NEVER ask this question! Easy English Tip 8

NEVER ask this question! Easy English Tip #8 BEST conversation tips English Speaking 360

Explanation + Practice

Never begin a conversation with “What’s your name?”
When you start with “What’s your name?” it feels strange to native speakers. It’s not how we usually start a conversation. It can make people feel uncomfortable.
“What’s your name?” = “I don’t speak English well.”
Native speakers don’t usually begin like this. So, if you start with “What’s your name?”, people might think you don’t know how to speak English very well.
How to do it right:
First, start with some small talk (like talking about the weather, weekend plans, or asking how someone is). After a few minutes, you can introduce yourself first. You can say:
“By the way, I’m (your name).”
Example of what to say:
- You: “Hi, how are you today?”
- Other person: “I’m good, how about you?”
- You: “I’m good, thanks! By the way, I’m Maria.”
- Other person: “Nice to meet you, Maria. I’m John.”

This way, you start with a friendly conversation, and when you introduce yourself, the other person will naturally share their name too!

Read the statements below. Write True if the sentence is correct or False if it is incorrect.

False – It’s not a good idea to start a conversation with “What’s your name?”
True – Native English speakers don’t usually begin with “What’s your name?”
True – It’s better to start with small talk and give your name later.
True – After some small talk, you should say, “By the way, I’m (your name).”
False – Starting with “What’s your name?” does not show fluency in English.

Complete the following sentences using the words from the box:

Box: by the way, What’s your name, small talk, native speakers, introduce

Choose the correct response to keep the conversation going naturally. Write the letter (A, B, or C) next to each conversation.

You: “Hi! How’s your day going?”
Other Person: “Great, thanks! And you?”
You: “I’ve been pretty busy, but I’m glad it’s almost the weekend. What about you? Any fun weekend plans?”
Other Person: “I’m just going to relax and maybe see some friends.”
You: ______
A) “What’s your name?”
B) “That sounds nice! By the way, I’m Sara.”
C) “Cool, not much going on for me.”

You: “It’s such a beautiful day today, don’t you think?”
Other Person: “Yes, it’s really nice!”
You: “Yeah, I love sunny weather. It just makes everything better. Do you like to spend time outside?”
Other Person: “Yeah, I try to get out when I can.”
You: ______
A) “Do you live nearby?”
B) “That’s great! By the way, I’m Tom.”
C) “What’s your name?”

You: “How’s your week going so far?”
Other Person: “It’s going well, just busy with work.”
You: “I know what you mean, work can be so exhausting. Do you have any plans to unwind this weekend?”
Other Person: “I might go hiking or just chill at home.”
You: ______
A) “Nice! By the way, I’m Jake.”
B) “What’s your name?”
C) “Hiking sounds fun. Maybe I’ll do that too.”

You: “Are you having fun at the party?”
Other Person: “Yes, I am! How about you?”
You: “Yeah, I’m enjoying it! The music is great, and I’ve met some cool people. Have you been here long?”
Other Person: “Just about an hour or so.”
You: ______
A) “By the way, I’m Amy.”
B) “No, I’m bored. What’s your name?”
C) “I’m good too. What do you do?”

You: “The food here is amazing, right?”
Other Person: “Yeah, it’s delicious!”
You: “I wasn’t expecting it to be this good. Do you come to events like this often?”
Other Person: “Not really, but I’m glad I came tonight.”
You: ______
A) “By the way, I’m Chris.”
B) “What’s your name?”
C) “I agree, but what’s your name?”

You: “Do you come to this cafe often?”
Other Person: “Yes, I love it here.”
You: “Me too. It’s such a cozy place. I like to come here and relax with a book. How about you?”
Other Person: “I usually come to grab a coffee and do some work.”
You: ______
A) “By the way, I’m Sarah.”
B) “What’s your name?”
C) “That’s cool.”

You: “How’s your day been so far?”
Other Person: “Pretty good, just relaxing.”
You: “That sounds nice. I’ve just been running around, so I’m looking forward to relaxing later too. Do you usually have busy days?”
Other Person: “Sometimes, but today’s been pretty chill.”
You: ______
A) “By the way, I’m Max.”
B) “Cool, what’s your name?”
C) “That’s nice. What do you do?”

B) “That sounds nice! By the way, I’m Sara.”
(This response flows naturally and allows the conversation to continue without abruptly asking for their name.)
B) “That’s great! By the way, I’m Tom.”
(Here, you keep the conversation casual and introduce yourself smoothly.)
A) “Nice! By the way, I’m Jake.”
(Introducing yourself in a friendly way keeps the conversation going.)
A) “By the way, I’m Amy.”
(This response is appropriate for a party setting and feels more natural than directly asking for a name.)
A) “By the way, I’m Chris.”
(This answer works well, as it offers your name without forcing the other person to give theirs.)
A) “By the way, I’m Sarah.”
(This is a polite way to introduce yourself after some casual talk about the cafe.)
A) “By the way, I’m Max.”
(This is a friendly way to introduce yourself after the other person has shared a bit about their day.)