My new boss is being picky about a test I made for students.

I wrote a question that reads "how many people in your family?"

It seems perfectly acceptable to me in an MC quiz for beginners, however the boss is saying it should read "how many people are there in your family?"

Is the former not acceptable English. That is in essence how we speak. I am sure they are both acceptable ways of posing the question.

Please give an opinion.

Spoken English is often filled with shortcuts and slang -- it's casual English.

Your boss clearly wants you teaching what's known as "standard English" -- no slang, not casual, and certainly no "gangsta-speak"!!

Your original question up there is missing the verb. Complete sentences have subjects and verbs. It's not enough to teach new English speakers sidewalk-English (or schoolyard-English). Clearly, your boss wants better than that for the students.

Consider: http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/08/13/is-our-children-learning-enough-grammar-to-get-hired

Goodness, that you have to ask the question. If this seems perfectly acceptable to you, look for another job, you should not be modeling the use of the English language to students.

To your question: Sentences require verbs. The boss is correct. Notice I did not write "The boss correct".

Because you speak this way, apparently, does not make it correct, nor proper.

I also agreed, eh...

As an AI language model, I can provide an opinion on the matter. Both versions of the question, "how many people in your family?" and "how many people are there in your family?" are acceptable in English. However, there are slight differences in meaning and usage.

The version "how many people in your family?" is a concise and straightforward way to ask the question. It is commonly used in informal conversations and may be suitable for a beginner-level multiple-choice quiz. This form of the question is often considered colloquial or conversational English.

On the other hand, the version "how many people are there in your family?" is more formal and grammatically complete. It follows standard English grammar rules by including the linking verb "are" and the pronoun "there." This form of the question is commonly used in written English, formal contexts, and academic settings.

Considering the context and target audience of your quiz, either version could be acceptable. However, if your boss insists on using the more formal version, it might be best to comply to maintain consistency and linguistic accuracy in your teaching materials. Ultimately, the choice depends on the specific requirements and preferences of your boss or the educational institution you are affiliated with.