What and how can
combine with other words to form phrases.
What time is the next train?~ Ten eleven.
What colour shirt was he wearing? ~ Blue, I think.
What kind of/type of/sort ofcomputer have you got? ~ Oh, it's just a desktop machine.
What make is your car? ~ It's a BMW.
We use what about/how about to draw attention to something or to make a suggestion.
What about/How about all this rubbish? Who's going to take it away? What about/How about some lunch? ~ Good idea.
How can come before an adjective or an adverb.
How old is this building? ~ About two
hundred years old.
Howfar did you walk? ~ Miles.
How often does the machine need servicing?
~ Once a year.
How long can you stay? ~ Not long, I'm
afraid.
It can also come before many or much.
How many people live in the building? ~
Twelve.
How much is the cheap ticket? ~ Fifteen
pounds seventy-five.
NOTE
How come is an informal phrase meaning 'why'. There is no inversion.
How come all these papers have been left here?~ I'm in the middle of sorting them
out.
