Grammar-Quizzes › Noun Phrases › Modifiers to Nouns › How / What
How / What
Emphasize opinion with an exclamation (!)
In speech—how vs. what
| HOW |
|---|
How as a modifier to an adjective or adverb expresses "a great degree". A how expression emphasizes the verb complement (occasionally the subject) by positioning it at the beginning of the clause. Exclamations with how and what mostly occur in speech but also may occur in writing with a final exclamation mark (!). How is considered to be a little more formal than what. |
| VERBLESS EXCLAMATION |
How beautiful! How hard! So beautiful! / So graceful! |
| VERB COMPLEMENT EXCLAMATION |
How beautiful this jellyfish is! This jellyfish is so beautiful! |
How gracefully this jellyfish swims! (no auxiliary verb) This jellyfish swims so gracefully. |
| SUBJECT EXCLAMATION |
How much remains a mystery! Subject [how + noun] How little survives a firestorm! Subject [so + noun] |
| WHAT |
|---|
What as a modifier to a noun phrase expresses "a remarkable degree". It emphasizes an aspect which relies on context to know if it is positive or negative in meaning. What is placed before the noun and the article (if there is one). In speech, it receives intonation emphasis. In writing, it ends with a an exclamation mark (!). What is considered less formal by some speakers. |
| VERBLESS EXCLAMATION |
What a creature! remarkably beautiful or ugly What creatures! remarkably beautiful or ugly What beauty! remarkable beauty in general (noncount) |
| VERB COMPLEMENT EXCLAMATION |
What a beautiful jellyfish this is! This is such a beautiful jellyfish! |
|
| SUBJECT EXCLAMATION |
What strange fish live here! Subject [what + adj + noun] What danger lurks there! Subject [what + adj + noun] |
*How many remains a mystery! / *So many remains a mystery! (requires a different context and meaning)
How kind of you! (You are very kind.) What kindness! (Maybe you are kind or maybe not at all!)
lurk (V) – wait in hiding, wait unseen; remain in or around a place secretly; ambush
survive (V) – remain or continue to be alive after a harsh, catastrophic event
(Huddleston 6 2.4.2, "Non-exclamative exclamations" 10 8.1-3; "Predeterminer AdjP" 6 §3.3)
How and What
In Noun Phrases
How and What in Noun Phrases (verb-less exclamations)
| HOW |
|---|
How can occur before a count but not a plural or noncount noun. |
| COUNT NOUN |
¹How strange a creature! before the article + noun |
| PLURAL NOUN |
*How strange creatures! |
| NONCOUNT NOUN |
*How strange movement! |
| WHAT |
|---|
What occurs before a count, a plural or a noncount noun. |
| COUNT NOUN |
What a strange creature!directly before the noun |
| PLURAL NOUN |
What strange creatures! |
| NONCOUNT NOUN |
What strange movement! |
*Not used
¹ Some speakers find "how" to be awkward and express a preference for "what". (US-Eng)
How
Exclamation vs. question word order
How—exclamative vs. interrogative
| EXCLAMATION |
|---|
When how is used in exclamative sentence, expressing a great degree. How+ the adjective is placed at the beginning of the clause. No subject–auxiliary inversion occurs. (The verb stays at end.) |
| BE VERB COMPLEMENT |
How beautiful the jellyfish is! How painful the sting of a jellyfish is! |
The jelly fish is so beautiful. The sting of a jellyfish is very painful. |
How beautiful the jellyfish is ___. |
| OTHER VERBS |
How gracefully the jellyfish swims!
|
The jelly fish swims so gracefully.
|
How gracefully a jellyfish swims ___. |
| SUBJECT |
*How awful a jellyfish stung me! (not used with a subject)
|
| QUESTION |
|---|
When how is used in a question, it is placed at the beginning of the clause, and the auxiliary verb is placed before the subject [article + noun] . Subject-auxiliary inversion occurs. |
| BE VERB |
How graceful is a jelly fish? |
The jelly fish is ___ graceful.
|
How graceful is the jelly fish ___ ___? |
| OTHER VERBS |
How gracefully does a jelly fish swim? |
The jelly fish swims so gracefully.
|
How graceful does a jelly fish swim___? |
| SUBJECT |
How did that awful jellyfish sting me?
|
*Yellow highlighting marks an example of incorrect usage.
sting, stung (past), stung (past perfect)
What
Exclamation vs. question word order
What—exclamative vs. interrogative
| EXCLAMATION |
|---|
How , expressing a great degree, is placed at the beginning of the clause. It is followed by a count or noncount noun, or by an adjective and count or noncount noun. The verb does not use an auxiliary, and the verb remains at the end of the clause. |
| EXCLAMATION – VERB UNDERSTOOD |
What pain! (noncount) What a sting! |
What a swimmer! (count) What a beauty! |
| "BE" VERB COMPLEMENT |
This beautiful creature is (remarkable).
|
What a beautiful creature this is!
|
What a beautiful creature this is ___. |
| OTHER VERBS |
A jelly fish has painful stingers. A jelly fish gives a painful sting. |
What painful stingers a jellyfish has! What a painful sting a jellyfish gives! What pain a jellyfish causes! |
What a painful sting a jellyfish gives ___. |
| SUBJECT |
*What an awful jellyfish stung me! (not used with a subject)
|
| QUESTION |
|---|
How, an interrogative pronoun, is used in a question, and it is placed at the beginning of the clause. Note that in a question, the verb requires an auxiliary verb which is placed before the subject [article + noun]. |
| QUESTION – VERB UNDERSTOOD |
What pain? (noncount) What sting? / Which sting? |
What swimmer? / Which swimmer? (which one) What beauty? / Which beauty? (which one) |
| BE VERB COMPLEMENT |
This beautiful creature is ___ (something-what?).
|
What is this beautiful creature? |
What is this beautiful creature___ ___? |
| OTHER VERBS |
A jelly fish has painful __ (something). A jelly fish gives a painful __ (something). |
What painful thing does a jellyfish have? What sting does a jellyfish give? What pain does a jellyfish cause? |
What pain does a jellyfish cause ___ ___? |
| SUBJECT |
What (Which) awful jellyfish stung me?
|
*Yellow highlighting marks an example of incorrect usage.
creature (N) — living thing
which – used for a small selection of options; what – used for a wider selection
How and What
Expressions
How and What Expressions
| HOW |
|---|
How expresses "to a greater degree" for the information that follows. These interjections are phrases punctuated with an exclamation mark. |
How kind of you to help me! (very kind) How hot it is today! (very hot) How amazing that is! |
How he has grown! (a lot) How she has changed! (a lot) How different everything is now! (a lot) |
How over-the-top! (excessive) How perfect! (excellent or with sarcasm–expected to go wrong) How awesome! (superbly amazing) How funny! (very amusing, odd or peculiar) |
| WHAT |
|---|
Most expressions with what rely heavily on context. The other person is expected to know to what the speaker is referring. |
What a surprise this is! (delight) What an injustice this is! (a protest) What fools they are! (disappointment) |
What manners! (maybe good, maybe bad) What a face! (maybe good, maybe bad) What a guy! (maybe good, maybe bad) |
That's some pig! ("from Babe" remarkably good) What a car! That's quite a car! / That's some car! What a doozy! (maybe good, maybe bad) What a crock! (lie, exaggeration) |
doozy (N) – something outstanding or unique of its kind; from Dusenberg auto, a classy auto that failed to sell well.
What About / How About
Express moral relativism or offer an option
Response to Criticism vs. Response with Suggestions
| DEFENSIVE RESPONSE |
|---|
A what-about response is informal (verbless) and unanswerable (emotional). It equates one bad behavior with another in order to silence the opponent. "Two wrongs make a right." A what-about response serves as a distraction, "a red herring". It is intended to shame the opponent or throw his attention away from the barb (hurtful point) of his criticism. |
| IS EMOTIONAL—EVASIVE |
—You are an awful driver. (criticism) —What about you with your two speeding tickets! (counter-attack) |
| LOGIC DOESN'T FOLLOW ORIGINAL POINT |
—Your country does not respect human rights. —What about your country with a history of slavery! (off-point) —I'd be happy to talk about our history of slavery after you talk about your current record on human rights. (on-point) |
| IS LIKE A COMPARATIVE INTERJECTION |
—People who carry guns around are scary. —What about¹ people who drive with phones in their hands! interjection Who are you referring to? Which people? Where? question word order |
| HELPFUL RESPONSE |
|---|
A what-about response can also be a helpful way of bringing other options into a discussion. A person can offer examples, ideas, suggestions, or additional information. The response does not take form as a question, although one may expect an answer. The response is direct and logically follows the point of conversation. It is not an emotional response. |
| IS NOT EMOTIONAL—DIRECT |
—You are an awful driver. —Perhaps I am. How about taking a driving course with me? |
| LOGIC FOLLOWS ORIGINAL POINT |
—What can we do to improve human rights in our community? —What about electing politicians who will improve our laws. —What about holding law enforcement accountable for their actions. —How about including classes on the subject in high schools. |
| IS LIKE A COMMENT WITHOUT THE REST OF THE CLAUSE |
—People who carry guns around are scary. —What about security guards, are they scary? (Ques. – example) —How about wearing a bullet-proof vest. (suggestion) |
¹what (interrogative pronoun) + about (preposition) + noun phrase or gerund clause.
evasive (Adj) – avoiding, escaping answering directly, going around something
non sequitur (Latin) – a conclusion or statement that does not logically follow from the previous argument or statement
red herring (expression) – information that is offered to mislead or distract the other person from an important point or a criticism.
what about and how about can be used interchangeably in most cases.
whataboutery or whataboutism (N) – the practice of ending (short-circuiting, diffusing, blowing apart) an argument by asserting moral equivalency between two things that aren’t necessarily comparable.
See Pop-Q Whataboutery.
Common Mistakes
Errors and Solutions
Error and Solution
| ERROR |
|---|
| VERB PLACEMENT |
*How you look beautiful. *How this is wonderful! |
| ARTICLE PLACEMENT / USE |
*What stand-up guy you are! *What a wonderful weather! |
| OTHER |
*How a kind person you are! ~What kindness! |
*How much money that is! |
*What a painful sting hurts my skin. *What a beautiful creature stung me. |
| SOLUTION |
|---|
| VERB PLACEMENT |
How beautiful you look! (verb at the end) How wonderful this is! |
| ARTICLE PLACEMENT / USE |
What a stand-up guy you are! (article) stand-up – bold, justice seeking What wonderful weather! (no article) |
| OTHER |
How kind you are! (expression) ~What a kind person you are. |
How expensive that is! (exclamation) How much does that cost? (question) |
The painful sting hurts my skin. What a painful sting! That beautiful creature stung me. |
*not used / ~requires an unusual context to be used
Grammar Notes (Advanced)
Traditional Grammar and Linguistic Description
| TRADITIONAL / ESL | LINGUISTIC |
|---|---|
Exclamations are constructed with how or what, or so or such. how + adj / adv + subj + verb how + subj + verb _______________ what a/an + adj + singular count noun what + adj + noncount what + object + subj + verb (Swan 195) |
How– exclamative; modifier exclamative clause. How can occur on its own or before an adjective or adverb in an initial AdjP or AdvP. There is normally no subject-auxiliary inversion.
(Aarts 6.4) adverbial in exclamative clause. How modifies an adjective, degree determinative or adverb. Formal style.
(Huddleston 10 §8.1) |
Not mentioned in Azar. |
What – exclamative; modifier (not a determiner or pronoun) exclamative clause. What occurs as a clause initial noun phrase. There is normally no subject-auxiliary inversion. (Aarts 6.4) exclamative. What occurs in noun phrase with a following head noun. Informal style. (Huddleston 10 §8.1) What a game! (count) What games! (plural) What fun! (noncount) |
Clause; Word Functions; Finite / Nonfinite; NP –noun phrase; N – noun; VP – verb phrase; V – verb; Comp – complement; Det – determiner; Adj – adjective; AdjP – adjective phrase; PP – prepositional phrase; P – preposition; Sub – Subordinator
Resources
- Aarts, Bas. Oxford Modern English Grammar. Oxford UP, 2011.
- Huddleston, Rodney D., and Geoffrey K. Pullum. The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language. Cambridge UP, 2002.
- Swan, Michael. Practical English Usage. 3rd ed., Oxford UP, 2005.
Practice 1
Annie and Grandpa on the Phone
Read the Context
Annie: Hi Grandpa. Happy Birthday!
Grandpa: Is this Annie? You are such a sweetheart! You remembered my birthday. How are you doing today?
Annie: I'm fine. I lost a tooth! It came out by itself.
Grandpa: That is such a surprise! Do you think the tooth fairy will come?
Annie: I don't know. I'll put it under my pillow tonight.
Grandpa: The tooth fairy creeps in so quietly!
Annie: I know.
Annie: Mommy is making you a surprise. I'm not supposed to tell you. It's a birthday cake.
Grandpa: That is so delightful! What kind is it?
Annie: It is a chocolate cake with peppermint icing.
Grandpa: Mmmm. It sounds delicious.
Annie: Yes. And I helped her.
Grandpa: You are so helpful.
Grandpa: Say, are you going to stay up late for my birthday dinner.
Annie: No, I'm going to bed early to wait for the tooth fairy.
Grandpa: That is a good idea. You don't want to upset the tooth fairy.
Annie: I want to see her.
Grandpa: But, you know honey, she won't come for your tooth if you are awake. You have to be asleep.
Annie: What? That's unfair! I want to see her.
Grandpa: That's how it goes, sweetheart. No exceptions.
Annie: I could put a camera in my room! When she takes my tooth, it will take her picture.
Grandpa: You are such a clever girl! But I think the tooth fairy will know the camera is there.
Annie: Then I'll stay up and come to your birthday dinner instead.
Grandpa: It is so kind of you to join us! I will be happy to see you there.
Annie: Me too. See you later Grandpa.
creep (V) – come or go quietly without a sound, undetected by others
icing (N) – the sweet butter and sugar mixture that usually covers the outside of a cake; frosting
say – a conversational transition word used to get the other person's attention or change to another subject
tooth fairy — a fantasy figure who comes in at night (flies) and retrieves a child's tooth at night and replaces it with money.
Select the exclamation with how or what that replaces the so or such sentence.
- Select the response from the list that best restates the sentence before (above) it.
- Compare your response to the feedback by clicking the "check" or "check 1-10" button.
Practice 2
Formal and Informal Exclamations
Read the Context
Bill: What a surprise to see you here!
Jill: I wouldn't miss this for anything! What a beautiful location for a wedding!
Bill: Look! Here comes the bride. What a beautiful bride she is!
Jill: What a big smile the groom has!
Bill: What a celebration this is!
Bill: What an unusual cake!
Jill: Do you mean "What a cake!"
Bill: You don't like it?
Jill: Well. Where is the rest of the icing?
Bill: It looks delicious anyway.
Punctuation— when two forms of punctuation occur at the end of the sentence, typically "the stronger one wins". In this case "stronger" may refer to the desired emphasis:
Do you mean "What a cake!" (exclamation is maintained-better)
Do you mean "what a cake"? (question is maintained-weaker)
"What a cake!" he said. (better)
"What a cake!" he exclaimed.
"What a cake," he said! (weak; not used)
Change the "what" exclamations to "how" exclamations. (informal to more formal)
- Edit the sentence(s) in the text box.
- Compare your response to the feedback by clicking the "check" or "check 11-17" button.