20 questions – Guess what it is! is a great game to practice asking and answering closed questions correctly. It is also easy to adapt for students at different levels. For example, for low beginners, play with a category, like food or animals. Then for lower level students, omit the present perfect questions, and the comparisons in the adjectives section. For higher level students, review the questions before you play, but then have them remember any new vocabulary, and add a rule that players who don’t form the answers correctly lose a turn.
HOW TO PLAY
1.) Player A thinks of a physical thing.
2.) Player B asks questions to guess what the other player is thinking of.
3.) Player A must answer correctly:
Yes/No + subject + auxiliary verb.
Other possible answers are:
Usually, but not always.
Sometimes.
Some of it is.
LET’S PRACTICE BEFORE WE BEGIN:
Vocabulary we will need to play:
Animal body parts for beginners
Animal body parts for high intermediate/advanced players
Grammar Practice we will need to play:
Categories
Match the answer to the question – be or do?
OUR SCOREBOARD:
If you prefer to have the scoreboard on another device, or if you want it in a new tab, you can link to the board.
HERE ARE SOME QUESTIONS THAT YOU CAN ASK:
Is it… (a noun)?
food?
an animal?
a plant?
a planet?
a building? (edificio)
a method of transportation?
Answer: Yes, it is./No, it isn’t.
clothing? (ropa)
a tool? (herramienta)
furniture? (muebles)
an appliance? (eletro domestico)
a body part?
country?
Is it… (an adjective)?
alive? (vivo)
red/blue/white?
big/small?
cheap/expensive?
round/square?
wild/tame?
sweet/salty/bland?
Answer: Yes, it is./No, it isn’t.
You can use comparatives to narrow down your questions!
Is it bigger than a…
Is it more expensive that a…
Is it easier to use than…
Is it… (in a place)?
in this room?
in Ibague/Toronto/New York?
in Colombia/Egypt/Paris?
usually in a house/hospital/park?
often on a farm?
Answer: Yes, it is./No, it isn’t.
in the Arctic?
in the ocean?
in Space?
in a bedroom?
on a boat?
Is it made of (a material)?
water?
earth?
plant material?
wood? (madera)
plastic?
metal?
fabric? (tela)
Answer: Yes, it is./No, it isn’t.
glass?
paper?
brick? (ladrillo)
concrete?
stone? (piedra)
flesh and bone? (carne y hueso)
Can… (subject + verb)?
it run fast?
it fly?
it swim?
it climb trees?
Answer: Yes, it can./No, it can’t.
we see it with the naked eye?
we lift it with our bare hands?
Do we usually use it to… (verb)?
cook?
relax?
have fun?
study?
communicate?
Answer: Yes, we do./No, we don’t.
write?
travel?
do construction?
do chores?
stay warm?
Does it have (a noun)?
two wheels?
six legs?
fur? (pelo de animal)
a tail? (cola)
wings? (alas)
claws? (garras)
Answer: Yes, it does./No, it doesn’t.
feathers (plumas)
horns? (cachos)
sharp teeth? (dientes afilados)
scales? (escamas)
trunk (tronco)
stripes (rayas)
Have you ever… (past participle)?
held one in your hands?
eaten some?
seen it with your own eyes?
Answer: Yes, I have./No, I haven’t.
Did you catch a typo? Think of a question we should add? We are always glad for constructive feedback! Find us on Reddit.
