Missing Words

🧩 “Missing Words” – Fun ESL Pairwork to Practice Requests & Permission (Free PDF). An engaging classroom activity where students guess missing words to learn natural expressions for making requests and asking for or denying permission.

🧩 “Missing Words” – Fun ESL Pairwork to Practice Requests & Permission (Free PDF)

🧩 “Missing Words” – Fun ESL Pairwork to Practice Requests & Permission (Free PDF)

Looking for a dynamic and interactive way to teach polite requests and permission language in English? Try this free printable ESL worksheet, “Missing Words”, a pairwork speaking activity that builds vocabulary, reinforces sentence structure, and gets students communicating right away.

Perfect for beginner to pre-intermediate levels, this ESL game helps students internalize expressions like “Can I…?”, “Could you…?”, “Would you mind…?”, and responses such as “Sorry, try again” or “Yes, that’s right.”

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🧾 What’s Included in the “Missing Words” ESL Worksheet?

• 🎯 20 interactive request-based sentences
• 🔍 Gapped sentences to guess and complete
• 🎭 Built-in dialogue structure for partner correction
• 🎲 A turn-based format to maximize pair speaking time

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🧑‍🏫 How to Use This Free ESL Resource in Class

1. Warm-Up the Class
   On the board, write: “I ___ ___, please?”
   Tell students this is a request for permission and ask them to guess the full sentence. (Answer: “Can I come in, please?”) Accept guesses until they get it right, or use mime to help them along. Then reveal the full sentence and write: “Yes, that’s right.” / “Sorry, try again.”
2. Set Up the Pairwork
   • Divide the class into pairs (Student A and Student B).
   • Give each student their version of the worksheet.
   • Have them sit face-to-face and keep worksheets hidden from each other.
3. Let the Game Begin!
   • Student A starts by guessing the missing words in the first sentence on their sheet.
   • Student B checks the full sentence and replies: “Yes, that’s right.” or “Sorry, try again.”
   • Once guessed correctly, Student A writes the missing words on their worksheet.
   Then, Student B tries to guess the next sentence on their worksheet, and the process continues.
4. Finishing Up
   • When all gaps are completed, students compare sheets and correct any spelling or grammar mistakes together.
   • For extra reinforcement, you can have pairs read a few completed sentences aloud to the class.

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💬 Language Practice Focus

Students will master:

• Asking permission: “Can I…?”, “Is it OK if…?”
• Making polite requests: “Could you…?”, “Would you mind…?”
• Giving and denying permission: “Yes, that’s fine.” / “I’m afraid not.”
• Responding naturally: “Sorry, try again.” / “Yes, that’s right.”

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🔍 Why This ESL Activity Works So Well

• ✅ Speaking-focused but also builds reading and listening
• ✅ Promotes accuracy with grammar and word order
• ✅ Encourages collaboration and peer correction
• ✅ Easily adapted to online teaching or breakout rooms
• ✅ Zero prep after printing—just cut and go!

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✨ Teaching Tip:

Turn it into a mini-competition! The pair that completes the worksheet fastest with zero mistakes wins a small prize or class points. Great for motivation and focus!

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📥 [Download the “Missing Words” ESL Worksheet – Free PDF]
(Instant, printer-friendly file for classroom use!)

DOWNLOAD THE PDF FOR FREE

📩 Want more free ESL grammar lesson? Share this post with other teachers and let us know how it worked in your classroom!

💬 What other grammar topics would you like? Drop your ideas in the comments!

More ESL Classroom Games & Activities

Looking for more fun grammar activities for your English class? Check out these ideas:
✅ ESL Speaking Games to improve fluency
✅ Grammar Board Games for practicing sentence structures
✅ Interactive Writing Activities for ESL learners