Welcome to Frankly Speaking English! When you start learning English, the most exciting part is meeting new people. To do this well, you need to know how to ask and answer basic personal questions.
This guide will give you the “core” questions you need for every first conversation. Let’s keep it simple, practical, and fun!
The 6 Core Questions
In English, we usually ask these six things when we meet someone for the first time.
| Topic | The Question | Common Answer |
| Name | “What’s your name?” | “My name is [Name].” / “I’m [Name].” |
| Origin | “Where are you from?” | “I’m from [Country/City].” |
| Location | “Where do you live?” | “I live in [City/Neighborhood].” |
| Job | “What do you do?” | “I’m a/an [Job].” (e.g., “I’m a student.”) |
| Age | “How old are you?” | “I’m [Number] years old.” / “I’m [Number].” |
| Hobbies | “What do you do for fun?” | “I like [Activity].” (e.g., “I like cooking.”) |
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Pro Tip: When talking about your age, always use the verb “to be” (am/is/are). Never say “I have 25 years.” Instead, say: “I am 25.”
Understanding Relationship Statuses
Sometimes, a conversation gets a little more personal. People might ask, “Are you married?” or “Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend?” Here is how to answer clearly:
- Single: You are not in a relationship.
- Married: You have a husband or a wife.
- Seeing someone: This is a very useful phrase! It means you are dating someone, but it is not a “serious” or “official” relationship yet.
- Example: “I’m not married, but I’m seeing someone.”
- In a relationship: you have a steady partner (boyfriend/girlfriend).
- Engaged: You are promised to be married soon.
- Separated: You are still legally married, but you do not live with your husband or wife anymore.
- Divorced: You were married in the past, but the marriage is legally finished.
The “And you?” Rule
The secret to being a great English speaker isn’t just about your grammar—it’s about being friendly!
In English, a conversation is like a game of tennis. When someone asks you a question, you hit the ball back to them. After you answer a question, you should almost always ask the other person the same thing.
How to do it:
You don’t need to repeat the whole question. You can simply say:
- “And you?”
- “How about you?”
Example Conversation:
Person A: “What do you do for fun?” Person B: “I really like playing video games. And you?” Person A: “I prefer reading books!”
Using “And you?” shows that you are interested in the other person. It makes the conversation feel natural and keeps the “ball” moving!
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