How to Ask Better Questions in English Conversations

Asking questions is a key part of any good conversation, but are you asking the right kind? If your conversations feel awkward or short, you might be making some common mistakes without realising it. In this article, we'll explore how to ask better questions in English, keep conversations flowing naturally, and avoid the dreaded awkward silence.

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The Common Mistakes People Make When Asking Questions

1. Asking Too Many Closed Questions

A closed question is one that can be answered with a simple "yes" or "no." For example:

• "Do you like football?" → "Yes."

• "Are you from Spain?" → "No."

   

This type of question can kill a conversation quickly because it doesn’t invite further discussion. Instead, try asking open-ended questions that encourage the other person to share more.

✅ Better alternative:

• "What do you like about football?"

• "What was it like growing up in Spain?"

   

These questions give the other person a chance to express themselves and keep the conversation going.

2. Jumping Between Random Topics

Another common mistake is asking questions that have no connection to what was just said. Imagine this scenario:

You: "What did you do last weekend?"

Them: "I went hiking."

 You: "Oh, okay. What's your favourite colour?"

This kind of conversation feels unnatural because there’s no flow. It makes it seem like you're not really listening and just asking random questions to fill the silence.

✅ Better alternative:

• "Oh, nice! Where did you go hiking?"

• "What do you like about hiking?"

   

By following up on their answer, you show that you're interested in what they’re saying.

3. Turning the Conversation into an Interview

Asking too many questions in a row without sharing anything about yourself can make the conversation feel like an interrogation. If you keep asking "Where are you from?" "What do you do?" "Do you like music?" without adding your own thoughts, the other person might feel uncomfortable.

✅ Better alternative: Instead of just asking questions, balance the conversation with statements:

• "Oh, you like hiking? That’s cool! I went hiking last summer in Scotland, and it was amazing. Have you ever been there?"

   

This way, you share something about yourself before asking another question, making the conversation feel more natural.

What You Should Do Instead

1. Use More Open-Ended Questions

As mentioned earlier, open-ended questions help keep conversations flowing because they encourage longer responses. Instead of asking "Do you like movies?" try "What’s the best movie you’ve seen recently?" This invites the other person to share their opinion and gives you more to talk about.

2. Go Deeper with Follow-Up Questions

Once you’ve asked a general question, follow up with a deeper one. If someone tells you they love Italian food, don’t just move on to a new topic—ask more about it!

✅ Example:

• "Oh, nice! What’s your favourite Italian dish?"

• "Have you ever been to Italy?"

This keeps the conversation flowing naturally instead of feeling like a checklist of questions.

3. Stay on Topic Before Changing Subjects

When you do want to change topics, do it smoothly by linking it to what was just said. For example:

✅ Example:

• Them: "I love Italian food."

• You: "Oh, nice! Have you ever been to Italy?"

• Them: "Yeah, I went last year."

• You: "That’s awesome! I love travelling too. What was your favourite part about your trip?"

Here, the conversation flows naturally from food to travel instead of jumping randomly.

If you want to have better conversations in English, focus on:

✔ Asking open-ended questions instead of closed ones.

✔ Following up on what the other person says instead of jumping between random topics.

✔ Balancing your questions with statements so it doesn’t feel like an interview.

✔ Changing topics naturally instead of abruptly.

The key to great conversations is making the other person feel heard and engaged. If you practice these techniques, you’ll find it much easier to connect with people in English.

Want to practice asking better questions in real conversations? Join BritSpeak Mates, where you can chat with others, practice your English, and get real-time feedback.