Timeline for Can the pattern "How+modifier+noun" be used like this: "How old a kid stole the package?"
Current License: CC BY-SA 3.0
8 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2, 2016 at 13:57 | comment | added | TimR | I don't think you're being stupid. I just understood the question in a different way. Feel free to answer it, focusing on "age". | |
| Dec 2, 2016 at 13:36 | comment | added | Mari-Lou A | Look, I didn't DV, I'm only pointing out that you missed applying the pattern to the one requested by the OP. I've hinted at it in the first comment, I think your explanation is clear, but the answer just needs to address the "age" part. If you believe I'm being stupid If you think the question is about the differences between "how old" and "at what age.." well, I can't do anything about that. So either take what I said seriously, or continue to be grumpy. | |
| Dec 2, 2016 at 13:24 | comment | added | TimR | How old a kid.... How old was the kid.... What age kid.... are all idiomatic, with slightly different nuances. They will all get you "7" in answer, given your stated context. | |
| Dec 2, 2016 at 13:18 | comment | added | Englishfreak | My main question is about 'age'. I gave those examples to know if we can use the same pattern in that case, that is, age. | |
| Dec 2, 2016 at 13:17 | comment | added | Mari-Lou A | But the OP asks: Can we use this pattern to ask about age, as in... I could be mistaken, but that is what I understood, and the title asks: Question about age | |
| Dec 2, 2016 at 13:12 | comment | added | TimR | If you think the question is about the differences between "how old" and "at what age", then you may very well be the better mind-reader. You should answer that question, since I took it to be about the difference between "how big a boat" versus "how big was the boat". | |
| Dec 2, 2016 at 13:04 | comment | added | Mari-Lou A | So how would a learner apply this explanation to the example set by the OP? E.G. How old should a kid be before they can watch a PG movie alone? How big/heavy a child can this pram carry? | |
| Dec 2, 2016 at 12:55 | history | answered | TimR | CC BY-SA 3.0 |