Thread: i've got a question.

Are these questions ok? Don't they sound strange?

in sityation when i point a finger at something and want to know what this thing is.

How is this thing named?
How will it be in English?
What is that?
or may be what is [it] would be better?
Could you spell this word?
How could it be used in sentence?
What is it for?

They sound fine. But I would rather say
How is this thing named? - "What is this [thing] called?"

"What is that?" is much better than "What is [it]"

"How could it be used in a sentence?"

Originally Posted by Pravit

"What is that?" is much better than "What is [it]"

I think you might say "what is it?", with a very strong accent on "is", to demonstrate your extreme degree of disapproval or surprise.

"What is that" is how you would say it.

That refers to an item or thing you're looking at or pointing to. "That thing over there".

'It' is a pronoun that referese to something you've already referenced before. Much like: "Look at this. what is it?" or "Look at that. What is it?"

этот/тот = this/that
n'est-ce pas?

How is this thing named? --- What is this called
How will it be in English? --- I don't understand what you're trying to say
What is that? --- Good
or may be what is [it] would be better? --- I don't understand
Could you spell this word? --- How do you spell that?
How could it be used in sentence? --- good
What is it for? --- good

I would say the following:

How is this thing named? - How is this called?
How will it be in English? - How would you say this in English?(Or: How do you say it in English?)
What is that? - This makes sense if you are pointing to something far away perhaps
or may be what is [it] would be better? - This makes sense too
Could you spell this word? - good
How could it be used in sentence? - good
What is it for?- good

Thanks a lot to all of you for
taking the time to answer my question.

but I've got another one at the moment

Is there any difference betwen these sentences
What is she like?
and
What does she look like?
and
What does she like?

I suppose that the third one means what she loves.
and the first and second ones mean what her appearance is.
Am i right?

Is there any difference betwen these sentences
What is she like?
and
What does she look like?
and
What does she like?

There are pretty big differences actually. "What is she like" refers to how she behaves ( is she nice, positive etc.). "What does she look like" refers to her appearance (is she good looking, does she have dark hair etc.) and "what does she like" refers to what she is found of, cares about, is interested in etc. Example : does she like this car? No, she thinks it

[quote=Kamion]

Is there any difference betwen these sentences
What is she like?
and
What does she look like?
and
What does she like?

There are pretty big differences actually. "What is she like" refers to how she behaves ( is she nice, positive etc.). "What does she look like" refers to her appearance (is she good looking, does she have dark hair etc.) and "what does she like" refers to what she is found of, cares about, is interested in etc. Example : does she like this car? No, she thinks it