HOW vs WHAT

-I don’t know how it calls. 🙅🏼‍♀️NO

-I don’t know what it is called. ✅🙆🏼‍♀️ YES

Use how with verbs. I don’t know how to pronounce this word. I don’t know how to spell this word. I don’t know how to SAY this word. I don’t know how to fix a car. I don’t know how to run a business.  

Use what with nouns: like names or labels. When you’re asking about the name of the thing, we say What is it? What is your name? What is this called?


-I don’t know what is it called? 🙅🏼‍♀️🙅🏼‍♀️🙅🏼‍♀️ ALSO WRONG 

WHY? 

That’s the question form: What is it called? 

In a statement, *it and is* are reversed. This is an important detail, because this mistake can sound childish to a native speaker. 

The statement form is: I don’t know what it is called. = Idk what it’s called.  It is called a plate. 

 

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4 comments

Teacher,
Greetings!!!! I always enjoy your lesson. The way you teach is really a piece of cake. Your lesson is not like pulling teeth.
Thanks..
Dr. Sazid.

Md. Sazedul Islam

Perfect

Thi

Very good

Thi

Good

Thi

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