Job Discussion Forums

elaina · Joined: 04 Oct 2006 Posts: 8 Location: Calgary, Alberta

I noticed that I, along with quite a few Canadians, use this phrase. My students have noticed as well, and have asked for an explanation of the term. Any suggestions on what to tell them?

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

MikeySaid · Joined: 10 Nov 2004 Posts: 509 Location: Torreon, Mexico

I believe it is the short form of,

"How did it come to be?"

...which is one of the things "why" means.

Dragonlady · Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 6:14 am Post subject:

deleted

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

A teacher from Atlanta would use what now? a lot. It seems to have stuck on me. How come? It just did...

furiousmilksheikali · Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 7:35 am Post subject:

"How come...?" essentially replaces "why" in a sentence. But usually the be-verb and the pronoun change places.

Why are you late?

How come you are late?

Sherri · Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 7:58 am Post subject:

furiousmilksheikali, the word order thing is interesting!

I had a teacher in high school who hated that phrase "how come..."　Because I was studying German at the time, I thought is was a direct translation of the German, wie kommt das...

gaijinalways · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279

I like to use it to, but I too never thought about the word order furious.

I also like to sometimes use;

How's it going?

Were you busy today?

What's up?

What do you say?

MELEE · Posted: Tue Dec 12, 2006 3:17 pm Post subject:

It's not just Canadians, I'm from the American Midwest and I used to use it a lot. But it's one of those things I've lost over the years in this business.