of mine. What/Who are you thinking about?
He’s talking about the cost of the project. What is he talking about?
I work with Norman. Who do you work with?
I’m staying with an old friend of mine. Who are you staying with?
He’s pointing at the broken window. What’ss he pointing at?
She’s shouting at her husband. Who is she shouting at?
A can opener is for opening cans. What is a can opener for?
I’m here to help you. What are you here for/Why are you here?
This manual is for repairing the machine. What is this manual for?
I’m looking up the word “sastre”. What word are you looking up?
I have to pick up Jennifer at the airport. Who do you have to pick up at the airport?
He fell in love with Dorothy. Who did he fall in love with?
I tried on the green shirt first. Which shirt did you try on first?
He’s going to take out Nancy tonight. Who is he going to take out tonight?
I’m asking for a postponement. What are you asking for?
I asked for Peter. Who did you ask for?
I’m going to throw away those old papers. What are you going to throw away?
They left out the address. What did they leave out?
I’m sitting on a portable chair. What are you sitting on?
I’m working with Harry on this project. Who are you working with on this project?
I’m working on the new budget. What are you working on?
He always talks about his girlfriend. Who does he always talk about?
He likes to complain about boss Who does he like to complain about?
She’s standing on a wooden platform. What is she standing on?

Class 13

My kids are playing with my brother’s son. Who are your kids playing with?
They laid off 34 workers. Who many workers did they lay off?
They’re from Cincinnati. Where are they from?
I’m not working because I’m sick. Why aren’t you working?
He’s not ready because he’s not dressed. Why isn’t he ready?
She’s not here because she’s late. Why isn’t she here?
We’re not happy because the results are bad. Why aren’t you happy?
They’re not with us because they left. Why aren’t they with you?
There isn’t a party tonight because I’m sick. Why isn’t there a party tonight?
There are no rats here because it’s too cold. Why aren’t there any rats here?
There wasn’t a meeting because of the strike. Why wasn’t there a meeting?
There weren’t any trees because of the altitude. Why weren’t there any trees?
She doesn’t drive because she’s visually Why doesn’t she drive?
impaired.
I don’t do it more often because I don’t like to do Why don’t you do it more often?
it.
He doesn’t like it because it smells bad. Why doesn’t he like it?
I wasn’t there because I couldn’t start my car. Why weren’t you there?
You weren’t informed because you weren’t there. Why wasn’t I informed?
You weren’t invited because you’re not a member. Why wasn’t I invited?
Your name wasn’t on the list because you’re new. Why wasn’t my name on the list?
They weren’t ready because they overslept. Why weren’t they ready?
I didn’t do it because it was too late. Why didn’t you do it?
Elvis Presley was from Memphis. Where was Elvis Presley from?
My version was chosen. Whose version was chosen?
It’s theirs. Whose is it?
Peter’s job was eliminated. Whose job was eliminated?
Jenny’s car was stolen. Whose car was stolen?
I’m waiting for my little brother. Who are you waiting for?
They’re planning to hold the meeting next week. When are they planning to hold the meeting?
It was finished a couple of days ago. When was it finished?
It was approved yesterday evening. When was it approved?

Class 14

He will be promoted next month. When will he be promoted?

The meeting will be held in the boardroom. Where will the meeting be held?
I think it will last around 3 hours. How long do you think it will last?
The last one lasted only an hour and a half. How long did the last one last?
It usually lasts around two hours. How long does it usually last?
It would last only an hour if I were the chairman. How long would it last if you were the chairman?
You can find a cigarette machine on the sixth Where can I find a cigarette machine?
floor.
You need to submit an application to be included. What do I need to do to be included?
You have to join the club to be invited to the party. What do I have to do to be invited to the party?
You should go to the ministry to get the permit. Where should I go to get the permit?
You can go whenever you want. When can I go?
You should go by taxi. How should I go?
You can’t drive there because it’s difficult to park. Why can’t I drive there?
My father-in-law died last year. When did your father-in-law die?
Napoleon was finally defeated at Waterloo. Where was Napoleon finally defeated?
The rebellion took place in the northern provinces. Where did the rebellion take place?
I’m losing weight because I’m on a diet. Why are you losing weight?
I’ve been here for ten days. How long have you been here?
He’s been seeing her for two months. How long has he been seeing her?
I had known him for 7 years before I hired him. How long had you known him before you hired him?
I erased it because it was full of mistakes. Why did you erase it?
The prisoner escaped through the ventilation duct. How did the prisoner escape?
You look fine. How do I look?
I wasn’t doing anything when you called me. What were you doing when I called you?
You weren’t informed because you weren’t there. Why wasn’t I informed?
Peter’s was chosen. Whose was chosen?
We’re going to talk to them tomorrow morning. When are you going to talk to them?
Jennifer has been elected vice-president twice. How many times has Jennifer been elected vice-president?
The new law went into effect last month. When did the new law go into effect?
The new rule has been in force for half a year. How long has the new rule been in force?

Class 15

You can stay here as long as you want. How long can I stay here?
You didn’t know because no one informed you. Why didn’t I know?
He broke it last night. When did he break it?
They’re expecting us at 10 p.m. What time are they expecting us?
I’ve been waiting for you for 30 minutes. How long have you been waiting for me?
We’re leaving later this afternoon. When are you leaving?
I’m going to Paris tomorrow. Where are you going tomorrow?
He’s coming to see us tomorrow morning. When is he coming to see us?
He’s going to resign later this year. When is he going to resign?
The letter was signed by the secretary general. Who was the letter signed by?
It was sent to all the members. Who was it sent to?
This book is mine. Whose book is this?
That idea was Jennifer’s. Whose idea was that?
I added them up by using a calculator. How did you add them up?
The sun rose at 7:15 this morning. What time did the sun rise this morning?
We flew up to 7,000 meters. How high did you fly?
I used the elevator on the left. Which elevator did you use?
I lost the second draft of the report. Which draft of the report did you lose?
The tank was emptied by means of a pump. How was the tank emptied?
I got this tie in a small neighborhood shop. Where did you get that tie?
The bill was paid on the 17th. When was the bill paid?
Nobody spoke to him because he was ill that day. Why didn’t anybody speak to him?
It stopped raining shortly after lunch. When did it stop raining?
The baby is due in two months. When is the baby due?
You should put it in a plastic bag. What should I put it in?
You should keep it for three days. How long should I keep it?
If nobody calls, you should fax them a notification. What should I do if nobody calls?
Nothing went wrong. What went wrong?
I used a fire extinguisher to put out the fire. What did you use to put out the fire?
There are no sentences left. How many sentences are there left?

Class 16

You need to improve your pronunciation. What do I need to improve?

You’re weak in grammar and verb tenses. Where am I weak?
I broke it. Who broke it?
I broke it because I was careless. Why did you break it?
He did nothing about it. What did he do about it?
Yes, I’ve been to Rome. Have you ever been to Rome?
No, I’ve never seen a UFO. Have you ever seen a UFO?
I enjoyed the second part of the class the most. Which part of the class did you enjoy the most?
I visited the south of Spain. Which part of Spain did you visit?
I chose the red one. Which one did you choose?
I carried it for about 100 meters. How far did you carry it?
It’s not ready because I wasn’t here yesterday. Why isn’t it ready?
I understood about half the speech. How much of the speech did you understand?
You have to sign it at the bottom of the page. Where do I have to sign it?
They were supposed to be here 20 minutes ago. When were they supposed to be here?
Peter turned the machine on. Who turned the machine on?
John was supposed to do it. Who was supposed to do it?
The train left the station at 2:00 p.m. What time did the train leave the station?
I miss her because she is my best friend. Why do you miss her?
I missed the class because I forgot about it. Why did you miss the class?
Nothing will happen if you miss the plane. What will happen if I miss the plane?
I got them mixed up because they look alike. Why did you get them mixed up?
He has trouble speaking because he’s shy. Why does he have trouble speaking?
We’re having trouble finishing it because it’s long. Why are you having trouble finishing it?
I call my dog “Dog” because I forget his name. Why do you call your dog “Dog”?
There have been two meetings so far today. How many meetings have there been so far today?
I need about three more hours. How much more time do you need?
He called me back last night. When did he call you back?
We have only one sentence left. How many sentences do we have left?
The cleaner emptied the ashtrays. Who emptied the ashtrays?

Class 17

We have three minutes left. How much time do we have left?

They went that way. Which way did they go?
The trial lasted three weeks. How long did the trial last?
I’ll be back in 20 minutes. When will you be back?
You should turn over the omelet when I tell you. When should I turn over the omelet?
I want you to use the red car, not the blue car. Which car do you want me to use?
This pen is Morgan’s. Whose pen is this?
That car is Tommy’s. Whose car is that?
These books are Nancy’s. Whose books are these?
Those cigarettes are Frank’s. Whose cigarettes are those?
We’re going to use Eddie’s car. Whose car are we going to use?
It’s mine. Whose is it?
That was Jennifer’s idea. Whose idea was that?
I took Bill’s umbrella. Whose umbrella did you take?
I take aspirin when I have a headache. What do you take when you have a headache?
I read up to chapter 3 last night. How far did you read last night?
He didn’t turn around because he didn’t hear me. Why didn’t he turn around?
It was around 3,000 pesetas. How much was it?
He weighs 77 kilos. How much does he weigh?
He’s one meter, 67 centimeters. How tall is he?
My mother was 29 years old when I was born. How old was your mother when you were born?
I was 13 years old when my grandfather died. How old were you when your grandfather died?
He was driving a Volvo when I saw him. What kind of car was he driving when you saw him?
I hid it under the bed. Where did you hide it?
It started snowing about 10 minutes ago. When did it start snowing?
I bought this for Edward. Who did you buy this for?
I refused to do it because it meant leaving my job. Why did you refuse to do it?
I’m waiting for Patricia. Who are you waiting for?
I’ve had this tie for three years. How long have you had that tie?
The projector was broken on the first day of class. When was the projector broken?

Class 18

The parts were shipped two days ago. When were the parts shipped?
He quit smoking two months ago. When did he quit smoking?
I’m planning to see him next week. When are you planning to see him?
It’s been snowing since early this morning. How long has it been snowing?
I’ve known him since he was a child. How long have you known him?
I’ve had this pain since I got back from vacation. How long have you had that pain?
She’s been my friend for seven years. How long has she been your friend?
It’s been 3 months since I smoked a cigarette. How long has it been since you smoked a cigarette?
It’s been 3 years since I last visited Rome. How long has it been since you last visited Rome?
It’s been 20 years since I last took a bath. How long has it been since you last took a bath?
It’s been 12 years since I last went back to Texas. How long has it been since you last went back to Texas?
I’ve been teaching English for 23 years. How long have you been teaching English?
My father has been ill for 3 months. How long has your father been ill?
My boss has been away on business for 2 days. How long has your boss been away on business?
My boss has been out of the office for 3 hours. How long has your boss been out of the office?
I’ve been having problems with them for 6 How long have you been having problems with them?
months.
He’s missed two classes this week. How many classes has he missed this week?
He’s made 3 New Year’s resolutions this year. How many New Year’s resolutions has he made this year?
I’ve smoked 12 cigarettes so far today. How many cigarettes have you smoked so far today?
I smoked 20 cigarettes yesterday. How many cigarettes did you smoke yesterday?
The left side of his face was paralized. Which side of his face was paralyzed?
I got within 300 feet of the summit. How close did you get to the summit?
I ran 4 miles yesterday. How far did you run yesterday?
I lifted 220 kilos last night. How many kilos did you lift last night?
The Mississippi River is 2 miles wide. How wide is the Mississippi River?
Pau Gasol is 2 meters, 10 centimeters. How tall is Pau Gasol?
It gets down to 10 degrees below zero in winter. How cold does it get in winter?
The highest temperature I remember was 42º. What was the highest temperature you remember?
Peter turned it off. Who turned it off?
He didn’t come to class because he was ill. Why didn’t he come to class?

Class 19

The meeting was supposed to last only one hour. How long was the meeting supposed to last?
The flight was delayed because of the snow. Why was the flight delayed?
I was born in Mississippi. Where were you born?
The Marx Brothers were a team of comedians. Who were the Marx Brothers?
The Soviet head of state in the 30s was Stalin. Who was the Soviet head of state in the 30s?
The most popular dance in the 60s was the twist. What was the most popular dance in the 60s?
I consider Morgan the best man for the job. Who do you consider the best man for the job?
He thinks we should leave at 2:00. What time does he think we should leave?
The prisoner ran about 200 meters into the forest. How far did the prisoner run into the forest?
We used a screwdriver to remove the screw. What did you use to remove the screw?
He lost his hand in a factory accident. How did he lose his hand?
She started crying whenI told her the news. What did she do when you told her the news?
She’s looking at you. Who is she looking at?
A pair of Levis jeans costs around 50 dollars. How much does a pair of Levis jeans cost?
It costs 900 dollars to fly to California. How much does it cost to fly to California?
It costs five dollars to get a manicure. How much does it cost to get a manicure?
It costs 20 euro to see a bullfight. How much does it cost to see a bullfight?
It costs 100 euro to be a member. How much does it cost to be a member?
It costs 20,000 euro to learn English well. How much does it cost to learn English well?
It takes 5 years to master the interrogative form. How long does it take to master the interrogative form?
It’s taken me 3 weeks to get up to this sentence. How long has it taken you to get up to this sentence?
It took me one year to learn to play the guitar well. How long did it take you to learn to play the guitar well?
I could have done it yesterday evening. When could you have done it?
He wasn’t there because he wasn’t informed. Why wasn’t he there?
You should do it because it’s your duty. Why should I do it?
I can be there around 2:00 p.m. When can you be here?
There will be another meeting next week. When will there be another meeting?
There have been 2 conventions this year. How many conventions have there been this year?
There were 3 big scandals last year. How many big scandals were there last year?
There should have been 8 people in the meeting. How many people should there have been in the meeting?

Class 20

It’s 3 o’clock. What time is it?

It was 2:15 when the meeting finally started. What time was it when the meeting finally started?
We had to wait 30 minutes. How long did you have to wait?
The minimum temperature required is 30 degrees. What is the minimum temperature required?
The plan failed because Morgan made a mistake. Why did the plan fail?
It was Morgan’s fault. Whose fault was it?
He became rich through a good investment plan. How did he become rich?
The bus broke down between Soria and Logroño. Where did the bus break down?
Money motivates Morgan to work so hard. What motivates Morgan to work so hard?
This monastery was built in the 12th century. When was this monastery built?
The company was founded in 1967. When was the company founded?
She will be operated on next week. When will she be operated on?
The operation will take place next week. When will the operation take place?
You can trust him for anything. How far can I trust him?
He’s been unemployed for 7 months. How long has he been unemployed?
This policy only covers accidental death. What does this policy cover?
My main concern right now is employee morale. What is your main concern right now?
Peter knows the combination to the lock. Who knows the combination to the lock?
I consider hard work to be the key to his success. What do you consider to be the key to his success?
Morgan did it. Who did it?
He did it last week. When did he do it?
He’s done it twice so far this month. How many times has he done it so far this month?
We solved it by means of a special heat process. How did you solve it?
The report is 24 pages long. How long is the report?
I’ve gone over two-thirds of the report. How much of the report have you gone over?
I turned down the offer because it was expensive. Why did you turn down the offer?
You can learn the process by observation. How can I learn the process?
His phone number is 336-8179. What’s his phone number?
His phone has been out of order for two weeks. How long has his phone been out of order?
You can learn English fast by studying every day. How can I learn English fast?
Class 21

He’s short, bald, and a little overweight. What does he look like?
He listens to the radio every day. How often does he listen to the radio?
He’s shy, inhibited, and very quiet. What is he like?
Working with Morgan is very challenging. What is it like working with Morgan?
The meeting will be held in the conference room. Where will the meeting be held?
I think it will last around 2 hours. How long do you think it will last?
This type of meeting usually lasts an hour. How long does this type of meeting last?
The man who stopped by last night lives in Lugo. Where does the man who stopped by last night live?
The car you used yesterday belongs to Morgan. Who does the car I used yesterday belong to?
It was Morgan’s car. Whose car was it?
The person you saw last night was David Jones. Who was the person I saw last night?
Besides Tom, Peter was also involved in the plan. Who else was involved in the plan besides Tom?
I expect him back in a few minutes. When do you expect him back?
We have fewer than a hundred envelopes left. How many envelopes do we have left?
Routine 5 – Eliciting negative questions
This is a good drill for making students more conscious of the proper use of auxiliary verbs.

First routine – a logical sequence

Teacher: I am going to say a sentence and you ask me why, with a complete question.

Teacher Student
1. I’m not happy. 1. Why aren’t you happy?
2. Because I’m not rich. 2. Why aren’t you rich?
3. Because I don’t have any money. 3. Why don’t you have any money?
4. Because it’s not easy for me to earn money. 4. Why isn’t it easy for you to earn money?
5. Because I don’t have a source of income. 5. Why don’t you have a source of income?
6. Because I don’t have a job. 6. Why don’t you have a job?
7. Because I can’t find a job. 7. Why can’t you find a job?
8. Because nobody wants to hire me. 8. Why doesn’t anybody want to hire you?
9. Because I’m not qualified. 9. Why aren’t you qualified?
10. Because I don’t know how to do anything. 10. Why don’t you know how to do anything?
11. Because I never learned how to do anything. 11. Why didn’t you ever learn how to do anything?
12. Because I didn’t go to school. 12. Why didn’t you go to school?
13. Because I didn’t have the opportunity to go. 13. Why didn’t you have the opportunity to go?
14. Because I didn’t have time. 14. Why didn’t you have time?
15. Because I had to work. 15. Why did you have to work?
16. Because my father couldn’t work. 16. Why couldn’t your father work?
17. Because he couldn’t find a job. 17. Why couldn’t he find a job?
18. Because nobody wanted to hire him. 18. Why didn’t anybody want to hire him?

Stop here. It becomes repetitive.

Now that the student understands the routine and responds well, continue with the following sentences within
the exact same routine. This time, however, it is simply a mixed bag of sentences with no interconnection.

Teacher Student
1. You weren’t informed of the problem. 1. Why wasn’t I informed of the problem?
2. You weren’t invited to the party. 2. Why wasn’t I invited to the party?
3. You weren’t included on the list. 3. Why wasn’t I included on the list?
4. You weren’t advised of the danger. 4. Why wasn’t I advised of the danger?
5. You weren’t chosen as a candidate. 5. Why wasn’t I chosen as a candidate?
6. You weren’t delivered any material. 6. Why wasn’t I delivered any material?
7. You weren’t hired for the job. 7. Why wasn’t I hired for the job?
8. You weren’t made captain of the team. 8. Why wasn’t I made captain of the team?
9. You weren’t offered the opportunity. 9. Why wasn’t I offered the opportunity?
10. You weren’t sent any copies 10 Why wasn’t I sent any copies?
11. It’s not green. 11. Why isn’t it green?
12. It’s not ready? 12. Why isn’t it ready?
13. It’s not yours? 13. Why isn’t it mine?
14. It’s not what we asked for. 14. Why isn’t it what we asked for?
15. It’s not hot. 15. Why isn’t it hot?
16. He’s not the right person for the job. 16. Why isn’t he the right person for the job?
17. He’s not here yet. 17. Why isn’t he here yet?
18. He’s not the only one. 18. Why isn’t he the only one?
19. She’s not going to call you. 19. Why isn’t she going to call me?
20. She’s not going to come to the party. 20. Why isn’t she going to come to the party?
21. She’s not going to marry you. 21. Why isn’t she going to marry me?
22. I’m not ready. 22. Why aren’t you ready?
23. I’m not the best teacher in the world. 23. Why aren’t you the best teacher in the world?
24. I’m not rich. 24. Why aren’t you rich?
25. I’m not an admirer of yours. 25. Why aren’t you an admirer of mine?
26. They aren’t legal. 26. Why aren’t they legal?
27. They aren’t as fast as they used to be. 27. Why aren’t they as fast as they used to be?
28. They aren’t serious about their jobs. 28. Why aren’t they serious about their jobs?
29. It wasn’t right. 29. Why wasn’t it right?
30. It wasn’t as easy as they said. 30. Why wasn’t it as easy as they said?
31. He wasn’t chosen for the job. 31. Why wasn’t he chosen for the job?
32. He wasn’t informed of the problem. 32. Why wasn’t he informed of the problem?
33. She wasn’t invited to the party. 33. Why wasn’t she invited to the party?
34. She wasn’t given an opportunity. 34. Why wasn’t she given an opportunity?
35. I wasn’t selected for the position. 35. Why weren’t you selected for the position?
36. I wasn’t a member of the team. 36. Why weren’t you a member of the team?
37. I wasn’t here yesterday. 37. Why weren’t you here yesterday?
38. There wasn’t a party last night. 38. Why wasn’t there a party last night?
39. There weren’t any job offers last week. 39. Why weren’t there any job offers last week?
40. There isn’t a solution to that problem. 40. Why isn’t there a solution to that problem?
41. There aren’t any people at the party. 41. Why aren’t there any people at the party?
42. I don’t need their help. 42. Why don’t you need their help?
43. I don’t go see (go to see) her anymore. 43. Why don’t you go see (go to see) her anymore?
44. I don’t know what to do. 44. Why don’t you know what to do?
45. I don’t have enough time. 45. Why don’t you have enough time?
46. I don’t like working here. 46. Why don’t you like working here?
47. I don’t want to do it. 47. Why don’t you want to do it?
48. He doesn’t need your help. 48. Why doesn’t he need my help?
49. He doesn’t care about what happens to us. 49. Why doesn’t he care about what happens to us?
50. He doesn’t like her. 50. Why doesn’t he like her?
51. It doesn’t rain there in the summer. 51. Why doesn’t it rain there in the summer?
52. It doesn’t seem fair. 52. Why doesn’t it seem fair?
53. It doesn’t take long to do it. 53. Why doesn’t it take long to do it?
54. They don’t come here very often. 54. Why don’t they come here very often?
55. They don’t show their feelings. 55. Why don’t they show their feelings?
56. They don’t believe in ghosts. 56. Why don’t they believe in ghosts?
57. I can’t do it. 57. Why can’t you do it?
58. They can’t hear us. 58. Why can’t they hear us?
59. I can’t go to the party with you. 59. Why can’t you go to the party with me?
60. She can’t play on our team. 60. Why can’t she play on our team?
61. They can’t afford a new car. 61. Why can’t they afford a new car?
62. He can’t attend the university. 62. Why can’t he attend the university?
63. There wasn’t a ticket for you. 63. Why wasn’t there a ticket for me?
64. They’re not coming next week. 64. Why aren’t they coming next week?
65. She’s not going to the university next year. 65. Why isn’t she going to the university next year?
66. He’s not interested in finding a job. 66. Why isn’t he interested in finding a job?
67. He doesn’t need to work. 67. Why doesn’t he need to work?
68. She doesn’t have to come with us. 68. Why doesn’t she have to come with us?
69. I haven’t gone yet. 69. Why haven’t you gone yet?
70. I haven’t spoken to her this week. 70. Why haven’t you spoken to her this week?
71. They haven’t finished yet. 71. Why haven’t they finished yet?
72. We haven’t seen them today. 72. Why haven’t you seen them today?
73. She hasn’t decided yet. 73. Why hasn’t she decided yet?
74. They haven’t reached an agreement yet. 74. Why haven’t they reached an agreement yet?
75. She hasn’t reached a conclusion yet. 75. Why hasn’t she reached a conclusion yet?
76. I haven’t reached my potential yet. 76. Why haven’t you reached your potential yet?
77. It hasn’t happened yet. 77. Why hasn’t it happened yet?
78. Nobody has come yet. 78. Why hasn’t anybody come yet?
79. They haven’t gone there this week. 79. Why haven’t they gone there this week?
80. I haven’t called him. 80. Why haven’t you called him?
81. I haven’t seen them today. 81. Why haven’t you seen them today?
82. I couldn’t do it yesterday. 82. Why couldn’t you do it yesterday?
83. We didn’t take a break. 83. Why didn’t you take a break?
84. We couldn’t help the boy. 84. Why couldn’t you help the boy?
85. They didn’t try the new system. 85. Why didn’t they try the new system?
86. She wasn’t able to solve it. 86. Why wasn’t she able to solve it?
Routine 6 SHORT ANSWER DRILL & LISTENING COMPREHENSION EXERCISE

The following is a long list of questions. The students are to answer each question in the short-answer form;
that is, “Yes, I am”... “No, it isn’t”... “Yes, there should”... etc.

The questions cover every short-answer possibility imaginable (do, does, will, would, may, could, should,
has, etc.) in the affirmative and in the negative.

However, what is more interesting (and fun) about this exercise is that it constitutes an enormous challenge
for the ear. If the teacher states the questions in a natural voice flow, students will not always understand
them. There is no connection between one question and the next. They are totally unrelated. One question
can be about the Marx Brothers and the next about the Pope’s life expectancy. Students must be alert.

In addition, many of the questions are absurd (¿Does the queen of English speak Chinese with her children?). It requires
a good ear to understand absurd questions.

The idea of this drill routine is simply to practice endlessly the use of short answers. If a teacher does 5
minutes of this list everyday over a period of a year, students will certainly gain a better knack for answering
in the short form and will gain a better vocabulary and listening skill.

Simply start asking the following questions to your students, one by one:

1. Are you Spanish?

2. Do you like good food?
3. Is Mexico in Europe?
4. Would you like to be a millionaire?
5. Will you be here tomorrow?
6. Are you in love with my neighbor?
7. Did you see a good movie last week?
8. Do your neighbors give you a lot of problems?
9. Were you here at this time yesterday?
10. Could you speak English when you were 5 years old?
11. Does it rain a lot in this city?
12. Are your shoes clean?
13. Does your back give you a lot of trouble?
14. Are your eyes blue?
15. Does Spain belong to the European Union?
16. Do the people in Chile speak Chinese?
17. Is this an English class?
18. Have you ever called me an idiot?
19. Are you from Finland?
20. Was there a fire here yesterday?

21. Does it snow often in the Sahara Desert?

22. Will there be a parliamentary election next week?
23. Was there a religious holiday last week?
24. Can cats and dogs live together peacefully?
25. Am I your teacher?
26. Did you meet me last week?
27. Was I your teacher last month?
28. Did I try to kill you last week?
29. Have you ever been to a basketball match?
30. Has there ever been a tornado in this city?
31. Would you be here if your English were perfect?
32. Did the French invade Spain last year?
33. Did Columbus discover America?
34. Were there any Japanese people in your house last week?
35. Will it snow here tomorrow?
36. Are you and I talking to each other?
37. Can I speak Russian better than you?
38. Does the queen of England speak Chinese with her children?
39. Would we get wet if it were raining now?
40. Is the president of Spain married?

41. Will it rain at least once during the next 12 months?

42. Do women generally live longer than men?
43. Do I live in Spain?
44. Can you understand me when I speak slowly?
45. Would you get angry with me if I told you a funny joke?
46. Have there been a lot of thunderstorms lately?
47. Is the queen of England a British citizen?
48. Do we know each other?
49. Does the president of the United States live in Boston?
50. Can Madonna speak English?
51. Did it snow in Sweden last winter?
52. Will I be your English teacher for the next 30 years?
53. Have you and I been sitting here for more than one minute?
54. Was it raining last night when you went to bed?
55. Would the King of Spain call you personally if you were ill?
56. Are there really ghosts in the castles in Scotland?
57. Should smoking be banned?
58. Are there any castles in the United States?
59. Was Monica Belucci born in Italy?
60. Has the King of Spain every spoken to you personally?

61. Did you and I speak to each other in English last week?
62. Could most German people read and write 20 years ago?
63. Would it be a good idea if you received an electric shock?
64. Is there an elephant in this room?
65. Could it be dangerous to drink liters of Coke every day?
66. Do I treat you respectfully in class?
67. Was Marilyn Monroe able to sing like an opera star?
68. Can a jet fly around the world without refueling?
69. Should I say “thank you” when people help me?
70. Is Pancho Villa dead?
71. Can the Pope speak several languages?
72. Could you and I play poker if we had a deck of cards?
73. Were the Beatles born in Britain?
74. Should you devote more time to studying English?
75. Was Christopher Columbus born near the Mississippi River?
76. Has the weather been extremely cold lately?
77. Do you have breakfast with Brad Pitt every morning?
78. Could you and I drink 10 bottles of whiskey in one hour?
79. Will the Queen of Spain live forever?
80. Have the Chinese ever declared war on Portugal?

81. Would Madonna buy a wig if she lost all her hair?
82. Should the Pope try to help the poor?
83. Were you and I angry with each other last week?
84. Has the Queen of England ever traveled in space?
85. Will the American people change their flag next year?
86. Was Pancho Villa able to ride a horse when he was alive?
87. Did Marilyn Monroe work in Hollywood?
88. Has it been especially hot recently?
89. Should cigarettes be prohibited?
90. Will the King of Spain invite you to his palace next week?
91. Should all of us try to be polite at all times?
92. Could I get up and leave this room if I wanted to?
93. Would plants die if the sun stopped shining?
94. Should a parent look after their children?
95. Will there be a party in this room tomorrow?
96. Was Pancho Villa from Portland, Oregon?
97. Does Superman really exist?
98. Am I the most intelligent person in the world?
99. Do you and I hate each other?
100. Can you touch the ceiling without jumping?

101. Did the Tooth Fairy take you to the airport last night?
102. Will you try to answer my next question correctly?
103. Have I earned more money than Mark Zuckerberg this year?
104. Were you on a bike at 4 am this morning?
105. Is there a gold coin in your pocket?
106. Would I be here if I were blind and deaf?
107. Should you make an effort to come to class on time?
108. Are you and I going to play tennis after class?
109. Does the Virgin Mary occupy an important place in Christianity?
110. Can I make you laugh if you don’t want to laugh?
111. Did Japan start a trade war with Greenland last month?
112. Could you speak Arabic when you were a child?
113. Will I stay here until midnight tonight?
114. Should I put all my savings in the Algerian stock market?
115. Was America discovered by Beethoven?
116. Were there any ants in your kitchen last night?
117. Are you a human being?
118. Does Colin Firth live in a nice house?
119. Can it rain in the desert?
120. Did Alexander the Great conquer Canada?

121. Could I go from here to your house and back in 10 minutes?

122. Will the Pope live for 40 more years?
123. Should this class be conducted only in English?
124. Have your feet been giving you problems lately?
125. Was Snow White saved by a prince?
126. Has there been an important new event this week?
127. Would your relatives ask you for money if you won the lottery?
128. Is your house in Madrid?
129. Do you belong to the New Zealand Liberal party?
130. Can the president of Spain appoint and dismiss ministers?
131. Did Oasis make a lot of money when they were together?
132. Could Greece defeat the United States in a nuclear war?
133. Will Bill Gates ever become the president of Spain?
134. Should we show respect toward older people?
135. Has your boss had any health problems lately?
136. Were you and I playing poker last night at 10 p.m.?
137. Have there been many earthquakes in the world in the past 100 years?
138. Would you and I be here if the English language didn’t exist?
139. Can dogs speak?
140. Did Taylor Swift invent the telephone?

141. Could the three Musketeers speak Chinese?

142. Will you and I fly to Siberia tomorrow?
143. Should the King of Spain become more active in politics?
144. Was I your teacher last year?
145. Is there a dead body in the trunk (boot) of your car?
146. Would your boss be worried if you were ill?
147. Is your boss going to resign soon?
148. Do I make your life difficult?
149. Can Hilary Clinton speak 23 languages fluently?
150. Did you and Lady Gaga have dinner out together last month?
151. Could your great grandfather speak German?
152. Will the stars be explored by man during our lifetime?
153. Should a woman always carry a gun?
154. Have you taken part in a rebellion lately?
155. Were the French allies of the British during the First World War?
156. Are there any famous criminals in your family?
157. Would the queen of Spain remarry if her husband died?
158. Is Joan of Arc a famous person in French history?
159. Does Hugh Jackman earn more money than you?
160. Can you and I live without eating?

161. Did you see a UFO last year?

162. Could you and I speak English when we were 2 months old?
163. Will the countries in Europe disappear in the next 30 years?
164. Should the police get tough with people who don’t pay their taxes?
165. Have I ever spoken to you about my family?
166. Was your mother over 30 when you were born?
167. Has there been a plane crash in the news this week?
168. Would you be afraid if I pointed a gun at you?
169. Are Mexico and Argentina Spanish-speaking countries?
170. Do you believe in ghosts?
171. Did the New York Times publish an article about you last week?
172. Will you call me tonight before going to sleep?
173. Should priests lead virtuous lives?
174. Have you and I ever flown together in the same airplane?
175. Was I the first person you thought about when you got up this morning?
176. Was there a civil war in Italy during the 80s?
177. Would people believe me if I claimed I could become invisible?
178. Is the Virgin Mary a central figure in the Hindu religion?
179. Do the people in South Africa speak English?
180. Can you live 30 days without food and water?

181. Could a rat win a fight against a cat?

182. Will I make a million dollars before the end of this month?
183. Were you and I born in the same hospital?
184. Have there been many forest fires in Spain lately?
185. Would the president of Spain resign if he lost his eyesight?
186. Are you a chain-smoker?
187. Do you and I get along all right?
188. Can a horse run faster than a camel?
189. Did Julius Caesar die of natural causes?
190. Could we read and write when we were 2 years old?
191. Should money be kept in a safe place?
192. Have Metallica played together lately?
193. Was Napoleon a member of the 1808 French rugby team?
194. Were there any tragic events last year?
195. Would I be here if you were Canadian?
196. Are my eyes the same color as yours?
197. Does the president of Spain wear blue jeans at public events?
198. Can a lion-tamer afford to make mistakes?
199. Did Madame Curie develop a more practical washing machine?
200. Could you get dressed by yourself when you were two years old?

201. Will the government collect taxes from you next year?
202. Should you try to be a friendly driver?
203. Has the moon been colonized yet?
204. Were you my spiritual guide when I was a child?
205. Will there be a New Year’s celebration next week?
206. Will we need parking spaces in 50 years?
207. Should the King of Spain pay taxes?
208. Has Leo Messi bought a new house in Tasmania?
209. Was yesterday Wednesday?
210. Is there an ink stain on my chin?
211. Would it rain more often in Spain if there were more trees?
212. Am I the only person capable of teaching you English?
213. Do I owe you any money?
214. Can we change weather conditions at will?
215. Did Prince influence 18th century art?
216. Can elephants jump? (No, they can’t.))
217. Did you and I sign up for a public speaking course last week?
218. Could I predict future events when I was only 4 years old?
219. Will the chairman of General Motors buy a Ford next month?
220. Would we survive long if we were stranded on a desert island?

221. Were the first astronauts brave men?

222. Has the Queen of England been in the news lately?
223. Should you and I make an effort to get along?
224. Can professional boxers take off their gloves during a match?
225. Should people save money?
226. Could the Romans build strong roads?
227. Can you swim under water?
228. Did your car break down last week?
229. Could Ghengis Khan scare people?
230. Will you and I be alive in the year 2070?
231. Is this the last chance you have to improve your English?
232. Have you undergone heart surgery this year?
233. Has there ever been a cholera epidemic in Spain?
234. Would your car run better if you washed it every day?
235. Is the president of South Africa South African?
236. Do Spanish people sing more than Swiss people?
237. Can I ask you a question?
238. Did Andres Iniesta play in several World Cups?
239. Could you play poker when you were a teenager?
240. Will your house be torn down next year?

241. Should donkeys and mules be used for everyday transportation?

242. Have we created a better world in our generation?
243. Were you sleepy when you went to bed last night?
244. Are there any World War II veterans in your family?
245. Would you be famous if you could run 100 meters in 5 seconds?
246. Is Cleopatra still the queen of Egypt?
247. Do stage actors spend a lot of time rehearsing?
248. Can your voice reach the highest note on the piano?
249. Did I lend you any books last week?
250. Could your house be painted in only 30 minutes?
251. Will you play tennis as well as Nadal some day?
252. Should you obey the law?
253. Have I ever hurt your pride?
254. Was your great grandmother a religious leader?
255. Were there any philosophers in Greece in ancient times?
256. Would the Spanish people defend Spain if it were invaded?
257. Are you and I members of a secret organization?
258. Do you own a boat?
259. Can a monkey climb trees?
260. Did you commit a violent crime when you were a teenager?

261. Could I say any intelligible words when I was 18 months old?
262. Will I still be alive in a hundred years?
263. Should your car be inspected from time to time?
264. Have the tires on your car been changed recently?
265. Was Paris an important city before Roman times?
266. Was there a cemetery where your house stands now?
267. Would Albert Einstein be over 100 if he were alive today?
268. Are fashion models often hired by engineering firms?
269. Does the Prime Minister of France live near the German border?
270. Can a raging tiger get your attention?
271. Did you and I draw up a contract last week?
272. Could the Chinese build walls 2000 years ago?
273. Will the Pope be buried in the Vatican when he dies?
274. Should we tip waiters who treat us rudely?
275. Has your car been giving you problems lately?
276. Was Galileo a famous rock star in the late fifties?
277. Have there been any natural disasters in recent years?
278. Would we die if we were forced to eat 20 hamburgers a day?
279. Are you a priest?
280. Can we hear each other?

281. Do I control your thoughts?

282. Did Joan of Arc live in medieval times?
283. Could planes avoid crashes if they had parachutes?
284. Should the president of Spain dismiss corrupt ministers?
285. Has the queen of Spain ever flown in a helicopter?
286. Was I born in the same country as you?
287. Will there be a dinner held in your honor next month?
288. Would I be here if I had a severe case of pneumonia?
289. Is Napoleon famous for his military skills?
290. Do we have anything in common?
291. Can circus performers do things that you can’t do?
292. Did Michael Jackson grow up in the Middle East?
293. Could we have a coffee now if we wanted to?
294. Will the Japanese start another war in the next 20 years?
295. Should I take off my shoes when I go to bed?
296. Has the president of Spain ever attacked the press?
297. Were we running at midnight last night?
298. Is there a statue of you in Hungary?
299. Would a cat feel afraid if she were alone on a dark street?
300. Am I a plumber?

301. Does the sun shine in Norway?

302. Can men vote in this country?
303. Did you dye your hair last month?
304. Do people make films about you?
305. Will you give me a tip when the class is over?
306. Should primary school be mandatory?
307. Have you ever become dizzy?
308. Was Jennifer Garner brought up by a band of thieves?
309. Was there a time when people had to bake their own bread?
310. Is it worth it to get the best education possible?
311. Does a cat need affection?
312. Can you bark like a dog?
313. Did the Roman culture influence other cultures?
314. Could David Bowie sing as well as Prince?
315. Will Bolivia win the next 5 world cups?
316. Were you at home last night at 11:00 o’clock?
317. Were there any floods in Spain last year?
318. Would Superman be a press figure if he really existed?
319. Are you and I members of the same species?
320. Do men suffer job discrimination?

321. Can an honest man become rich?

322. Did I come to Spain before you were born?
323. Could you play a musical instrument when you were 10?
324. Will I get paid for this class?
325. Should a nun say a prayer before meals?
326. Have we ever discussed the theory of relativity?
327. Were Romeo and Juliet in love with each other?
328. Will there be an important change in your life next year?
329. Would people be happier if Christmas didn’t exist?
330. Are you feeling all right?
331. Do you really study English as much as you ought to?
332. Can I read your thoughts?
333. Did God create the earth in 6 days?
334. Could a language be learned in 3 weeks with the proper method?
335. Will Cristiano Ronaldo live forever?
336. Should the Spanish people drive more carefully?
337. Have I ever been the Minister for Defence?
338. Was yesterday a working day?
339. Are there too many holidays in Spain?
340. Would you stay here if your salary were cut by 40%?

341. Is my sister a human being?

342. Do I know your job well enough to do it myself?
343. Can a normal dog outrun a lion?
344. Did the Virgin Mary live in biblical times?
345. Could I walk when I was 2 years old?
346. Will your boss sit in on this class next week?
347. Should you try to avoid offending the people around you?
348. Have the Martians invaded the earth yet?
349. Was I already a teacher in your company when you joined it?
350. Has there been a supernatural phenomenon in this room today?
351. Would I die if I inhaled carbon monoxide for 1 hour?
352. Have you ever tried to make a dog stop barking?
353. Did the computer that you normally use break down last week?
354. Are your company’s products better than your competitors’ products?
355. Is a million euro worth more than a million dollars?
356. Do ducks often live on the outskirts of large cities?
357. Are you in a good mood today?
358. Is the cost of living going up quickly in Spain?
359. Was Cervantes wounded in the Battle of Lepanto?
360. Are you getting tired of these questions?
Routine 7. PRESENT CONDITIONAL ROUTINE

The present conditional is: If I had..., I would or If I knew..., I would Etc.

Just to make sure we’re on the same wavelength, I use the terms future, present, and past conditional, not
1st, 2nd, and 3rd conditional like many teachers do.

Future conditional If I have a coin, I’ll give it to the beggar

Present conditional If I had a coin, I would give it to the beggar

Past conditional If I had had a coin, I would’ve given it to the beggar

This routine covers only the “present conditional”, and like so many routines, it is designed to elicit the
conditional without giving it away to the student in the question formulation.

If you asked a student: Would you take classes if you spoke perfect English?

The student would probably respond correctly because the grammar of the answer is contained in the
question (“would...take” and “spoke”). The student would say: No, I wouldn’t take classes if I spoke perfect
English.

To avoid making it too easy on the student, you must formulate a question or follow a routine that doesn’t
give anything away.

For the present and past conditionals, we do this by asking the students to make logical conclusions.

Here’s the routine:

Teacher: I’m going to make a statement and you must draw a logical conclusion from it. For example, I
will say:

I work because I need money.

Now, you must draw the logical conclusion from this stating: If you didn’t need money, you
wouldn’t work.

Do you understand. Okay, then let’s start.

1. I teach because I need money. If you didn’t need money, you wouldn’t teach.
2. I’m here because I’m your teacher. If you weren’t my teacher, you wouldn’t be here.
3. I’m tall because my father is tall. If your father weren’t tall you wouldn’t be tall.
4. I live in a small house because I’m not rich. If you were rich, you wouldn’t live in a small house.
5. I know you because I live in Spain. If you didn’t live in Spain, you wouldn’t know me.
6. I’m not rich because I don’t have a million dollars. If you had a million dollars, you’d be rich.
7. I’m not famous because I can’t fly like Peter Pan. If you could fly like Peter Pan, you’d be rich.
8. Jennifer is slim because she doesn’t eat too much. If Jennifer ate too much, she wouldn’t be slim.
9. I’m not a politician because I don’t like politics. If I liked politics, I’d be a politician.
10. You’re looking at me because I’m talking to you. If you weren’t talking to me, I wouldn’t be looking at
you.
11. Joe is fat because he eats too much. If Joe didn’t eat so much, he wouldn’t be fat.
12. The earth is round because it’s not flat. If the earth were round, it wouldn’t be flat.
13. You’re here because you want to learn English. If I didn’t want to learn English, I wouldn’t be here
14. You’re listening to me because I’m your teacher. If you weren’t my teacher, I wouldn’t be listening to
you.
15. Pau Gasol is famous because he plays basketball. If Pau Gasol didn’t play basketball, he wouldn’t be
famous.
16. The sun isn’t shining because it’s a cloudy day. If the sun were shining, it wouldn’t be a cloudy day.
17. They get tired because theydon’t sleep enough. If they slept enough, they wouldn’t get tired.
18. She loves him because he cooks well. If he didn’t cook well, she wouldn’t love him.
19. You make mistakes because your English isn’t perfect. If my English were perfect, I wouldn’t make
mistakes.
20. I don’t play basketball because I’m not over 2 meters tall. If I were over 2 metres tall, I’d play basketball.
21. She makes mistakes because she works too fast. If she didn’t work so fast, she wouldn’t make
mistakes.
22. I’m poor because I’m a teacher. If I weren’t a teacher, I wouldn’t be poor.
23. He is always ill because he doesn’t take care of himself. If he took care of himself, he wouldn’t always
be ill.
24. Helen is rich because she has a lot of money. If Helen didn’t have a lot of money, she wouldn’t be
rich.
25. The sun is shining because the sky isn’t cloudy. If the sky were cloudy, the sun wouldn’t be shining.
26. He has a cough because he smokes. If he didn’t smoke, he wouldn’t have a cough.
27. The box is empty because there’s nothing in it. If there were something in the box, it wouldn’t be
empty.
28. I’m bored because my life is boring. If my life weren’t boring, I wouldn’t be bored.
29. He doesn’t progress because he doesn’t come to class every day. If he came to class every day, he’d
progress.
30. I want to eat because I’m hungry. If I weren’t hungry, I wouldn’t want to eat.
31. He’s an alcoholic because he drinks too much. If he didn’t drink so much, he wouldn’t be an
alchoholic.
32. I carry aspirin with me because I suffer chronic headaches. If I didn’t suffer chronic headaches, I
wouldn’t carry aspirin.
33. I sleep on a hard mattress because I have a back problem. If I didn’t have a back problem, I wouldn’t
sleep on a hard mattress.