How
The adverb how most commonly means ‘in what way’ or ‘to what extent’.
How in questions
We use how when we introduce direct and indirect questions:
- I haven’t seen you for ages. How are you?
- How was the film? Was it as bad as you thought?
- Do you know how I can get to the bus station?
- I asked her how she was but she didn’t answer me.
We use how to introduce questions about measurements or amounts:
- How old is your grandfather?
- How often do you get to your cottage at weekends?
- How much does the average DVD player cost these days?
- [the ‘Prado’ is a museum and art gallery in Madrid]
- How far is it to the Prado and how long will it take us to get there by taxi?
How in indirect questions
We often use how with verbs such as tell, wonder and know in indirect questions:
- I just don’t know how she manages to cook so well in such a small kitchen.
- I wonder how they do that.
How in exclamations
In exclamations we use how before adjectives, adverbs and verb phrases. In verb phrases the word order is subject + verb:
- They’ve bought her some flowers. How nice of them!
- How fantastic!
- How beautifully they sang!
- How we love New York!
We don’t use how with a noun phrase. We use what:
- What a gorgeous coat!
- Not:
How a gorgeous coat!
See also
- Exclamations
- What
How about …?
In informal speaking we commonly use how about + noun phrase and how about + -ing form when we make suggestions:
- Liz, how about some more fruit juice?
- How about going to the concert with us this weekend?
See also
- Suggestions
Typical errors
In exclamations involving clauses, the word order is subject + verb:
How I love real Italian ice-cream!
Not: How love I real Italian ice-cream!
We don’t use how with a noun phrase, we use what:
- What a nice idea!
- Not:
How a nice idea!