Difference between revisions of "How"

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(Derived words)
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'''How''' is a ''wh-'' word, which means that it marks something that is unknown.  It is used when you want to know the <span style="color:#602;">method</span>, the <span style="color:#602;">manner</span>, or the [[way]] something is done, or is going.
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'''How''' is a ''wh-'' word, which means that it marks something that is unknown. It is most often translated with ''comme'', ''comment'' or ''combien''. It is used when you want to know the <span style="color:#602;">method</span>, the <span style="color:#602;">manner</span>, or the [[way]] something is done, or is going.
  
 
*How are you doing?  <span style="font-style:italic;color:#777;">comment vas-tu?</span>
 
*How are you doing?  <span style="font-style:italic;color:#777;">comment vas-tu?</span>
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*''How tall'' are you?
 
*''How tall'' are you?
 
*''How much'' will it cost?
 
*''How much'' will it cost?
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*''How many'' people were injured in the accident?
 
*''How often'' do you see your family?
 
*''How often'' do you see your family?
 
*I don't know ''how good'' this milk is.  It's been open for several days.
 
*I don't know ''how good'' this milk is.  It's been open for several days.

Revision as of 14:52, 11 April 2020

How is a wh- word, which means that it marks something that is unknown. It is most often translated with comme, comment or combien. It is used when you want to know the method, the manner, or the way something is done, or is going.

  • How are you doing? comment vas-tu?
  • How do you do? comment allez-vous? used only when you meet someone for the first time ever
  • How is it going? (comment) ça va?
  • How can I get a refund? comment je fais pour me faire rembourser?
  • How can you tell if it is cooked? comment peut-on voir si c'est cuit?

It is used in combination with ADJ and ADV to ask about degree or measure.

  • How old is your car? Elle a quel âge, ta voiture?
  • I didn't realize just how cold it would get at night in the desert. Je ne me rendais pas compte jusqu'à quel degré il fait froid dans le desert la nuit.
  • How tall are you?
  • How much will it cost?
  • How many people were injured in the accident?
  • How often do you see your family?
  • I don't know how good this milk is. It's been open for several days.
  • It's amazing how small computers have become in my lifetime.


Indirect questions

  • I don't know how to fix this bug.
  • We haven't figured out how to fix the bug.
  • I don't understand how this got broken.


Derived words

  • however 1. pourtant, en revanche, 2. peu importe comment
  • howsoever de quelque manière que ce soit (à verifier... ??), quelconque
  • know-how savoir