Keeping conversations going
💬 InteractionBefore we learn new phrases, let's retrieve what you already know. Click each card to check your memory.
Example: "I missed the bus, so I was late for work."
Today you'll learn to follow these up with real questions!
💀 Conversation died.
✓ Conversation thriving!
Today's Goal: Learn 5 types of follow-up questions that keep any conversation flowing naturally.
Good conversationalists ask questions that invite MORE talking. Here are your 5 types:
| Type | Question Words | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 🔍 Detail | Who? What? Where? When? Which? | "Which part did you visit?" |
| 🤔 Reason | Why? How come? What made you...? | "How come you chose that one?" |
| 💭 Feeling | How did you feel? Were you...? Did you enjoy...? | "Were you nervous?" |
| ⭐ Highlight | What was the best/worst/hardest? | "What was the best part?" |
| 🔮 Future | Would you...again? Are you planning...? What's next? | "Would you go there again?" |
Purpose: Get specific information to understand the full picture.
A: "I started a new job." → B: "Oh nice! What company is it?"
Now You Try: A: "I had a really good weekend." → Your detail question?
Purpose: Understand motivations and stories behind the facts.
A: "I moved to London last year." → B: "What made you decide to move?"
Now You Try: A: "I quit my gym membership." → Your reason question?
Purpose: Show you care about their experience, not just the facts.
A: "I had my driving test yesterday." → B: "Oh! Were you nervous?"
Now You Try: A: "I gave a presentation at work." → Your feeling question?
Purpose: Get them to share the most interesting or meaningful part.
A: "I just finished a marathon!" → B: "Wow! What was the hardest part?"
Now You Try: A: "I just got back from Japan." → Your highlight question?
Purpose: Explore their future plans and keep the conversation moving forward.
A: "I just finished my first painting class." → B: "That's cool! Will you continue with more classes?"
Now You Try: A: "I've been learning piano for 6 months." → Your future question?
Read this model conversation. Notice how each follow-up question uses a different type:
Notice: The conversation used ALL 5 types: Detail → Reason → Feeling → Highlight → Future. Each question was based on the partner's answer!
Fill in the follow-up question. The type tag tells you what kind to ask.
Partner says: "I cooked dinner for 10 people last weekend."
🔍 Detail Ask a detail question:
Partner says: "I quit my gym membership."
🤔 Reason Ask a reason question:
Partner says: "I had a job interview this morning."
💭 Feeling Ask a feeling question:
Now make your own follow-up questions. Use the word banks to help, then check.
Partner says: "I just got back from Japan."
⭐ Highlight Ask a highlight question:
Partner says: "I've been learning to play piano for 6 months."
🔮 Future Ask a future question:
Partner says: "I ran my first 5K race last month."
Ask ALL 5 types about this one topic:
Which type of follow-up question is BEST for each situation? Choose, then make the question.
Partner says: "I started my own business last year."
Which type first?
Partner says: "I failed my exam."
Which type is most appropriate here?
Partner says: "I just finished watching a really long TV series."
Which type works best?
Partner says: "I've been going to the gym every day for 2 months."
Which type?
Partner says: "I got a puppy!"
Ask 3 different types of follow-up question:
Great conversations don't stop at one question. You listen to the answer, then ask ANOTHER follow-up based on what you just heard.
🔗 The Chain Formula
Listen → React → Ask a follow-up → Listen → React → Ask another follow-up
Build a conversation chain. Each answer gives you a clue for the next question.
Build a 4-question chain. Use a DIFFERENT type each time.
Partner says: "I went to a music festival last weekend."
Build a chain of 4 follow-up questions, each based on an imagined answer:
Key skill: Great interviewers listen to the answer and base their NEXT question on what they just heard!
Imagine you're interviewing someone. Keep asking follow-up questions for 3 minutes on each topic. Try to use all 5 types!
🎯 Interview 1: Travel
Your partner says: "I went on a great holiday last year."
Keep the conversation going with follow-up questions. Aim for at least 5 questions!
🎯 Interview 2: Work / Study
Your partner says: "I'm working on an interesting project right now."
Discover everything you can about their project!
🎯 Interview 3: Hobbies
Your partner says: "I've recently started a new hobby."
Find out what, why, how, and if they'll continue!
Retrieve skills from previous lessons. Combining them makes you a better speaker! Click to check your memory.
What 3 comparison structures did you learn?
1. [A] is comparative than [B]
2. [A] is not as adjective as [B]
3. [A] is similar to / different from [B]
💡 Use these in answers to follow-up questions: "The food in Italy was much better than the food in England!"
What 5 expressions make a reason stronger?
The main reason is... • Especially because... • Another reason is... • Also because... • The thing is...
💡 When someone asks you "Why?", answer with these reason strengtheners!
What phrase is best for quick corrections while speaking?
"I mean,..."
💡 Use it in questions too: "When did you go... I mean, where did you go?"
What 5 cause-effect connectors did you learn?
so • Because of this • That's why • As a result • This means
💡 Turn them into questions: "So what happened next?" / "Is that why you...?"
Final test! Answer without looking back.
🔍 Detail (Who/What/Where/When/Which)
🤔 Reason (Why/How come/What made you)
💭 Feeling (How did you feel/Were you/Did you enjoy)
⭐ Highlight (What was the best/worst/hardest)
🔮 Future (Would you...again/Are you planning/What's next)
💭 Feeling — "Oh no... are you OK?" Show empathy before asking for details.
Asking follow-up questions based on the answer you just heard.
Listen → React → Ask → Listen → React → Ask another — each question builds on the last answer.
"I can keep a conversation going by asking follow-up questions about details, reasons, feelings, highlights, and future plans."
How confident do you feel?
1 = Not yet confident → 5 = Very confident
Think about these questions:
1. Which question type feels most natural to you?
2. Which type do you need to practise more?
3. In real life, do you usually ask follow-up questions or change the topic?
This week, in EVERY conversation, challenge yourself to ask at least 3 follow-up questions before changing the topic!
The secret: People love talking about themselves. Your questions make them feel heard.