Find someone who bingo
Every square on these cards finishes the sentence Find someone who...: has climbed a mountain, can cook rice, was born in winter. Players turn each one into a question, ask around the room and collect a name per square. It is a favorite first lesson in ESL classes, and it works just as well as a party icebreaker.
Download 30 cards (PDF) Paper and print options
30 different numbered cards, two to a page. Free, no sign-up. The same link prints the same cards next time.
Card 1 - every card is different
Find Someone Who
The 48 words on these cards
- has climbed a mountain
- can cook rice
- was born in winter
- has a brother
- likes horror movies
- has been to a beach this year
- can ride a bike
- gets up before 6 a.m.
- has never eaten a hot dog
- plays a sport
- has a pet
- can sing a song in English
- has lived in two countries
- likes spicy food
- has a summer birthday
- walks to school or work
- has seen a whale
- can swim
- drinks coffee every day
- has been on a boat
- has broken a phone screen
- can draw a horse
- likes to cook
- has met someone famous
- reads before bed
- has a favorite soccer team
- has been to a wedding this year
- can speak three languages
- has slept in a tent
- plays video games
- has a long name
- is wearing sneakers
- knows a magic trick
- has been to a museum this year
- likes rainy days
- can whistle
- has visited a farm
- has a houseplant
- has never been on a plane
- has the same shoe size as you
- likes math
- has written a poem
- has tried a new food this month
- goes to bed after midnight
- has a grandparent who tells stories
- can name 10 fruits in English
- has watched a sunrise
- has made a snow angel
How to play
Give each player a card and a pen, and set a timer for 10 to 15 minutes. Players read a square, turn it into a question and ask a classmate. If the answer is yes, the classmate writes their name in the square. One name per square, and each person can sign only one square on a card. When someone has a full row, column or diagonal, they call bingo and report back in full sentences.
Why ESL teachers use it
Each square is a ready grammar drill. has climbed a mountain becomes Have you ever climbed a mountain?, can cook rice becomes Can you cook rice?, likes spicy food becomes Do you like spicy food? Students repeat the same question forms twenty times in ten minutes, and they have a reason to listen to the answer. Before the game, write the three patterns on the board and go through two squares together.
The report back
Bingo is only half of it. Ask the winner to read their line as statements: Maria has climbed a mountain. Ken can cook rice. That is third person and present perfect practice for free. Then ask follow-ups: Which mountain? When? Everyone else can share one surprising answer from their own card.
Adapting the prompts
For beginners, keep to can and likes squares; for an intermediate class, add more has ever squares. Swap in the vocabulary of this week's unit, such as food, travel or hobbies. Edit the list in the form below, each prompt up to 40 characters, and new cards are ready in seconds. Start each prompt with a verb so the sentence Find someone who... still reads.
Printing for a class
The PDF holds 30 numbered cards, two to a page, and every card has its own mix of the 48 prompts in a different order, so students sitting together cannot copy. For several classes, raise the number of cards in the form, up to 500.
Questions
What is find someone who bingo?
A bingo card where every square finishes the sentence Find someone who..., such as has climbed a mountain. Players ask questions around the room and write the name of a person who answers yes in each square.
What grammar does find someone who practice?
Question forms: Have you ever...? for experiences, Can you...? for ability and Do you...? for habits and likes. The report back practices third person statements like She has been to Mexico.
What level is it for?
Any level from high beginner up. For beginners, use simple can and like prompts. For advanced classes, add prompts that invite a follow-up question.
How many students do I need?
Ten or more works well. In a small class, allow each student to sign two squares on a card, or play for a single line.
Can I use my own prompts?
Yes. Edit the list in the form on this page and download new cards. Prompts can be up to 40 characters each, and you can add up to 300.