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More cynically: if you're sitting with somebody and you want to have a conversation, find a joint area of interest -- or pretend there is one -- and get them talking about themselves. Act interested in everything they say, follow up with compliments and ask them to elaborate on what they've said; look at them, keep your eyes open moderately wide -- a sign that you find them interesting.
This is of course an entirely bogus approach if you're doing it mechanically, without actual interest in the other person. But the lesson to be learned is: it's okay to be a listener, but don't listen passively. It's not a conversation unless two people take part, even if your part is mainly reacting to and asking for elaboration on what the other person said. Otherwise, you're making them carry all the weight, and they might as well be talking to a wall. And how interesting is that?
My question is, if you're interested in what other people have to say, why can't you think of questions? People generally want to know more about things that interest them.
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