Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts (77 page)

How could you
(do something)? How could you bring yourself to do a thing like that? (No answer is expected.)
Looking first at the broken lamp and then at the cat, Mary shouted, “How could you do that?
”
T
OM
: Then I punched him in the nose. R
ACHEL
: Oh, how could you?

How do you do
.
a standard greeting inquiry and response. (This expression never has rising question intonation, but the first instance of its use calls for a response. Sometimes the response does, in fact, explain how one is.)
S
ALLY
: Hello. How do you do. B
OB
: How do you do
.
M
ARY
: How do you do. So glad to meet you, Tom. T
OM
: Thank you. How are you? M
ARY
: Just fine. Your brother tells me you like camping. T
OM
: Yes. Are you a camper? M
ARY
: Sort of.

How do you know? 1
.
How did you get that information? (A straightforward question. The stress is on
know
.)
B
ILL
: The train is about to pull into the station. S
UE
: How do you know? B
ILL
: I hear it
.
F
RED
: I have to apologize for the coffee. It probably isn't very
good. J
ANE
: How do you know? F
RED
: Well, I made it
.
2
.
What makes you think you are correct? Why do you think you have enough information to make this judgment? (Contentious. The heaviest stress is on
you
.)
B
ILL
: This is the best recording made all year. B
OB
: How do you know? B
ILL
: Well, I guess it's just my opinion
.
T
OM
: Having a baby can be quite an ordeal. M
ARY
: How do you know? T
OM
: I read a lot.

How do you know
someone
?
How did you make the acquaintance of someone?; How is it that you know someone?
Q: How do you know Wally? A: Through work
.
I saw you talking to Bill. How do you know him, if I might ask?

How do you like it here?
How do you like living here, going to school here, working here, etc.?
Welcome to Worth High School. How do you like it here?
I see you have just joined the company. How do you like it here?