How Come, How About, How + Adjective Exercises

Beyond the basic 'how + word' combinations, English has several advanced 'how' expressions that add flexibility to your questions. How come is an informal way to ask 'why,' but with an important difference: it uses statement word order instead of question word order. Compare 'Why are you leaving early?' (standard, with word order change) with 'How come you're leaving early?' (informal, statement order). 'How come' is common in spoken English but should be avoided in formal writing.

How about (or 'What about') makes suggestions and is followed by a noun or gerund: 'How about a cup of tea?' 'How about going to the cinema?' Beyond these, 'how' combines with many adjectives to ask about specific qualities: 'How tall is he?' 'How deep is the lake?' 'How heavy is this box?' Each combination targets a different measurement — height, depth, weight, speed, and more. At B1-B2 level, you also need to distinguish between 'how' in indirect questions: 'I wonder how old she is' uses statement word order, not 'how old is she.' This skill is tested frequently in Cambridge B2 First examinations.