Requests- Guessing Games

The language of requests brainstorming and guessing games

Office objects requests brainstorming and guessing games

Choose one of the things below and brainstorm requests using that word or about that thing with your partner(s) until you all run out of ideas, then move onto another. The last person to come up with an idea each time is the winner.

• automatic pencil
• ballpoint pen
• bin (= trash can)
• blind
• business card
• cardboard box
• cubicle
• date stamp
• diary
• Dictaphone (= voice recorder)
• drawing pin (= thumbtack)
• drinks machine
• guillotine
• hole punch
• laminator
• laptop (computer)
• light bulb
• marker/ felt tip/ board pen
• mug
• notebook
• notice board
• paperclip
• Post Its
• rubber band
• scissors
• scrap paper
• Sellotape
• socket
• stapler
• superglue
• Tippex
• vending machine
• water cooler

Choose one of the objects above and make requests associated with it (e.g. “Could I borrow it for ten minutes?”) without saying its name until your partner guesses which one you are talking about.

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Different situations requests brainstorming and guessing games

Brainstorm requests in one of the situations below with your partner(s) until you run out of ideas and then switch to another thing on the list. The last person to come up with an idea wins that round.

• A bakery
• A bus/ coach
• A butcher’s
• A campsite
• A car park (= parking lot)
• A cinema (= movie theatre)
• A fishmonger’s
• A gym (= sports centre)
• A lift (= elevator)
• A meeting
• A museum/ gallery
• A park
• A police station
• A post office
• A religious building
• A station
• A supermarket
• A taxi
• A teleconference/ A video conference
• A theatre
• A tram (= streetcar)
• A zoo/ safari park
• An ironmonger’s
• Reception
• The street
• The tax office
• Through an intercom

Choose one of the situations above and tell your partner requests you might expect in that situation until they guess which one you are thinking of. To make it more challenging, don’t use the name of the situation in your requests.

Choose one of the situations and roleplay a conversation with as many requests in it as possible.

What are the differences (if any) between the expressions on the same lines above?

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Different people requests brainstorming and guessing games

With the other people in your group, brainstorm requests that you might make to one of the people below until you run out of ideas and then switch to another person on the list.

• Babysitter/ Nanny/ Au pair
• Baker
• CEO
• Classmate
• Cleaner/ Maid/ Housekeeper
• Courier
• Customer/ Client
• Daughter-in-law/ Son-in-law
• Dentist
• Fellow alumni
• Fiancée/ Fiancé
• Fishmonger
• Flatmate/ Roommate/ Housemate
• (Good/ Close/ Old/ Best/ Oldest/ Closest) friend
• Hairdresser/ Barber
• IT support staff
• Ironmonger
• Janitor (= Caretaker)/ Handyman
• Landlord/ Landlady
• Lawyer
• Line manager (= Direct boss)
• Maintenance engineer/ Technician
• Market trader
• Mate (= Buddy = Friend)
• Member of my team/ section/ department
• (Next-door) neighbour
• Plumber
• Postman
• Security guard/ Bodyguard
• Shopkeeper
• Sibling
• Spouse/ Partner
• Supplier
• Workmate (= Colleague = Co-worker)

Choose one of the people above and tell your partner things you might ask them until they guess who you are thinking of.

Choose one of the people above and roleplay a conversation with them in which you make many requests.

What are the differences (if any) between the words on the same line above?