How.?': manner and process

How? questions can ask about manner or process. Some questions need a whole sentence in reply:

How did you spend your time while you were on holiday⁷ Some questions like this can be answered with by + -ing:

How did you finish the job so soon⁷ - By climbing on to the roof How combines with modals in:

- rude responses: Why ask me⁷ How should I know?

- argument/reproof: How can you say a thing like that⁷

- exclamations: How could she do such a thing!

Adverbs of manner can sometimes answer How? questions:

How did he speak? - (Rather) well/inaudibly It isn't always clear what kind of answer a How? question requires:

How did she cut Sue's hair? - Beautifully /Very short /With a

fringe /With the kitchen scissors

How long...?': time

How long? (with optional for) asks about duration:

Question-word questions: subject-questions

How long have you known her (for)? - (For) 20 years I've known her a long time How long (for)? How can also combine with long ago to refer to a point of time: How long ago did Bach live? - 300 years ago (ago not optional)

13.40.6 Some social uses of 'How...?'

introductions: How do you do? is a formula in formal introductions and is never used to inquire about health: A: Mrs Simms, this is Mr McGregor

B: How do you do?

C: How do you do? (in reply to B)

health: Common formulas for asking about health or general well-being are: How are you?, How have you been? How are you keeping?, How have you been keeping?

present circumstances: How is often used to inquire about 'present circumstances' in questions like: How's life?, How are (or How's) things?, How's the garden?, How's work?, etc.

'How...?' and 'What.Mke?' [> 13.34 2]: These can sometimes be interchangeable in questions which ask for personal reactions: How was the film?(= What was it like? Did you enjoy it or not?) How can be followed by like or enjoy in such questions: How did you like/enjoy the film?

'Howabout...?'and'What about...?': These are interchangeable in

offers and suggestions:

How about/What about a drink?

and in general reference:

/'// post your letters. - How about/What about this parcel?

John's coming with us. - How about/What about Susan? invitations:

How would you like to have tea at the Ritz?

This is an elaborate form of the more usual:

Would you like to have tea at the Ritz? [> 11.37]

Question-word questions: subject-questions