LONGMAN ENGLISH GRAMMAR PRACTICE

13 Questions, answers, negatives

13.7 Question-word questions (3): 'Why?', 'How?'

13.7A

Study:

Write: Write suitable questions with Why? on the left to fit the answers on the right.

Think of possible combinations with Why?: Why don't...?, Why not...? Why (wait)...? etc.

1 Why..? Because I want to watch the late-night film.

2 Why? That's a good idea.

3 Why? Because I didn't want to trouble you.

4 Why? I phoned to let him know I had arrived.

5 Why? I'm sorry I shouted at you.

6 Why? To find out his address.

7 Why? I'm already late for my appointment.

8 Why? All right. I'll put the job off till tomorrow.

9 Why? To check that I had locked the back door.

13.7B

Study:

F*1

Write: Use How much ...? or How many...? in these sentences.

1 time do we have? 4 did that car cost you?

2 coffee do you drink every day? 5 people came to the meeting?

3 times do I have to tell you? 6 slices of bread do you want?

13.7C

Study:

i**i

Write: Change these What + noun questions into How + adjective questions.

1 What's the age of this building? How.? 4 What size is your briefcase? How?

2 What's the depth of this pool? How? 5 What length is this room? How?

3 What distance is Rome from here? How? 6 What height is this house? How?

'Why ...?' as a question-word [> LEG 13.37]

1 Why...? asks for a reason and we answer with Because (Not *Why*) or a to-infinitive.

2 We can use What... for? in place of Why?: What did you do that for? (= Why did you do that?)

3 We use Why don't/doesn't...? ( Why don't you?/Why doesn't she?) to make suggestions.

4 We may use Why? or Why not? + bare infinitive: Why wait for him? Why not wait a bit?

'How ...?' as a question-word; 'How much?/How many?' [> LEG 13.40]

1 We use How?, basically, to ask about manner:

How did you get on in the exam?- Quite well, I hope!

How combines with much, many, and with adjectives and adverbs (How fer? etc.).

2 We use How much?+ uncountable to ask about quantity: How much bread/milk/time?

We also use How much?\o refer to cost: How much does this cost? How much is it?

3 We use How many? + plural noun to ask about number: How many people/books ...?

'How' + adjective or adverb: 'How far?' [> LEG 13.40.2,13.34.8,6.16]

We can use How+ adjective (How long?) in place of What+ noun (What length?):

How long is that skirt? What length is that skirt?