5 Things to Ask on a Date

Asking key questions on a first date can help avoid relationship trouble down the road.

A first date is often somewhat of a trial for both parties. For many people, the purpose of a first date is to get to know the other person as much as possible to test for compatibility and if the relationship has any chance of succeeding. A few thoughtful questions can help identify similarities or differences between the couple, which can help determine whether a second date is an option.

Embarrassing Moment

According to Eve Hogan, relationship expert and author of the book "How to Love Your Marriage: Making Your Closest Relationship Work," asking your date to share an embarrassing moment will help loosen tension and will also reveal the priorities in your date's life. If he shares about a mistake at work, it shows that his career is important to him. If he reveals something that you find trivial, he may have different priorities and may not be a good match.

Life Dream

Another classic question to ask your date is what he would love to do if he had all of the time, money and resources in the world. If he says he would love to travel and see the world, it shows a sense of adventure. If he talks about donating time or money to the less fortunate, then he reveals his caring nature.

Tough Day

Ask your date how he deals with a stressful or tough day. This will often reveal how he will handle tension-filled events in the future, according to Love Panky.com. If the person responds with anger or revenge, he may respond the same way in a relationship. If the person responds with kindness or some other low-impact stress release, then he will likely respond the same way in a relationship.

Relationship Definition

Perhaps the most important question to ask on a first date is how your date defines a relationship. People have many different definitions of relationships, and if you discover that your view and your date's view do not align on the first date, you can save a lot of time and heartache for the both of you.

Typical Weekend

One way to discover how your date will act later on in the relationship is to ask how he spends a typical weekend. What someone does during the weekends will not only reveal his interests and priorities, but it can also indicate how compatible the two of you are. Someone who likes to sit at home and do nothing during the weekends may not be the best match for someone who loves to remain active.

References

• E-Harmony Advice: 15 Great First Date Questions
• "Clutch"; 5 Questions to Ask on Your Next Date; Liane Membis; 2010
• "How to Love Your Marriage: Making Your Closest Relationship Work;" Eve Eschner Hogan; 2005