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Keeping Conversation Going

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Keeping Conversation Going
Keeping a conversation going is an important skill that helps you connect with others and feel more confident speaking English. This guide includes useful vocabulary and example sentences that show you how to keep a conversation flowing naturally.

Useful Phrases for Keeping a Conversation Going

These are common phrases you can use to show interest, keep the other person talking, and guide the conversation smoothly.

Examples

  • "That’s interesting!"
  • "Tell me more about that."
  • "What happened next?"
  • "How did that make you feel?"
  • "I’d love to hear more."

Questions to Keep the Conversation Going

Asking questions is one of the best ways to keep a conversation alive. These questions help you learn more about the other person and keep them talking.

Examples

  • "What do you like to do in your free time?"
  • "Have you ever traveled to another country?"
  • "What’s your favorite type of music?"
  • "Can you recommend a good movie?"
  • "What did you do last weekend?"

Responses to Show Interest

Responding with interest encourages the other person to keep talking. These phrases show that you’re listening and want to hear more.

The phrase 'You must have had a great time' suggests that...


the speaker is guessing the other person enjoyed their experience.

'You must have had a great time' is a way to acknowledge the speaker’s positive experience and encourage more details.

When someone says, 'I didn’t know that,' they are usually...


expressing surprise or learning something new.

'I didn’t know that' is a polite way to show that you have learned something new, which encourages the speaker to keep sharing.

Examples

  • "Wow, that sounds amazing!"
  • "I didn’t know that."
  • "You must have had a great time."
  • "That’s so cool!"
  • "It sounds like you really enjoy it."

Transition Phrases for Changing Topics

If the conversation needs to move to a new topic, these phrases help you do so smoothly and politely.

Examples

  • "By the way, have you heard about…?"
  • "Speaking of travel, have you ever…?"
  • "That reminds me of something else."
  • "On a different note, what do you think about…?"
  • "Before I forget, I wanted to ask you…"

The phrase 'By the way, have you heard about…?' is used to...


introduce a new topic without sounding abrupt.

'By the way, have you heard about…?' is a polite way to bring up a new subject smoothly during a conversation.

Practice Example

A short dialogue showing these phrases in action.
A: Hi! What did you do last weekend?
B: I went hiking in the mountains. It was beautiful!
A: That’s interesting! What happened next?
B: Well, I saw some wild animals and took lots of photos.
A: Wow, that sounds amazing! How did that make you feel?
B: I felt really peaceful and happy to be outdoors.
A: I’d love to hear more. Have you ever hiked in other places?
B: Yes, I’ve also been to national parks in other states.
A: Cool! Speaking of travel, have you ever traveled internationally?
B: Yes, I went to Japan last year. It was incredible!
A: I didn’t know that. What’s your favorite part about traveling?

Tips for Keeping Conversations Going

  • Listen carefully and respond to what the other person says.
  • Use the phrases and questions above to guide the conversation.
  • Don’t be afraid to ask for more details.
  • Practice often to build your confidence.

Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025

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