ESL BLUE(s) Grammar Troubleshooting: How plus Adjective

ESL BLUE(s) Troubleshooting how, how plus adjective

Correct Forms	Common Errors
I am eighteen (years old). How old are you?	I ~~have~~ eighteen years old. How old ~~do you have~~?
How big are the boxes?	~~What~~ big are the boxes?
The word big is an adjective, so you use how. You can use what with a noun to express similar ideas: What age are you? What is your age? What size are the boxes.
How big are the boxes?	How big is the boxes?
The noun boxes is the subject of the verb. It is plural so you must use the plural verb form are
Oh! How beautiful your house is!	How beautiful ~~is your house~~.
This is not a question; it is an exclamation. You invert the subject-verb order for questions but not for exclamations. Look at the moon. How beautiful it is tonight!
What is your boss like? Does she have a good sense of humor?	~~How~~ is your boss? Does she have a good sense of humor?
How is your new boyfriend? is the question you ask when you want to know about his health (Is he sick or not?). *What is your new boyfriend like?* is the question you ask when you want some information about his personality.

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