Is the question of "what age are you" idiomatic,common or does it sound naturally in the meaning of "how old are you"
Can we say this structure could be used for materials as "how age is it"?
English Language Learners Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for speakers of other languages learning English. It only takes a minute to sign up.
Sign up to join this communityIs the question of "what age are you" idiomatic,common or does it sound naturally in the meaning of "how old are you"
Can we say this structure could be used for materials as "how age is it"?
Is the question of "what age are you" idiomatic,common or does it sound naturally in the meaning of " how old are you "
Can we say this structure could be used for materials as " how age is it "
"What age are you?" is definitely not idiomatic. Using it would mark you instantly as a non-native speaker. However, it makes logical sense and it would be understood.
"How age is it?" would be even worse. While most native speakers could likely figure out what this meant, it sounds simply wrong.
If you were asking a person about his or her age, you'd almost always say "How old are you?" or "What year were you born?" or "When were you born?" -- with the first one being by far the most common.
If you were asking about an object, you would usually say "How old is it?" But you might also say "When was it built?" (in reference to a building or structure) or "How long has it been here?" or "How many years has it been here?" or "How long has it been around?" -- again, the simple "How old is it?" would be most common.
I echo my fellow Celt. In Ireland you would hear "What age are you?" for preference, because it is the standard Gaelic idiom ("Cén aois thú?). But in England, "What age are you?" would mark you as a non-native speaker. It is definitely, "How old are you?"
In Scotland, we say
What age are you?
probably more than
How old are you?
The former is much more natural for me to say.
Yes my wife is N Irish and she and her whole family always say 'what age are you?'. Which is similar to the French quelle age as tu? (what age do you have?). As there is a lot of Irish and Scottish blood in the USA, I suspect it travelled over a few centuries ago.
What I found funny is that my wife swore blind that everyone in England used her expression and not 'How old are you?'