What Does “How” Mean in Questions?
How is a question word. We use it to ask about the way something is, or the amount of something.
- Sometimes how asks about method: How do you go to school? (By bus, by car).
- Other times, how asks about condition: How are you? (I’m fine, thank you).
- Today, we focus on how to ask about measurements.
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How to Ask About Size, Age, or Distance?
When we want to ask about specific measurements like age, distance, or size, we use how followed by an adjective.
- This pattern is How + adjective + is/are + subject?
- The adjective tells us what kind of measurement we are asking about.
- For example, to ask about age, we use the adjective old.
Common Adjectives to Use with "How"
Here are some common adjectives you can use with how to ask about different measurements:
- How old? (Asks about age)
- How far? (Asks about distance)
- How wide? (Asks about width, from side to side)
- How deep? (Asks about depth, from top to bottom)
- How long? (Asks about length, from end to end)
- How high? (Asks about height, from bottom to top)
Forming Questions with "How + Adjective"
The basic structure for these questions is simple:
- Start with How.
- Add the correct adjective (e.g., old, far).
- Add the verb is (for singular subjects) or are (for plural subjects).
- Finish with the subject of your question.
Remember to use a question mark at the end!
| Question Pattern | What it Asks About | Example Question |
|---|---|---|
| How old? | Age | How old is your house? |
| How far? | Distance | How far is the school? |
| How wide? | Width (side to side) | How wide is the road? |
| How deep? | Depth (top to bottom) | How deep is the lake? |
| How long? | Length (end to end) | How long is your hair? |
| How high? | Height (bottom to top, for objects) | How high is the building? |
Examples
- How old is your sister?
- How far is the beach from here?
- How wide is this river?
- How deep is the swimming pool?
- How long is the movie?
- How high is that mountain?
Practice
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Chat with an Advisor on WhatsAppCommon mistakes for Spanish speakers
Spanish speakers sometimes make these mistakes:
- Using What instead of How: In Spanish, you might say "¿Qué edad tienes?" (What age do you have?). In English, we always say How old are you? (Correct) not What old are you? (Incorrect).
- Incorrect word order: Remember the order: How + adjective + is/are + subject? Do not say How is old your brother? (Incorrect). Say How old is your brother? (Correct).
Frequently asked questions
Can I use 'how' to ask about people's height?
Yes, you can! To ask about a person's height, you say How tall is he/she? The adjective tall is specifically for the height of people or things that are naturally tall and thin.
What is the difference between 'How long?' and 'How far?'?
How long? asks about the length of an object or the duration of time. For example, How long is the table? or How long is the film? How far? asks about distance between two points. For example, How far is it to the city?
Do I always use 'is' or 'are' after 'how + adjective'?
Yes, for simple present tense questions about measurements, you will use is for singular subjects (e.g., How old is your cat?) and are for plural subjects (e.g., How old are your parents?).
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