How do you best translate questions that would in English begin with "How...?"

The use of "How" in English questions can be used to cover a wide variety of different meanings, often directly questioning adjectives and adverbs - for example, "How small?" or "How quickly?". However, in French there is no exact equivalent word and so you must adapt according to the context of the question. It is possible to use “Comment” or “Combien” with questions such as “How are you?” (“Comment ça va?”) or “How many dogs do you have?” (“Combien de chiens avez-vous?”), however these do not work in all situations – for example, it is impossible to ask, “Comment petite est la maison?”. Instead, there are alternative and grammatically sound phrases that can be used:
De quelle taille est la maison ? How big/small is the house
Est-ce souvent que vous venez ici ?How frequently do you come here
Dans quelle mesure considérez-vous que Baudelaire est un poète doué ? How talented a poet do you consider Baudelaire to be ?

KF
Answered by Katherine F. French tutor

2888 Views

See similar French A Level tutors

Related French A Level answers

All answers ▸

Traduisez la phrases suivante: 'Il nous enseigne ainsi que la philosophie est un tout, que l'éthique se fonde sur une véritable science du bonheur, et que le savoir lui-même, s'il nou rendait pas plus heureux, ne servirait à rien.'


Which variation of 'to' (en, au, aux, à) should be used when describing 'going to' a country which is in masculine, feminine and/or in plural form?


Translate this sentence into French- They should have been told the truth


When should I use the subjunctive?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning