Page 259 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

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We also use how in exclamations (see 195). The word order is not the same as in questions. Compare:
- How cold is it?
How cold it is!
- How do you like my hair?
How I love weekends! (NOT N8W d8 .' 181:1e weekerttls.~
- How have you been?
How you've grown! (NOT H8W MI:Ie}'B1t gF8wn.~
When how is used in an exclamation with an adjective or adverb, this comes immediately after how.
How beautiful the trees are! (NOT H8W the fFeeS aFt! bealtfijtt1!J How well she plays! (NOT J:8W she plttys well.?
For the difference between holV and what like, see 253.
with adjectives/adverbs: how, not how much
We use how, not how much, before adjectives and adverbs. How tall are you? (NOT }{8W nnteh tall 12Ft! }'Bit?)
Show me how fast you can run. (NOT ••• h8W mf:leh JYtst ...)
comparisons: how not used
In comparisons we use as or like (see 326) or the way (see below), not how. Hold it in both hands, as / like / the way Mummy does.
(NOT ••• how Mltmmy does.) how, what and why
These three question words can sometimes be confused. Note particularly the following common structures.
How do you know? (NOT V'*y do }'Bit kn8W?)
What do you call this? (NOT H8W de }'Bf:l eall this?) What's that . .. called? (NOT H'8W is that . .. ettHeti?) What do you think? (NOT J:fJW d8 }'Bf:l think?)
Whatf What did you say? (NOT J:8W? H8W tiitl}'Bf:l say?) Why should I think that?
Both What about . ..?and How about . ..?are used to make suggestions, and to bring up points that have been forgotten.
What/How about eating out this evening?
What/How about the kids? Who's going to look after them?
In exclamations (see 195), what is used before noun phrases; how is used before adjectives (without nouns), adverbs and verb phrases.
What a marvellous house!
How marvellous! How you've changed!
how much, how many, howald, how far etc
Many interrogative expressions of two or more words begin with how. These are used to ask for measurements, quantities etc. Examples:
How much do you weigh?
How many people were there?
How old are your parents?
How far is your house? How often do you come to New York? ~
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