After the courting and dating period is over and years have passed, chances are, you've exhausted all the topics you have to talk about with your partner.

If you've been together for so long, you kind of feel like you know everything about your boyfriend. Which is why, when you've run out of topics, you start to wonder if things in your relationship have hit a stale point.

The truth is, these things do happen and there will be times where you and your partner just naturally run out of things to talk about. In a long-term relationship, it's easy to settle into a routine of just doing things together.

But fret not, if you're trying to add that bit of spark back into your relationship, we've got some talking points you can start with so you don't always have to sit in silence.

1. "What are you most passionate about in life that no one else knows about?"

Think you know everything about your partner? You could be wrong! Asking a question like this one could open up a side of your man that you've probably not seen. Even if he doesn't have a particular passion, he's probably got dreams or an aspiration that gets him going.

The most important thing for you to do when having these conversations is to listen without judgment, no matter how unrelatable his dreams, passion or aspirations might be to you.

Opening up can be a daunting experience, so it's highly important to make the other party feels like they're being heard and appreciated for what they're sharing.

2. "What is your favourite childhood memory?"

This question is open-ended and you could ask a lot of follow up questions once it's been answered. You could also share a part of you that he might not know about and it's a great way to connect with someone.

While everyone's answers will differ, we can guarantee that whatever memory your partner shares with you will give you a better insight as to who they are as people and how their childhood and upbringing have influenced them as they grew up.

3. "What was the most awkward sexual experience you've had?"

This question works best if you're both extremely secure in your relationship and have established that it's OK to talk about past relationships. What's great about a question like this is that it opens up a portal to even more questions.

You'll also love the look of embarrassment (and maybe even horror) as your partner shares his story with you. It'll be heaps of fun!

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4. "How can I be a better partner for you?"

Sharing feedback and being open to questions like this one could strengthen your relationship and bring you closer to your boyfriend. Once he's done sharing, you too, could share about how he could be a better partner for you.

Ultimately, you could also make sharing sessions like this a staple conversation that happens every few months.

5. "What are some of your best memories involving X, Y, Z?"

So, you might know his bestfriends and his family members but… do you actually know why he gets along so well with these significant people in his life? If not, ask him about it!

We guarantee he's got some funny stories up his sleeves about these people and they'll most likely be heartwarming moments as well.

Even if your boyfriend isn't the most sentimental sort, people love talking about themselves and sometimes all it takes is to ask the right questions in order to get them to open up.

6. "What are some things I do all the time that are attractive or sexy to you?"

Asking a question like this means you get to find out more about what he likes andddd you get a compliment yourself! Talk about killing two birds with one stone!

His answers to this might be mundane things like… how you rub your nose when you sneeze or even how you snore a little when you sleep over but, it really shows how much he notices the little things you do and this could give you an insight on why he's so in love with you.

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7. "Which date/memory from our early dating life is the most memorable for you?"

Ah, reminiscing about the early dating phase of your relationship can be pretty romantic! The two of you could then go on and recreate the moment on your next date.

What's great is that this question gets you two talking about the past and could remind you of the sweetest moments you've shared with each other. Who knows, it might even strengthen your bond with each other after reflecting on the past!

8. "When did you know you were in love with me?"

This question will hit you in the feels! His answer might just surprise you too and could open up a slew of opportunities to ask other questions. You could also share the moment you knew you were in love.

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9. "Tell me the proudest moments in your career."

Some people tend to define their level of success based on their careers, and if your man is one of those people, consider asking him about his proudest moments at work.

We're certain that he's got some, even if he doesn't, the question will get him thinking. It'll bring you two closer and you'll get some great insights into the way your man thinks and what it is that makes him feel good at work.

10. Don't overthink it and just ask him anything

Honestly, ask whatever's on your mind.

Being in a long-term relationship means that you've probably hit a level of comfort that's completely incomparable to any other relationship you've ever been in so unless your questions are insensitive or out of line, we think there's hardly any harm in asking the most random question you could think of.

What's most important to consider is that, if you're going to ask deep questions about your man's career, past or closest friends and family, be open to the answers he might give and be inquisitive and ask follow up questions.

Where appropriate, try to relate back to any experiences you might have as well. Doing so might keep the conversation going and open up a side of your partner you might not have known about.

This article was first published in CLEO Singapore.