Welcome to our lesson on asking personal questions in English! If you’re learning English, especially at the A2 level, knowing how to ask personal questions is super important. It helps you make friends, build relationships, and have real conversations. This lesson will guide you on how to ask personal questions politely and naturally. Let’s get started with improving your conversational English skills!

Why Learn to Ask Personal Questions?

Think about making new friends or talking to people from different cultures. Asking personal questions is a key part of getting to know someone. It shows you are interested in them and want to connect. In social situations, knowing how to ask questions is essential for good English speaking practice and to keep conversations flowing. But, it’s also important to be polite and know what questions are okay to ask and what questions might be too personal, especially when you first meet someone.

What are “Personal Questions”?

Personal questions are questions about someone’s life, their experiences, feelings, or opinions. They go beyond simple facts like “What’s your name?” and delve into who they are as a person. Here are some examples of topics personal questions might cover:

• Family: Do you have any siblings? Are you married?
• Hobbies: What do you like to do in your free time? Do you have any hobbies?
• Work/Studies: What do you do? Where do you work/study?
• Travel: Have you ever been to…? Do you like to travel?
• Opinions: What do you think about…? What’s your favorite…?

These topics are common in everyday conversations and are good for spoken English practice. However, the level of personal detail you ask about depends on how well you know the person. For someone you just met, you should start with less personal questions and gradually ask more personal ones as you get to know them better.

How to Ask Personal Questions Politely

Being polite is very important when asking personal questions in English. There are direct and indirect ways to ask questions, and using softer language can make your questions sound more polite and less intrusive. Let’s explore some ways to ask politely.

Direct Questions

Direct questions are straightforward and ask for information directly. They are often short and to the point. Here are some examples of direct personal questions:

• “Where are you from?”
• “What do you do for work?”
• “Do you have any pets?”
• “What’s your favorite food?”

These are generally acceptable basic English questions to start a conversation, especially in informal settings. However, depending on the situation and your relationship with the person, you might want to soften them.

Indirect Questions

Indirect questions are a bit more subtle and less direct. They can be introduced with phrases that make them sound softer. This is a great technique for improving English vocabulary related to polite conversation.

• “Could you tell me about your hobbies?”
• “I was wondering, what do you do in your free time?”
• “If you don’t mind me asking, where did you grow up?”
• “I’m curious, what kind of music do you like?”

Using phrases like “Could you tell me…”, “I was wondering…”, or “If you don’t mind me asking…” makes your questions sound more considerate and less demanding.

Softening Language

Another way to be polite is to use softening language. This involves using words and phrases that make your questions less abrupt. This is crucial for social English and building good relationships.

• Using “Do you mind if I ask…?” – “Do you mind if I ask what you do for a living?”
• Using “Would you mind telling me…?” – “Would you mind telling me about your family?”
• Using “I’m just curious…” – “I’m just curious about your travel experiences.”
• Starting with a general statement before asking – “That’s an interesting shirt! Where did you get it, if you don’t mind me asking?”

These techniques are useful for making your questions more gentle and showing respect for the other person’s boundaries. Remember, practicing English pronunciation tips for these phrases can also make you sound more natural and polite.

Common Personal Questions in English

Here are some common personal questions categorized by topic. These are good starting points for your English speaking practice.

About Family:

• Do you have any brothers or sisters?
• Are you married? / Are you single?
• Do you have any children?
• Where do your parents live?

About Work/Studies:

• What do you do? / What’s your job?
• Where do you work/study?
• Do you enjoy your work/studies?
• What are you studying?

About Hobbies and Free Time:

• What do you like to do in your free time?
• Do you have any hobbies?
• What are your interests?
• Do you play any sports?

About Travel:

• Have you ever been to…?
• Do you like to travel?
• What’s your favorite place you’ve traveled to?
• Where would you like to travel to in the future?

About Opinions and Preferences:

• What kind of music do you like?
• What’s your favorite food?
• What do you think about…? (e.g., a movie, a book, a current event)
• Do you like…? (e.g., coffee, tea, reading)

Remember to listen carefully to the answers and show genuine interest! This is key to making good conversation and improving your conversational English.

Questions to Avoid (Especially at First)

While asking personal questions is important, some questions are too personal, especially when you are just getting to know someone. Being aware of these will help you avoid making people uncomfortable.

• Questions about age or salary (unless relevant to the conversation and you know the person well).
• Questions about very private topics like health issues or relationship problems (unless they offer this information themselves).
• Questions that are too direct or judgmental (e.g., “Why are you still single?” or “Why don’t you have kids?”).
• Questions that are based on stereotypes (e.g., assuming someone’s personality based on their nationality or job).

It’s always better to err on the side of caution and start with less personal questions. Pay attention to the other person’s body language and how they respond. If they seem uncomfortable, change the topic to something less personal.

Let’s Practice!

Now it’s time for some practice! These exercises will help you practice asking personal questions in English.

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

Complete these questions with appropriate words to make them polite personal questions.

1. ______ you mind telling me about your job?
2. I was __________, what do you do in your free time?
3. Could you ______ me where you are from?
4. ______ you have any hobbies?
5. If you don’t ______ me asking, what’s your favorite type of music?

Exercise 2: Matching Questions to Topics

Match the questions to the topics they relate to.
Questions:

1. What’s your favorite cuisine?
2. Where did you go on your last vacation?
3. Do you have any pets?
4. What are you studying at university?
5. Are you the oldest child in your family?

Topics:

• a) Family
• b) Travel
• c) Food
• d) Hobbies
• e) Education

Exercise 3: Role-play Prompts

Imagine you are meeting someone new. Use the prompts below to practice asking personal questions politely.

1. You meet a new classmate. Ask about their major and why they chose it.
2. You are talking to someone at a party. Ask about their hobbies and interests.
3. You are chatting with a colleague during lunch. Ask about their weekend plans.

Answer Key

Check your answers for Exercise 1 and Exercise 2.

Exercise 1 Answers:

1. Would you mind telling me about your job?
2. I was wondering, what do you do in your free time?
3. Could you tell me where you are from?
4. Do you have any hobbies?
5. If you don’t mind me asking, what’s your favorite type of music?

Exercise 2 Answers:

1. c
2. b
3. d
4. e
5. a

Practice Speaking with Lingofrnd

Want to practice asking personal questions and improve your spoken English even more? Lingofrnd.com is your AI spoken English teacher! You can practice real conversations, get feedback, and build your confidence in speaking English. It’s perfect for practicing everything you learned in this lesson and more. Download App now and start speaking!

Conclusion

Learning to ask personal questions politely is a vital skill for A2 level English learners. It opens doors to deeper conversations, helps you build relationships, and improves your overall conversational English skills. Remember to be mindful of politeness, start with less personal questions, and practice regularly. Keep practicing, and you’ll become a confident English speaker! For more English speaking practice, don’t forget to check out Lingofrnd.com and Download the App today!