A selection of English ESL problem and solution printables

Problems and Solutions

A worksheet to introduce the ideas of problems and solutions.  



This activity is open ended, which should challenge students to think for themselves, while researching how to describe the images from their L1.  



 - The original file was too large, if you download this, please increase the size of the images to make it easier for students to view.  Thank you!  

Problems and Solutions - Volunteering 

Each player has to give a possible remedy or advice in order to give a solution to an illness. if the player uses should and give a correct solution to the problem he gets the square, he needs to complete a row of 4 squares. 

Illneses and advices

The sheet contains a variety of problems, both negative and positive dilemmas. Placing students in groups or pairs, they must decide how the individuals in each senario feel and give ideas about how they could resolve the situation.  

This activity could be oral or recorded in a table.  

Problems, Emotions and Solutions

Students are introduced to basic concepts of morality and ethics through short examples. They work in groups to discuss everyday moral dilemmas and decide what action would be most ethical. Then, they compare their answers, debate different perspectives, and reflect on values such as honesty, fairness, and responsibility. Finally, a short writing task consolidates vocabulary and personal viewpoints.

Philosophy and Ethical dilemmas

This material will be useful and helpful for teachers who teach vocabulary about environmental problems and their solutions, teach grammar, Present Simple Passive and Past Simple Passive.

Nature and environment. Passive Voice

In this worksheet students play with large numbers. They start with writing a number they choose , then they have to solve different problems and write down the solutions they find both in digits and in letters. This worksheet is quite useful to differenciate activities on numbers in a group where students have different levels. The tips are in French, but you can easily translate them ! ;)

Your Special Number

"Introducing '1st Grade Place Value Activity Workbook,' an engaging resource designed to reinforce fundamental math concepts for first graders. This workbook offers a hands-on approach to mastering place value. Perfect for young learners embarking on their mathematical journey, it's an essential tool for building a solid foundation in math skills."

"First Grade Fun with Place Value: Activity Workbook"

I’ve been thinking a lot about how we manage our time, especially when life gets hectic. Some days, it feels like there’s just so much to do, and we end up juggling so many things at once. But what’s interesting is how everyone has their own way of dealing with it. Like, I personally try to start my day early—morning routines really help me feel grounded. A cup of coffee, a few minutes of silence, and I can think clearer for the day ahead.

Some people are super into fitness, so they make time for exercise, even if it’s just a 20-minute walk. I know others who swear by their productivity apps to keep track of tasks. But then there are those days where everything just piles up, and you feel like you’re constantly running behind. It’s all part of the grind, but sometimes, it's hard to balance work, relaxation, and personal time. How about you? How do you stay on top of everything?

Speak Your Mind Lesson 1 for teenagers ages 13 to 16 years old pre-intermediate level

Vocabulary Match
Task: Students match words related to the videos with their correct definitions (e.g., "ironic," "distracted," "to scroll").
Objective: Build vocabulary related to the video themes of social media and technology use.

Listening Comprehension
Task: Watch both Look Up and Look Up 2 by Gary Turk and answer comprehension questions based on the videos.
Objective: Test listening skills, understanding of the main ideas, and details from the videos.

Discussion
Task: Discuss the impact of social media and technology on personal lives and relationships. Questions prompt reflection on personal experiences with phones and social media.
Objective: Encourage speaking practice and deeper thinking about the themes of the videos.

Writing Task
Task: Write an opinion essay or personal reflection on the topics of technology use, digital detox, or social media’s effect on society.
Objective: Develop writing skills through structured opinion expression.

Optional Creative Extension
Task: Write and perform a short spoken word poem or monologue inspired by the Look Up videos.
Objective: Foster creativity and enhance oral presentation skills.

Look Up by Gary Turk ESL Worksheet

Word search puzzle for presenting and practicing vocabulary connected with crime and law. The words are presented with their phonetic transcription. Can be used to practice pronunciation and translation. Solution is not part of the worksheet.

Vocabulary connected with breaking the law

A handout to provoke discussion on the topic of hoarding. First, students watch the video (the link is given in the handout) for general understanding and answer the question. After that, they complete the script. The last stage is answering the questions on the main topic. The glossary of 'challenging words and phrases' is attached below the text.

Hoarding Disorder - Video Lesson

Culture, intercultural communication, cross-cultural communication

Adjectives to describe feelings, emotions

Adjectives to describe personality and character

Adjectives: Gradable / Non-gradable adjectives

Articles: Definite or indefinite article (a, an or the)

BE + infinitive structures (e.g. he was to become famous)

Clauses of contrast (e.g.  although, while)

Clauses of purpose (e.g. in order to, so that, so as to)

Clauses of reason (e.g. because, because of, due to, as, since)

Cleft sentences (e.g. It's Joey we're looking for)

Comparison: Comparative adjectives and structures

Comparison: Superlative adjectives and structures

Conditional 2 (second conditional) - would

Conditionals: Conditional phrases (e.g. unless, provided that, as long as)

Conjunctions (aka connectives, e.g. and, but, or, so, then)

Contractions (shortened forms, e.g. don't, aren't, etc.)

Determiners (words that can come before nouns)

Formal and informal English (politeness or colloquial language)

Future perfect continuous (progressive) tense

Future perfect simple and continuous (progressive) tense

Future phrases (e.g. be about to, bound to, likely to, due to, set to + INF)

Homonyms (two words with the same pronunciation - homophones and homographs)

It as preparatory subject (e.g. it's raining, it's nice of you to)

Linking verbs (aka copulas, e.g. I am a student)

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Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike License

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Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License

Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike License

Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives License

how to accuse somebody of something in English

how to apologize, say sorry, forgive and express regret in English

how to ask for information and make inquiries in English

how to ask for something, make requests in English

how to blame somebody for something in English

how to defend yourself from criticism in English

how to deny or admit something in English

how to describe things or people in English

how to emphasize important things in English

how to encourage or discourage people in English

how to evaluate people or progress in English

how to express agreement /disagreement in English

how to express approval and disapproval  in English

how to express cause and effect in English

how to express interest in something in English

how to express likelihood, probability in English

how to express likes and dislikes in English

how to express sequence and chronology in English

how to express shock and disbelief in English

how to express sympathy and condolences in English

how to give permission, authorization in English

how to inform somebody about some news in English

how to interpret what was said in English

how to keep a conversation going in English

how to make guesses about something in English

how to make, accept and refuse offers in English

how to order or make a booking in English

how to persuade, convince people in English

how to praise people and express appreciation in English

how to reassure somebody of something in English

how to refuse and object to something in English

how to remind people of something in English

how to rephrase, paraphrase what was said in English

how to say thank you, express gratitude in English

Nouns: Collective nouns (team, class, family, committee)

Nouns: Proper nouns (names of people, cities, companies)

Oxymorons (phrases with words of contradictory meaning, e.g. living dead)

Participles: Past participle (e.g. HAVING DONE)

Participles: Present participle (e.g. DOING)

Parts of Speech (aka word classes, e.g. nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs)

Past perfect continuous (progressive) tense

Phonetics (pronunciation, IPA, phonetic symbols)

Plural nouns: regular plurals with S ending

Prefixes (e.g. A, UN, IM, DIS, MIS, EN, etc. )

Prepositions vs adverbs (e.g. before me, saw him before.)

Prepositions: Double prepositions (e.g. out of)

Prepositions: Participle prepositions (e.g. pending, concerning)

Prepositions: Phrase prepositions (e.g. by means of)

Present perfect continuous (progressive) tense

Present perfect simple or present continuous tense

Present simple tense: S for third person singular verbs

Present simple vs continuous (progressive) tense

Pronouns: EACH OTHER, ONE ANOTHER (reciprocal pronouns)

Pronouns: Possessive pronouns (e.g. my, mine)

Pronouns: Reflexive pronouns (e.g. myself, yourself))

Pronouns: SOMEBODY, ANYBODY, EVERYBODY, NO ONE, NOTHING, etc.

Pronouns: THIS, THAT, THESE, THOSE (demonstratives)

Pronouns: YOU and THEY to talk about people in general

Quantifiers (e.g. some, many, much, any, few, little)

Questions: WH questions (open-ended questions)

Reported speech: reported questions (indirect questions)

There is / there are / there was / there were / there will be, etc.

Verbs: Transitive or intransitive verbs (words that can or cannot stand with objects)

Working with Paragraphs: ordering, titling

Role play, miming, drama activity or improv game

Pictionary (picture dictionary) or picture matching

Writing an opinion essay (persuasive essay)

Learners who are Pre-A1 have just begun learning English and will first learn how to:<ul><li>Say the letters in the alphabet and numbers</li><li>Say hello, talk about names and age</li><li>Name the colors and dates, express likes and dislikes</li></ul>

Absolute beginners who have begun to learn the letters and numbers

Learners taking the A1 Elementary exam should be able to:<ul><li>Introduce themselves and ask and answer questions about personal details such as where he/she lives, things he/she has, people he/she knows.</li><li>Communicate using very basic phrases as long as the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.</li><li>Main grammar points to know: common adjectives & adverbs of frequency, going to, how much/how many, imperatives, I'd like, 's – possessive, common prepositions of place and time, present simple & continuous, there is/are</li></ul>

A very basic tourist level, which is enough for buying food and a bus ticket

Learners taking the A2 Pre-intermediate exam should be able to:<ul><li>Understand sentences and frequently used expressions (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment).</li><li>Complete tasks that are routine and exchange information about familiar matters.</li><li>Describe matters of immediate need in simple terms.</li><li>Main grammar points to know: countable/uncountable nouns, adverbs of frequency, future will/going to, much/many, present perfect, past simple, past continuous, common phrasal verbs, common modals: can/should</li></ul>

A tourist who can do basic conversations about the past, present and future

Learners taking the B1 Intermediate exam should be able to:<ul><li>Understand points regarding family, work, school or leisure-related topics.</li><li>Deal with most travel situations in areas where the language is spoken.</li><li>Create simple texts on topics of personal interest.</li><li>Describe experiences, events, dreams, and ambitions, as well as opinions or plans in brief.</li><li>Main grammar points to know: question tags, intensifiers: too/enough, future tenses, past tenses, modals, conditionals, wh-questions in the past</li></ul>

Learners who can deal with both familiar and routine situations, in friendly and work contexts

Learners taking the B2 Upper-intermediate exam should be able to:<ul><li>Understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialization.</li><li>Interact with fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without difficulty for either party.</li><li>Produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain an opinion on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.</li><li>Main grammar points to know: perfect tenses, mixed conditionals, modals in the present, phrasal verbs, reported speech, wish, relative clauses</li></ul>

The level where you can be a tour guide for your foreign friends and talk about a lot of topics, even abstract ones, with ease and fluency

Learners taking the C1 Advanced exam should be able to: Express ideas fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions. Use language flexibly and effectively for social, academic and professional purposes. Understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts. Produce clear, well-structured, detailed text on complex subjects, using linking phrases (=words that connect ideas between sentences). Main grammar points to know: inversion, mixed conditionals, modals in the past, all passive forms, phrasal verbs (all patterns), wish/if only for regrets

Learners who can smoothly communicate in every walk of life, read long texts and write well

Learners taking the C2 Proficient exam should be able to:<ul><li>Understand almost everything read or heard with ease.</li><li>Summarize information from a variety of sources into a coherent presentation.</li><li>Express themselves using precise meaning in complex scenarios.</li><li>Can express him/herself spontaneously, very fluently and precisely, differentiating finer shades of meaning even in the most complex situations</li></ul>

Get here and you are ready to study in English at university

67 Problem and solution English ESL worksheets pdf & doc