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how to use the question word : how come

RandomGuy · Accepted Answer

AnonymousHow do you use the question phrase "how come"?

Think of it as a casual alternative to why.

Why do you bite your nails?
How come you bite your nails?

It can't be used in indirect questions, however: *I don't know how come he did it.

Fivejedjon · Answer

Aspara GusIt can't be used in indirect questions, however: *I don't know how come he did it.

There are quite a few examples in COCA, such as:

" Well, do you know how come your ship isn't visible to us? "
" So, tell me how come you're here alone on Valentine's Day? "
" People ask me how come you talk so fast, "

RandomGuy · Answer

The COCA also has 141 citations for reason is because, 84 for wish I would have, and a shocking 212 for would of! I'm afraid that our dear COCA is not always a reliable source for advising students on standard English.

Fivejedjon · Answer

Aspara GusThe COCA also has 141 citations for reason is because, 84 for wish I would have, and a shocking 212 for would of! I'm afraid that our dear COCA is not always a reliable source for advising students on standard English.

Well, 119 of those 212 are actually 'would of course'.

Indeed, there are only 44 citations for 'would of' + past participle, several of those being clearly attempts to portray 'substandard' speech in written form.

As for 'I wish I would have' 46 of the 78 citations I found were from spoken English, and a mere seven from academic written sources; three of those were clearly quoting the spoken word.

'The reason is because' is, I feel, a question of style rather than grammar Even so, 94 of the 141 citations were from spoken English, and only eight from academic written sources.

There is, however, a more important point, in my opinion.. If the corpora come up with a lot of citations for what style guides suggest is substandard, then perhaps the style guides are wrong. In the past many people have felt that to say something condemned by the style guides was a crime that only ignorant people committed. If the corpora now show us that quite a few people say and write these things, then perhaps the style guide writers are merely inventing rules that have no basis in real life.

RandomGuy · Answer

fivejedjonWell, 119 of those 212 are actually 'would of course'. Indeed, there are only 44 citations for 'would of' + past participle.

Ah, yes. I forgot to include [VVN] in my search. I'm still getting used to this COCA thing.

fivejedjon... clearly attempts to portray 'substandard' speech in written form. three of those were clearly quoting the spoken word. ... three of those were clearly quoting the spoken word. ... and only eight from academic written sources.

I had no idea that the site indicated such things. I just checked myself, and you are right. Nevertheless, there are still enough relevant citations (including the ones you gave) to support my point, which I stand by. And I'm sure with more careful searching I could find even more. However, COCA aside, I think our job here is to help learners speak good English. Wouldn't you agree?

Fivejedjon · Answer

Aspara GusI think our job here is to help learners speak good English. Wouldn't you agree?

I do, indeed. However, by 'good English' I mean the English that reasonably educated native speakers produce in everyday life, not what the writers of style guides may happen to say is good.

RandomGuy · Answer

fivejedjonby 'good English' I mean the English that reasonably educated native speakers produce in everyday life

I don't remember the last time I heard a reasonably educated native speaker use how come to form an indirect question. In fact, in my experience, it's used by non-natives almost exclusively.

Fivejedjon · Answer

Aspara Gus fivejedjonby 'good English' I mean the English that reasonably educated native speakers produce in everyday lifeI don't remember the last time I heard a reasonably educated native speaker use how come to form an indirect question. In fact, in my experience, it's used by non-natives almost exclusively.

I don't remember the last time I heard a reasonably educated person say, "With whom are you going to the theatre this evening" In fact, in my experience, such constructions are used in speech by non-natives almost exclusively. However, I would do some research before I claimed that such constructions can't be used.

CalifJim · Answer

Aspara GusIt can't be used in indirect questions, however: *I don't know how come he did it.

All I can say is that I'm perfectly happy with this comment.

I can't remember anyone ever saying such a thing, so I would be at peace with myself telling students not to say it.

CJ

Fivejedjon · Answer

CalifJimI can't remember anyone ever saying such a thing, so I would be at peace with myself telling students not to say it.

Fine. I need to tell my learners that some native speakers dislike it and/or find it unacceptable. I am not sure that I would say it myself, though I have certainly heard it from native speakers. I would not write it in anything formal. However, with over 20 citations in COCA and over 1,500 in the Google Books Corpora, I, personally, cannot bring myself to say, "It can't be used in indirect questions", because it clearly is so used.

However, I suppose one could use the same arguments to justify the use of ain't, so it's time I retired from the discussion.

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