Spanish - Lesson 27 of 159: Follow Up Questions

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

¿Cuánto duró?

How long did it last?

Meaning: How long did it last?

When to use: Use this to ask about the duration of an event, activity, class, or trip someone mentioned.

Fui a un concierto ayer. ¿Cuánto duró?

I went to a concert yesterday. How long did it last?

La reunión fue muy breve. ¿Cuánto duró exactamente?

The meeting was very short. How long did it last exactly?

¿Qué hiciste después de eso?

What did you do after that?

Meaning: What did you do after that?

When to use: Ask this when you want to know the next action in someone's story or sequence of events.

Me contaste que llamaste a tu jefe. ¿Qué hiciste después de eso?

You told me you called your boss. What did you do after that?

Llegaste a la estación y viste el tren. ¿Qué hiciste después de eso?

You arrived at the station and saw the train. What did you do after that?

¿Fue fácil o difícil?

Was it easy or hard?

Meaning: Was it easy or hard?

When to use: Use this to ask whether a task, test, or experience was simple or difficult.

Tu examen terminó. ¿Fue fácil o difícil?

Your exam is over. Was it easy or hard?

Aprender la canción llevó tiempo. ¿Fue fácil o difícil para ti?

Learning the song took time. Was it easy or hard for you?

¿Cuál fue la mejor parte?

What was the best part?

Meaning: What was the best part?

When to use: Ask this when you want to know the most enjoyable or positive moment of someone's experience.

Visitaste la playa el domingo. ¿Cuál fue la mejor parte?

You visited the beach on Sunday. What was the best part?

Viajamos a la montaña. ¿Cuál fue la mejor parte del viaje?

We traveled to the mountains. What was the best part of the trip?

¿Como qué?

Like what?

Meaning: Like what?

When to use: Use this short prompt to ask for a concrete example or clarification of a vague comment.

Tip: Beginners sometimes forget the question word order and say 'Como qué' without making it a clear question.

Dijiste que fue interesante. ¿Como qué?

You said it was interesting. Like what?

La película tenía escenas extrañas. —¿Como qué?

The movie had strange scenes. —Like what?

¿Cómo sabes?

How do you know?

Meaning: How do you know?

When to use: Ask this when you want information about the source or reason someone believes something.

Dices que cancelaron el evento. ¿Cómo sabes?

You say they canceled the event. How do you know?

Parece que va a llover. —¿Cómo sabes?

It looks like it's going to rain. —How do you know?

¿Por qué?

Why is that?

Meaning: Why is that?

When to use: Use this to ask for a brief reason or explanation in casual conversation.

No quieres ir al concierto. ¿Por qué?

You don't want to go to the concert. Why is that?

Dejaste el trabajo temprano hoy. —¿Por qué?

You left work early today. —Why is that?

¿Cómo estuvo?

What was it like?

Meaning: What was it like?

When to use: Ask this when you want a short description of someone's experience or event.

Tip: Learners sometimes confuse this with '¿Cómo fue?' — both work, but '¿Cómo estuvo?' asks for a description of the experience.

Regresaste del viaje. ¿Cómo estuvo?

You returned from the trip. What was it like?

Probaste la nueva cena del restaurante. ¿Cómo estuvo?

You tried the restaurant's new dinner. What was it like?

¿Qué pasó antes de eso?

What happened before that?

Meaning: What happened before that?

When to use: Use this to ask for earlier events or background in a story someone is telling.

Me dijiste que llegaste tarde. ¿Qué pasó antes de eso?

You told me you arrived late. What happened before that?

El coche se detuvo. ¿Qué pasó antes de eso?

The car stopped. What happened before that?

¿Entendí bien?

Did I understand that right?

Meaning: Did I understand that right?

When to use: Use this to check that you heard or interpreted someone's statement correctly.

¿Entendí bien? Dijiste que no vienes mañana, ¿cierto?

Did I understand that right? You said you aren't coming tomorrow, right?

Entonces, ¿entendí bien? El evento es el sábado por la noche.

So, did I understand that right? The event is Saturday night.

¿Cada cuánto pasa eso?

How often does that happen?

Meaning: How often does that happen?

When to use: Ask this to find out the frequency of an event someone mentions (daily, weekly, sometimes).

Tu coche se rompe con frecuencia. ¿Cada cuánto pasa eso?

Your car breaks down often. How often does that happen?

Dices que llueve mucho aquí. ¿Cada cuánto pasa eso?

You say it rains a lot here. How often does that happen?

¿Puedes ser más específico?

Can you be more specific?

Meaning: Can you be more specific?

When to use: Use this when you need clearer or more exact details about something someone said.

Tip: Beginners sometimes use a literal translation from English; '¿Puedes explicar más?' is possible but less precise.

Eso suena confuso. ¿Puedes ser más específico?

That sounds confusing. Can you be more specific?

Hiciste un cambio en el plan. —¿Puedes ser más específico?

You made a change to the plan. —Can you be more specific?

Spanish - Follow Up Questions

1. Reading + Listening Practice

2. Conversational Listening Practice

3. Guided Practice

Which Spanish question asks 'How often does that happen?'

Which phrase means 'Can you be more specific?'

Select the question that asks 'What happened before that?'

Which short question asks for an example: 'Like what?'

You ask: How long did it last?

You ask: What did you do after that?

You ask: Like what?

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice