Using 'What...like?' and 'How..?'



Using 'What...like?' and 'How..?'

	Florencia and Megad from Argentina and Malaysia writes:
		Florencia asks: 'I would like to know the difference in use between: What does she look like? How does she look? What is she like?' Megad asks: 'I have come across three sentences which do not make very much sense to me. Could you please explain them? What was the exam like? How is it going? How are you doing?'

	Roger Woodham replies:
How? / What…like? - for experiences Sometimes there is not very much difference in use between these two question forms when we are asking about people's experiences: How was your exam? ~ Fine. I think I did OK. What was your exam like? ~ Fine. I think I did OK. What was your holiday like? ~ Not wonderful. The hotel was awful. How was the weather? ~ Pretty grim. It rained every day. We can also incorporate an *-ing* clause into *What's it like? when enquiring about experiences: What's it like, living in Girona? ~ It's all right. Girona's quite a lively city What's living in Griona like? ~ Brilliant. Girona's got a lot to offer. A similar construction is possible with How?: How was it, working for Richard Branson? ~ Excellent. He's a very generous employer. When enquiring about food that has been prepared or eaten, we tend to use How?, although both forms are possible: How were the cakes you made for the children's party? ~ I don't know, but they were all eaten. How was your steak? ~ Delicious. Very juicy and beautifully tender. Note that a waiter can only use the How?* form when asking about your order: How would you like your steak? Rare, medium or well done? How? / What…like? - for appearance Here the *How?* form is sometimes associated more with positive features and the *What...like?* form more with neutral or negative features: How do I look? ~ Fantastic! That outfit really suits you. What does she look like? ~ As if she hasn't bought any new clothes in the last twenty years. I took Andrew with me to the sports club because I wanted to show him what the tennis courts were like. How? / What…like? - for health and character Here there is a much clearer distinction in use. *How?* refers to a person's health or mood and *What…like?* to a person's character: How's Bob today? ~ Very tired, I would say. He was out all night at Tricia's party. What's Bob like? ~ Very sociable. He's the life and soul of any party. What's his wife like? ~ She's serious and shy. I've never seen her smile. We also have the expression *What are you like!* which we can use if we think someone's behaviour is surprising or silly: I was up at 4.30 this morning to listen to the dawn chorus. ~ What are you like! How is it going? / How are you doing? - for progress We use these formulas to enquire about the progress that people are making in given situations. Note that we can only use it with *going, but we can use the full range of personal pronouns* with *doing*: How's it going? ~ Oh, quite well. I've nearly finished. How are they doing? ~ Very well. If they keep this up, they should get through to the finals. How's he doing? ~ Not too badly. He should be out of hospital by the end of the week. (Of food that is cooking: How's it doing? ~ It's nearly done. Just another five minutes.)