how

how
[[t]ha͟ʊ[/t]]
♦
(The conjunction is pronounced [[t]haʊ[/t]].)
1) QUEST You use how to ask about the way in which something happens or is done.

How do I make payments into my account?...

How do you manage to keep the place so tidy?...

The law, your contracts, your public protect you, do they? How?...

How are you going to plan for the future?

CONJ-SUBORD
How is also a conjunction.

I don't want to know how he died... Did you ever wonder how the top supermodels manage to look stunning?... I didn't know how to tell you.

2) CONJ-SUBORD You use how after certain adjectives and verbs to introduce a statement or fact, often something that you remember or expect other people to know about.

It's amazing how people collect so much stuff over the years...

It's funny how I never seem to get a thing done on my day off...

I remember how Grandma loved to cook, loved to fix special treats...

It's important to become acutely aware of how your eating ties in with your stress level.

3) QUEST: QUEST much/many, QUEST adj/adv You use how to ask questions about the quantity or degree of something.

How much money are we talking about?...

How many full-time staff have we got?...

How long will you be staying?...

How old is your son now?...

How fast were you driving?...

How difficult is it to do business with the company?...

`How well do you know Mrs. O'Toole?' Ryan asked...

No-one knows how many people have been killed since the war began...

He was asked how serious the situation had become.

4) QUEST You use how when you are asking someone whether something was successful or enjoyable.

How was your trip down to Orlando?...

How did your date go?...

Tell me about your clinical trials. How did they go?...

Tell me how everything went off tonight...

I wonder how Sam got on with him.

5) QUEST You use how to ask about someone's health or to find out someone's news.

Hi! How are you doing?...

How's Rosie?...

How's the job?...

She asked how he had been feeling...

Susan introduced herself to him and asked him how he was.

6) CONVENTION (formulae) `How do you do' is a polite way of greeting someone when you meet them for the first time.

`How do you do, Mrs Bellingham,' Sam said.

7) CONJ-SUBORD You use how when you want to say that it does not matter which way something is done. [INFORMAL]

Two historical questions - you can answer them how you like...

It's your life, so live it how you want!

Syn:
8) ADV: ADV adj/adv (emphasis) You use how to emphasize the degree to which something is true.

I didn't realize how heavy that shopping was going to be...

Franklin told them all how happy he was to be in Britain again.

9) ADV: ADV adj/adv/cl (emphasis) You use how in exclamations to emphasize an adjective, adverb, or statement.

How strange that something so simple as a walk on the beach could suddenly mean so much...

How anxiously she awaited my answer...

How she must have talked last night!

10) QUEST: QUEST can/could (disapproval) You use how in expressions such as `How can you...' and `How could you...' to indicate that you disapprove of what someone has done or that you find it hard to believe.

How can you drink so much beer, Luke?...

How could such a writer be taken seriously?...

How could he be so indiscreet?

11) QUEST You use how in expressions such as `how about...' or `how would you like...' when you are making an offer or a suggestion.

How about a cup of coffee?...

You want Jeannie to make the appointment for you? How about the end of next week?...

How would you like to have dinner one night?

Syn:
what about
12) CONVENTION If you ask someone `How about you?' you are asking them what they think or want.

Well, I enjoyed that. How about you two?...

`Something to drink?' - `No, thanks,' said Michael. He glanced at Wilfred. `How about you?'

Syn:
what about you
13) CONVENTION (feelings) If you say `How about that?' you are drawing attention to something that has been said or done that you think is surprising.

The twins made their appearance at three o'clock. How about that? Spot on time.

14) PHRASE: PHR n You use how about to introduce a new subject which you think is relevant to the conversation you have been having.

Are your products and services competitive? How about marketing?

Syn:
what about
15) PHRASE: oft PHR cl You ask `How come?' or `How so?' when you are surprised by something and are asking why it happened or was said. [INFORMAL]

`They don't say a single word to each other.' - `How come?'...

How come he hasn't been able to be as good this year?...

`She was weird.' - `How so?'

16) PHRASE If you say `How do you mean?' to someone, you are asking them to explain or give more details of what they have just said. [BRIT, INFORMAL]

`The fuel gauge is broken.' - `Broken? How do you mean?'

Syn:
what do you mean
17) PHRASE If you say `How's that?' to someone, you are asking whether something is acceptable or satisfactory.

Suppose we meet somewhere for a drink? I'll pay. How's that?


English dictionary. 2008.

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Synonyms:
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Look at other dictionaries:

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