STen

[marypippert]

I have given Sten every gift I can find and still he will not talk to me. What am I missing?

[CrackeR]

Be a smart ass and talk to him like he's a punk..he seems to like those responses

[LilG]

Gifts you give to companions influence their approval of your character,but some gifts will affect them negatively.It's best to not just give them everything you can find.

Sten likes paintings as gifts,so the following gifts will boost his approval with you:
Painting of the rebel Queen.
Potrait of a Goosegirl
Silver framed still life
Sten's sword
Totem
Water stained potrait

Also do the companion quest to recover his lost sword.You get buy the Thoughtful gift item off Bodahn Feddic which gives +10 approval each time you trade it,but you'll need the Feastsday Gifts & Pranks DLC installed first.

DA wiki has information on approval etc.

[marypippert]

I can;t get him to mention the sword. I ask questioins and he ignores me.

[LilG]

You'll need to raise his approval with your warden first before he mentions anything about his missing sword. Try trading the Thoughtful gifts items to him & keep asking why he was kept inside that cage in Lothering.