Have you ever been with someone who seemed ideal in the beginning of your relationship and then later—sometimes much later—you realized were definitely not meant to be together?

Several years ago I was in a long-term relationship with a woman I was convinced was my soul mate. I told anyone who would listen that she was “the one.” We laughed at the same jokes, listened to the same music and enjoyed the same movies. On paper, we were the perfect match.

But as time passed, I noticed some pretty serious incompatibilities in our personalities. Whereas I was Type A and needed to hit the ground running in the morning, she preferred to ease into her day. That meant that, quite often, I found myself waiting impatiently. I swear the more impatient I became, the slower she moved.

In addition, I’m a hardcore extrovert while she was a self-described introvert. I deferred to her. My resentments piled up. In the end, our fundamental incompatibilities eclipsed the awesomeness and we broke up.

I thought, “Wouldn’t it be great if you could test your compatibility before wasting years or decades on a relationship that is probably doomed from the beginning?” I made it my mission to discover how to evaluate compatibility before getting too invested in the relationship.

Good Couples Are Made of This

I found that relationship experts at a major university used the acronym FACES to test a few components of compatibility. They include:

• Family Background: Our upbringing is a big indicator of how we’ll deal with relationships later on. Our families influence how we handle conflict, communication, and gender roles. While people shouldn’t be blamed for their family dynamics, they provide an important point for you to consider.

• Attitudes: Attitudes include everything from how a person differentiates right from wrong to how much empathy a potential partner has. Pay attention to any red flags and don’t let someone’s “best side” obscure their real side. For example, if a woman is polite to her coworkers but rude to waiters, servers, landscapers, and other people “below” her, then that’s an indicator of her personality.

• Compatibility Potential: This is where those likes and dislikes, goals and values and questions of extraversion vs. introversion come into play. Early on in a relationship you may be inclined to overlook some pretty serious incompatibilities. Don’t. No matter how great the sex is, no matter how attractive she is, do not throw your core values and personality traits out the window just to suit her. For example, if you can’t stand the smell of cigarette smoke, don’t date someone with a two-pack-a-day habit. Or, if you’re committed to a life of freedom and adventure, don’t date someone who immediately wants to settle down into a traditional lifestyle.

• Examples of Previous Patterns: Your past doesn’t always equal your future, but it can sure be a good indicator. If your partner (or potential partner) tends to have nasty breakups or can’t main friendships it may be a big, bright red light. Proceed at your own risk.

• Skills for Relationships: Good communication skills and the way you handle conflict are an excellent indicator of how you will fare as a couple. Do you talk things out or tend to yell and/or throw things?

With those university-researched components in mind, I set about devising a questionnaire for couples to determine their compatibility. These questions also make for a great conversation as you’re getting to know each other. They show that you’re interested in getting to really know her and that you look beyond the superficial.

10 Questions
Entering into any committed relationship is not to be taken lightly. These questions are by no means an exhaustive list of things to ask yourself and your potential love interest before getting too serious; but they’ll certainly get you started:

1. “If I asked your past partners about your honesty and trustworthiness in the relationship, how would they answer?”
This question helps gauge a person’s integrity. Of course, if someone has a pattern of dishonesty, she may not answer this question truthfully. If possible, follow up with an ex or talk to her friends—hopefully they are one and the same; the ability to maintain friendships with past lovers is a sign of integrity and maturity in relationships.

Let’s be clear that this does not mean you go around interviewing anyone you can find from her past. But look for clues as you socialize with her friends. Do people roll their eyes whenever her past relationships are mentioned? Do they refer to all the “crazy” ex-boyfriends?

2. “What have you learned about yourself in the past five years?”
It has been said that a rut is just a grave with the ends kicked out. If one or both of you isn’t committed to working toward personal emotional growth, the relationship may be dead before it even begins.

3. “Have you tolerated unfulfilling past relationships?”
An affirmative answer may be a clue that your potential partner suffers from low self-esteem. Follow up questions include “for how long?” and “why?” People with low-self esteem that stick around in unhappy relationships make lousy romantic partners.

4. “In what area of your life do you find you’re the most irresponsible?”
Losing the car keys is one thing but not being able to keep a job is quite another. This is a question to determine someone’s maturity and responsibility. Listen closely to the answer.

5. “What is your philosophy of life?”
You’re looking for answers such as Thoreau’s “live the life you have imagined” and not “it sucks and then you die.” Positive people make better partners—always.

6. “What’s your biggest sexual fantasy?”
The person with lowest libido in a relationship will determine the frequency of your sex life. If it isn’t enough for you or you’re just not into the same things, it may be best to cut your losses.

Sexual incompatibility is one of the main culprits behind both infidelity and breakups. Don’t minimize sex’s importance when screening potential mates.

7. “Do I admire this person?”
If you respect someone and perhaps even strive to be more like her in some way, you’re on the right track.

8. “Would I want to have children with this person?”
Depending on your circumstances, you just might. Would she make a good co-parent?

Even if you’re not thinking about children in the near future, this is still a useful query to pose. Think ahead, and think what qualities you hope a mother would possess. Then, see how she stacks up.

9. “Would I want a child who is like this person?”
Your kid just might be. Think about it.

10. “What if this person never changes?”
Gambling on someone’s potential is a sucker’s bet. If you can see yourself with this exact same person five, ten, twenty years down the road, there’s a good chance she’s the one—or at least one of the ones.

How to Ask These 10 Questions
It’s imperative that you do not interrogate her with these queries. This is not a primetime interview with a presidential candidate. You’re not trying to “catch” her.

Instead, you’re trying to get to know her. These are questions to stimulate a conversation, not play gotcha. Do not pose all these at the same time, rapid-fire style.

During a quiet moment together, maybe during a nice meal or a walk, ask one of these questions. Truly listen to her response and let the conversation go from there. Simply because she answered doesn’t mean you move on to the next topic.

Also, be prepared to answer these questions yourself. Whether you’re a single man approaching a woman in a bar or a committed man with a woman of ten years, never ask a question that you’re not prepared to handle if the tables are turned. Share your background, thoughts, and philosophies honestly.

These questions will make sure that you’re proceeding into a relationship on the best possible foot. And you’ll never look back and think, “I should have known better,” again.