Ask and talk about photos

This is your Everyday English lesson. You practise simple questions and answers to talk about family photos: who people are, where they are, and what they do.

Everyday English · Photo talk

Grammar · Who’s…? / Is he…?

Grammar · Does he/she…?

Pronunciation · Question intonation

Objective: Ask and answer 8–10 basic questions about a photo naturally and politely.

Warm-up · Photo questions (fast)

Look at a photo on your phone

(A family photo, friends, or a trip.)

Who is in the photo?
Where are you?
Is it a happy photo?

30-second challenge: Describe the photo in 3 sentences.
“This is…” · “We are…” · “It’s…”

Warm-up: talking about a photo together.

Everyday English · Useful phrases

Asking about a photo

Who’s this?
Who are they?
Is this your…?
Where are you?
Is he your brother?
Does she work?

Answering + being polite

This is my… / These are my…
He’s my… / She’s my…
Yes, he is. / No, he isn’t.
Yes, she does. / No, she doesn’t.
Really? / Oh, nice!
That’s a great photo.

Exercise 1 · Match

Match the question with the best answer:

1. Who’s this? — a) We’re in San Cristóbal.
2. Where are you? — b) Yes, she does. She’s a teacher.
3. Does she work? — c) He’s my brother.

Answers: 1 c · 2 a · 3 b

Grammar · Questions for photos (A1)

Three easy question types for photo talk:

Type	Question	Short answer
Who…?	Who’s this?	It’s my sister.
Be (is/are)	Is he your dad?	Yes, he is. / No, he isn’t.
Do/Does	Does she work?	Yes, she does. / No, she doesn’t.

Exercise 2 · Choose the correct form

1. (Is / Does) he your brother?
2. (Who / Where) are you?
3. (Does / Is) she work?
4. (Who’s / Who are) this?
5. (Are / Do) they your parents?

Answers: 1 Is · 2 Where · 3 Does · 4 Who’s · 5 Are

Exercise 3 · Make questions

Put the words in order:

1. this / who’s
2. are / where / you
3. your / is / sister / she
4. work / does / your / father
5. they / are / who

Answers: 1 Who’s this? · 2 Where are you? · 3 Is she your sister? · 4 Does your father work? · 5 Who are they?

Vocabulary · Photo words

Useful words

photo · picture
here / there
at home · at work · in a park
with my family · with friends
happy · tired · busy

Model phrases:
“We’re at home.” · “I’m with my family.” · “He’s happy.”

Vocabulary: at home / with family / with friends.

Exercise 4 · Complete (choose a word)

Complete with: at home · in a park · with friends · happy · tired

1. We’re __________.
2. They’re __________.
3. He’s __________.
4. She’s __________.
5. I’m __________.

Answers (many possible): Example: 1 at home · 2 with friends · 3 happy · 4 tired · 5 in a park

Reading · Talking about a family photo

Read

A Wow, that’s a great photo. Who’s this?

B That’s my sister. Her name is Paula.

A Is she your only sister?

B Yes, she is. And these are my parents.

A Where are you?

B We’re in a park. It’s my dad’s birthday.

A Does your sister work?

B Yes, she does. She works in a shop.

Reading: natural conversation about a photo.

Exercise 5 · True or False?

1. Paula is B’s sister.
2. They are at work.
3. It’s B’s birthday.
4. Paula works in a shop.

Answers: 1 True · 2 False · 3 False · 4 True

Exercise 6 · Answer

1. Where are they?
2. Whose birthday is it?
3. Is Paula B’s only sister?
4. Where does Paula work?

Answers: 1 In a park. · 2 B’s dad’s birthday. · 3 Yes, she is. · 4 In a shop.

Pronunciation · Question intonation

Yes/No questions often have rising intonation. Wh- questions usually have falling intonation.

Rising (Yes/No)

Is he your brother? Does she work? Are they your parents?

Falling (Wh-)

Who’s this? Where are you? Who are they?

Drill: Read each question 3 times. Then answer it with a short answer.

Speaking 1 · Photo interview (controlled)

Student A asks. Student B answers. Use the support lines.

A Who’s this?

B It’s my ______.

A Is he/she your ______?

B Yes, he/she is. / No, he/she isn’t.

A Where are you?

B We’re ______ (at home / in a park / at a restaurant).

A Does he/she work?

B Yes, he/she does. / No, he/she doesn’t.

Target: Do the interview twice. Then change roles.

Speaking 2 · Real-life photo situations

Choose one situation. Speak for 45–60 seconds.

Situation A

You show a family photo from a birthday.

Who is in the photo?
Where are you?
How do people feel?

Situation B

You show a photo with friends.

Who are they?
Are they your classmates?
What do they do?

Situation C

You show a photo at home.

Who do you live with?
What does your mother/father do?
What do you do at home?

Upgrade: Add 2 “interest phrases”: “Really?” “Oh, nice!” “That’s great!”

Accuracy · Fix the mistakes

Each sentence has one mistake. Correct it.

1. Who are this?
2. Does she works in a shop?
3. Is they your parents?
4. Where you are?
5. He my brother.

Answers: 1 Who’s this? · 2 Does she work in a shop? · 3 Are they your parents? · 4 Where are you? · 5 He’s my brother.

Mini Project · My photo story (A1)

Choose one real photo. Write 10–12 sentences. Then practise speaking.

Writing plan

Sentence 1–2: who is in the photo
Sentence 3–4: where you are
Sentence 5–8: information (jobs / routines) using he/she
Sentence 9–10: feelings (happy/tired/busy)
Sentence 11–12: one extra detail (birthday, weekend, place)

Model:
“This is my family. These are my parents and my sister. We’re in a park. It’s my dad’s birthday. My father works in an office. My mother cooks dinner at home. My sister studies English. We are happy. It’s a great day.”